🚲 CONCRETE-PROTECTED SPRUCE AND PINE STREETS
Read more about the proposal in the Inquirer:
🗳️ LAST WEEK TO REGISTER TO VOTE
Election day is almost here so make sure you're registered to vote! To vote in the November election, Pennsylvania's voter registration deadline is October 21st, and October 29th is the last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot.
For a full election guide, sample ballot, and to make sure you're registered, see this guide from Committee of 70.
🚆 MPACT CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK
The Mpact Transit + Community Conference 2024 will be held in Philadelphia on October 20-23! The conference focuses on the interactions of transit, mobility, land use and development in building great places to live for everyone.
Mpact is looking for volunteers to help guide attendees. There are over 30 mobile tours/workshops across the city and surrounding counties, as well as social events at Center City conference venues that need staffing and wayfinding.
🚘 PARKING-PROTECTED BIKE LANES PROGRESS
The fight to get legislation passed to enable parking-protected bike lanes has been a long one, but we've recently made some exciting progress!
This past week, the Senate Transportation Committee voted to pass HB 1283 to the Senate without any amendments. If you want to help this bill make it to the finish line, the Bicycle Coalition has put together some actions you can take.
🍻 BIPOC URBANISTS MEETUP
Calling all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) urbanists! Join us on 10/29 for a meetup at Indy Hall.
We want to create a space that's inviting and safe to participate and chat about Philadelphia's urbanist issues important to you! Our community works to provide a welcoming space to address these concerns, provide encouragement, and advocate for an end to systemic barriers to participation and representation.
Whether you are an urban planning advocacy expert or brand new and curious -- you are welcome here! This is a casual social gathering.
⏰ 46 DAYS LEFT TO FUND SEPTA
Time is running out for state legislators to pass a funding solution to keep SEPTA running.
SEPTA is already raising fares, but without an additional funding source, fares will be raised even higher and service will be slashed.
You can help, by joining the House Transportation Committee and calling on the PA Senate to act and pass legislation to fund our state's vital transit agencies.
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
🏘️ Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan Survey
The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has put out a survey to help it develop its housing action plan. Take the survey here.
🚲 22nd St Bike Lane Petition
Philly Bike Action is organizing efforts calling for a bike lane on 22nd St from Fairmount Ave to Brown St. Sign their petition here.
🚲 47th St Bike Lane Petition
With the upcoming repaving of 47th St, Philly Bike Action is calling for traffic calming measures and the creation of a parking-protected bike lane along 47th St from Chestnut St to the Grays Ferry Bridge. Sign their petition here.
🛣️ 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, harming our access to the waterfront, and destroying sports facilities. To make matters worse, PennDOT has been deceitful about its engagement efforts.
Join us in telling PennDOT that highway expansion has no place in the core of Philadelphia by signing our petition.
EVENTS
Open House: Spruce and Pine Streets Bike Lanes
October 17, 7-8:30pm | Jefferson Bluemle Building, 233 S 10th
The City just announced plans to upgrade Spruce & Pine bike lanes with real physical protection. We need you to show up and fight to make our streets safer.
Mpact Transit + Community Conference
October 20-23 | Convention Center
The annual Mpact Transit + Community conference (formerly Rail~Volution) focuses on the interplay of transit, connected mobility options, land use and development in building great places to live – for everyone. Sign up to volunteer here.
BIPOC Urbanists Meetup
October 29, 6pm – 8pm | Indy Hall, 709 N 2nd St
Calling all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) urbanists! Whether you are an urban planning advocacy expert or brand new and curious -- you are welcome here! This is a casual social gathering.
November 8–9 | Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
The goal of the conference is to provide extensive discussion of new and innovative research in urban and regional economics. Previous editions have convened 40 or more economists from around the world to present, discuss, and participate in the workshop.
November 18, 12pm – 1pm | Hybrid: Indy Hall and remote via Zoom
At this meeting, we will introduce our organization and recent campaigns,
onboard folks with our tech, discuss and brainstorm upcoming 5th Square priorities and volunteer opportunities.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Clean Air Council / Sustainable Transportation Program Manager
Councilmember O'Rourke's Office /
DVRPC
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.
Support our advocacy with a recurring monthly contribution of $5 or more.