5th Square is providing the following press release in reaction to newly-released City Transit Plan:
February 22, 2021
For Immediate Release
PHILADELPHIA --
Today the City of Philadelphia released its Transit Plan which details a vision for our region’s transit system going forward to 2045.
Dena Driscoll, Co-chair of 5th Square PAC gives the plan strong marks. “We at 5th Square are thrilled to see the City come out with such progressive goals and solid ideas to improve our region’s transit system.”, she said. “Transit is an investment in our future, and this plan is the answer our region needs as we begin to solve our problems with equity, congestion, and climate change.”
This important plan calls for investments and policy changes that prioritize transit reliability, mobility and equity, while reducing our region’s contribution to climate change in car usage and helping power the region’s economic recovery from the pandemic.
Normally, over 450,000 Philadelphians ride the bus daily, the most of any transit mode. We are pleased the City makes improving bus service a priority. Crucially, the City will support SEPTA’s Bus Network Redesign with dedicated corridors that improve bus access and decrease trip time across multiple neighborhoods.
5th Square is also highly supportive of efforts towards Trolley Modernization and Frequent Regional Rail, both of which will unlock much more frequency and resulting ridership on existing rail corridors. Recognizing the continued growth of key underserved neighborhoods and bottlenecks, we also welcome the inclusion of rapid transit expansion as a bold vision to truly connect the city together.
The vision also lays out a strong policy framework for supporting transit service. 5th Square supports continued equity changes to fare policy, including low-income fares and fare capping to match pass pricing. We are especially encouraged with the land-use section, which calls for transit-oriented development zoning overlays at all high-frequency stations at a 2,000 ft radius.
Driscoll adds, “We applaud the work of Mike Carroll, and the Mayor’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability, and want to see SEPTA Management and our regional lawmakers give these important regional priorities the attention and funding that it deserves.”
5th Square is Philly's urbanist political action committee. We formed in 2014 to support candidates for local elected office who are committed to policy change in the areas of transportation, land use, and public space, and to advance a vision for a more accessible, sustainable, equitable Philadelphia for all residents.