🚨 STOP SEPTA CUTS
Due to a funding crisis, SEPTA is planning to slash service by 45%, hike fares, and eliminate 50 bus routes and 5 regional rail lines.
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee, organizing and advocating for better transportation, land use, and public space policies. Our work is made possible through the support of over 400 members donating anywhere from $5 to $25 a month.
🚨 STOP SEPTA CUTS
Due to a funding crisis, SEPTA is planning to slash service by 45%, hike fares, and eliminate 50 bus routes and 5 regional rail lines.
How can you help stop this?
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Use the PA House Dems' form to contact state senators and tell them that we need a plan to fund SEPTA and our state's transit agencies
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Send a letter to your legislators using Transit for All PA's form
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Attend SEPTA meetings (in person or online) to give public comment:
- Operating Budget Hearing #1 (May 19, two hearings: 11am and 5pm)
- Operating Budget Hearing #2 (May 20, two hearings: 10am and 4pm)
- Capital Budget Hearing (May 21, two hearings: 10am and 4pm)
✍️ DVRPC VISION ZERO SURVEY
DVRPC wants to hear from you! DVRPC and its partners are developing a Regional Vision Zero (RVZ) plan to make roadways safer for all users. Click here to log your safety concern on the map.
Want to take another survey? If you haven't already, take PennDOT's survey which closes tomorrow and is a great opportunity to push PennDOT for the Roosevelt Blvd subway, Vision Zero improvements, and no I-95 expansion.
🚫 GRAYS FERRY IS NOT A PARKING LOT
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is proposing a 1,000-vehicle parking garage at 30th and Grays Ferry Avenue. This garage would be over 70 feet tall, reserved for employees, and would require a separate shuttle service.
Sign our petition telling CHOP: Don't Treat Grays Ferry as a Parking Lot
🎂 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, INDEGO!
This past week, Indego celebrated its 10th anniversary of being Philadelphia's bike share system.
To celebrate, they're doing a special collab group ride with Wednesday Night Rides featuring free Indego rides, Indego swag, and a ride around Fairmount Park.
Wednesday Night Rides x Indego Fairmount Park Ride
Wednesday, May 30th; 6:30pm meet, 7:00pm roll
Art Museum Steps
Source: Indego
If you've been wanting to try Indego, you can currently get a one month pass for $5 with code INDEPRO25.
📅 SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR MAY MEETUP
Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers on Thursday, May 22nd for an informal, in-person meet-up over at Resurrection Philadelphia’s Annex! This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event. Light refreshments, pizza, and beer will be served.
The urbanist group 5th Square condemned CHOP’s plans, noting that Grays Ferry is already hemmed in by highways, and that as a result, air quality in the neighborhood is poor due to auto emissions.
The huge garage, the group argued, will only make things worse. It will encourage more driving, which the group notes is particularly hazardous to child pedestrians.
“I’m just shocked that they would do this,” said Natasha Tabachnikoff, who co-chairs 5th Square’s housing committee. “It’s not being a good neighbor to outsource their parking garage to an area with already extremely high particulate matter. This has really horrible health impacts for their target clientele of children.”
P.S. Sign our petition opposing CHOP's massive parking garage!
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
🏛️ Budget Meetings and Surveys
Mayor Parker and City Council are taking input on our upcoming budget via public meetings and surveys. Find one of the Mayor's town halls here, find one of City Council's hearings here, and fill out these surveys:
📣 Tell PennDOT Your Priorities
PennDOT wants you to share your transportation needs. This is an important opportunity to guide PennDOT's initiatives for the next decade and push for safer streets, no I-95 expansion, the Roosevelt Blvd subway, and more!
See our full guide on how to complete their survey.
🗳️ Get Ready for the Primary Election
There's an election coming up on 5/20 and mail-in ballot applications are open! It takes just a few minutes to request a mail-in ballot now and make sure you're ready to vote in May. If you're not already a registered voter, you can register 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
Wednesday Night Rides x Indego Fairmount Park Ride
Wednesday, May 30th; 6:30pm meet, 7:00pm roll | Art Museum Steps
To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Indego is doing a special collab group ride with Wednesday Night Rides featuring free Indego rides, Indego swag, and a ride around Fairmount Park.
Explore the Audubon Loop Trail
Saturday, May 10th • 1:00 pm | John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
Join the Bicycle Coalition on World Migratory Bird Day for a presentation on birds and the latest trail expansion plans, followed by a biking tour of the Audubon Loop Trail and the Perkiomen Trail.
Schuylkill River Trail Christian to Crescent Opening Day Celebration
Saturday, May 17 from 10:30am to 2:30pm | Plaza on SRT near Christian St
The Schuylkill River Trail's connection between Christian Street and Grays Ferry Crescent is finally opening! Join the opening day celebration for the SRT's newest segment.
21st Annual Ride of Silence
Wednesday, May 21st, 6:45 PM | North apron of City Hall
This year's Ride of Silence will honor the eight cyclists killed over the past year with a ceremony followed by a slow ride around the city in complete silence.
5th Square May Meetup
May 22, 6:00pm – 8pm | Resurrection Philadelphia’s Annex, 401 S 42nd St
Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up! This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event. These meet-ups are casual social gatherings, and are intended as a fun way for new and existing supporters to connect with other people involved with 5th Square and urbanist issues in Philadelphia.
Design Advocacy Group: One-on-One with Angela Brooks
Wednesday, May 28 · 5:30 - 7pm | 1218 Arch Street
Join DAG as they host Angela Brooks, Philadelphia's new Chief Housing & Urban Development Officer and Immediate Past President of the American Planning Association (APA), for a one-on-one conversation that will touch on issues related to affordable and accessible housing and community development.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Montgomery County / Business Analyst/Project Manager
SEPTA /
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission / Director of Regional Planning
City of Philadelphia
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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