🚲 THURSDAY: SUPPORT THE 3RD STREET BIKE LANE
This Thursday, we need you to show up and support the new bike lane proposed for 3rd Street from South to Market Streets!
THURSDAY, March 6th, 6PM - 7:30PM
Old Pine Community Center, 401 Lombard Street
Please attend whether you live, work or travel through this stretch.
Please also sign PBA's petition in support of the bike lane, which 5th Square is co-sponsoring.
👋 GOODBYE TANEY STREET, HELLO LECOUNT STREET
Taney Street, named after the racist SCOTUS Chief Justice Roger B. Taney of Dred Scott infamy, is now LeCount Street, named for Philadelphia civil rights advocate Caroline LeCount.
This change is the culmination of a long fight led by the Rename Taney Coalition. We're proud to have played a small role by letting folks know about opportunities for comment, but a huge congratulations to the Rename Taney Coalition for getting this done.
Read more from the Inquirer:
🏢 MORE EVIDENCE OF SINGLE-STAIR BUILDING SAFETY
Source: Pew
Their analysis goes even further and suggests that dual-stair regulations may worsen safety by making new mid-rise development prohibitively expensive and thus increasing the number of residents in older, less fire-safe buildings.
🚦 BUS SIGNAL PRIORITY
SEPTA is working on a pilot program for bus traffic signal priority!
This would mean buses spend less time sitting at red lights, speeding up average bus speeds and shortening riders' trips. We're looking forward to this pilot starting and hopefully later expanding to the whole bus network!
Read more from KYW Newsradio:
✍️ CITY SERVICES SURVEY
The Controller's office is conducting a survey about Philadelphia's municipal services and quality of life issues.
Respondents can provide feedback on how they feel city departments are performing and which issues they want the city to prioritize.
💰 TOMORROW: SEPTA FUNDING HEARING
City Council and the PA House Democratic Policy Committee are hosting a joint hearing on SEPTA.
This hearing will focus on funding for SEPTA and transportation infrastructure across the state.
SEPTA Funding Hearing (RSVP here)
Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5th, 2:00PM
IBEW Local 98 Training Facility, 1101 Kitty Hawk Ave
There will not be opportunity for formal public comment, but community members are invited to attend and show support. RSVP here to attend.
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
🗳️ Get Ready for the Primary Election
Mail-in ballot applications are open for the 5/20 primary election. It takes only a few minutes to request a ballot now and make sure you're ready to vote in May. If you're not already a registered voter, you can register here.
💰 More Vision Zero Funding
This budget season, 5th Square joining roadway safety groups calling on the Mayor and City Council to contribute $5 million to Vision Zero in the city's upcoming budget.
Demand more Vision Zero funding by signing this petition!
🦺 Support Castor Ave Safety Improvements
Roadway safety opponents have rented a billboard on Castor Ave in Northeast Philly organizing folks to oppose a plan to save lives along this deadly corridor.
Fortunately, there is a neighborhood petition supporting the proposed safety measures for Castor Ave -- from Oxford Circle to Cottman Ave.
🌉 Safer Green Lane Bridge Petition
Philly Bike Action's advocates are organizing a petition to push for a safer design for the Green Lane Bridge between Manayunk and Bala Cynwyd.
The current proposed design would widen traffic lanes by removing one sidewalk, and replacing the other sidewalk with a shared-used path.
PBA's petition calls for the same number of vehicle lanes, but narrower and thus safer; and converting one sidewalk into a two-way bike path.
📣 Get Involved with Vision Zero
OTIS is developing its next Vision Zero Action Plan and you can participate in the process.
Use this form to fill out their survey, and see here for a full list of ways you can get involved!
🛣️ 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
SEPTA Funding Hearing
Wednesday, March 5th, 2:00PM | IBEW Local 98 Training Facility, 1101 Kitty Hawk Ave
City Council and the PA House Democratic Policy Committee are hosting a joint hearing focused on funding for SEPTA and transportation infrastructure across the state.
AARP/PCDC Chinatown Stories Screening
March 6, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM | Crane Community Center Grand Hall 2nd Floor
1001 Vine St
Join AARP and PCDC for a screening of the first episode of AARP's docuseries about Chinatowns throughout the US, with this episode focused on Philadelphia's Chinatown.
3rd Street Bike Lane Public Meeting
Thursday, March 6th, 6PM - 7:30PM | Old Pine Community Center 401 Lombard St
Attend an open house meeting to support a new bike lane in Center City on 3rd Street from South to Market Streets. We need all hands on deck as roadway safety opponents will be there to try and derail this vital project. Please attend whether you live, work or travel through this stretch.
NightCycle PHL Expo Ride
March 8th, 6pm meet, 6:30pm roll | Rail Park
2025 Philly Bike Expo
March 8 – 9 | PA Convention Center
The Philly Bike Expo is an annual weekend-long event featuring exhibitors, seminars, presentations and events representing the spectrum of cycling.
Germantown Station Area Concept Open House
March 11, 4:30-6:30 pm | Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
68 W Chelten Ave
SEPTA wants to bring mixed-use, transit-oriented development to Germantown Station on the Chestnut Hill East line. Attend their open house to learn more about their plans and give feedback.
DVRPC Public Participation Task Force Meeting: Planning and Funding
March 13, 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Online via Zoom (register here)
The DVRPC's Public Participation Task Force is hosting an online meeting for community members to learn more about the Long-Range Plan (LRP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and how they affect transportation projects in your neighborhood, with opportunities for attendees to provide feedback and comments.
TransportationCamp PHL 2025
March 22nd | Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, 3245 Chestnut St
Whether you work in the industry or simply have an interest, TransportationCamp PHL welcomes you for a day filled with ideas at the intersection of transportation, technology, and urbanism.
Fault Lines Documentary Screening
April 1st, 6-8pm | Indy Hall, 709 N 2nd St
Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an advance screening of the 80-minute documentary, Fault Lines! This is an exclusive screening of this documentary ahead of its festival run, followed by a short discussion on parallels to our fight for housing here in Philadelphia.
Main Street Now 2025 Conference
April 7 – 9 | Philadelphia Marriott, 1201 Market Street
Join local leaders and experts in commercial district stewardship from across the country for three days of education sessions, special events, and mobile workshops.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society / Director of the Philly Tree Coalition
Office of the City Commissioners / Election Board Worker
City of Philadelphia
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia / Project Coordinator
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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