🚨 LAST CHANCE TO STOP SEPTA CUTS
Harrisburg has until the end of this week to pass a budget, and SEPTA and other transit agencies throughout the state are depending on Governor Shapiro's proposed $282 million of transit funding to avoid drastic service cuts and fare increases.
If state legislators pass a budget without increased transit funding, Philadelphians would have to pay higher fares for worse service. You can help prevent this by contacting your legislators and telling them to support Governor Shapiro's proposed transit funding.
The Transit for All PA coalition has put together a guide for contacting your legislators and helping to push for state transit funding. We're running out of time, so call your legislators before it's too late!
Want to support our efforts to fight transit service cuts? Become a 5th Square member for as little as $5 per month.
🚏 WATER BOTTLES FOR INTERCITY BUS RIDERS
A year after Greyhound shut down its terminal, intercity bus riders are left waiting for buses on the sidewalks of Spring Garden Street. With the dangerously hot weather this past weekend, riders were forced to wait for their buses without shelter from the heat.
On Sunday, 5th Square volunteers braved the heat and passed out cold water bottles to passengers. Over the hour and a half they were out there, they passed out three cases to seven buses. Thank you to our volunteers for making the unfortunate situation a bit more bearable for riders!
If you want to help next time, sign up to volunteer and we'll notify you when we have an opportunity to help out.
🍻 MEETUP RECAP
Thank you to all who came to our meetup last Thursday. Attendees heard from a number of guests including representatives from SEPTA about progress on the Wissahickon Transportation Center, Representative Tarik Khan, Sarah Clark Stuart on the Schuylkill River Trail, and more.
Stay tuned for our next meetup!
🗞️ 5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
The Inquirer published a letter to the editor written by 5th Square organizers Fae Ehsan and Steph Davis who wrote in to explain our position on the proposed Washington Square West historic district:
"We recognize that the need for housing affordability must be balanced with the need for preserving history. While we oppose blanket designations, we support designations on a more thoughtful, property-by-property basis. This will allow more people to experience Washington Square West’s rich history, rather than leaving these to be the province of a wealthy few."
As a reminder, 5th Square opposes the proposed historic district because it would restrict the creation of new housing, raise home maintenance costs, and ultimately raise rents and home prices.
To get involved, sign our petition, and comment at the Philadelphia Historical Commission meeting on Friday, July 12th at 9am over Zoom.
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
🚴♀️ Support Circuit Trails
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is opening its public comment period for the 2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Pennsylvania.
The Bicycle Coalition is asking for comments in support of funding for trails which provide important transportation routes and space for recreation. See here for instructions on providing public comment.
🚲 Fishtown and Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Bikeways Survey
OTIS is soliciting feedback on their project to identify several neighborhood streets for bikeways in Fishtown and Strawberry Mansion. Read more and fill out their surveys:
✍️ Historic District Petitions
5th Square opposes the proposed historic districts in Washington Square West and Spruce Hill because we believe they will raise rents by restricting the development of new housing as well as increase costs for existing homeowners by making home repairs more complicated, expensive, and time-intensive. We are instead calling to preserve historically significant buildings with individual historic designations. Learn more and sign the petitions:
🛣️ Stop I-95 Expansion
PennDOT is planning to expand I-95 in Center City and South Philly by adding lanes and new ramps. This will threaten the well-being of our neighborhoods by worsening air quality, increasing noise pollution, and harming our access to the waterfront.
Join us in telling PennDOT that highway expansion has no place in the core of Philadelphia by signing our petition.
EVENTS
Philadelphia Historical Commission - Washington Square West Historic District
July 12th, 9am | Virtual via Zoom
5th Square believes the proposed historic district for Washington Square West will harm residents of the neighborhood and the city by increasing housing costs. During this meeting, the Philadelphia Historical Commission will be reviewing the proposed district and there will be an opportunity for public comment.
League of American Bicyclists - Cycling Advocate Workshop
July 24 · 5pm - July 26 · 3pm | Venue TBA
The workshop will cover advocacy basics such as the history of bike advocacy, how to get organized, effective political engagement, making the case, coalition building, policy basics, funding, storytelling, equity and mobility justice, and more.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
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inquirer.com /
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Philadelphia Housing Development Corp.
- Director, Multi-Family Development Finance
- Rehabilitation Housing Inspector III
- Risk and Insurance Manager
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
We're an all-volunteer grassroots organization advocating for safe and affordable transportation, abundant housing, and more and better public spaces. You’re receiving this email if you signed up via our website, attended one of our events, or supported one of our advocacy campaigns.
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