The Cobbs Creek Parkway Guide Rail Improvement Project has begun, according to an announcement by the Streets Department, and motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling along and through the work area. Temporary “No Parking” signs will also be posted in advance of each scheduled activity.

Day work hours will consist of temporary roadway shoulder and parking lane closures during off-peak between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., within the work area, from the north side of Woodland Avenue to the south side of Springfield Avenue. Night work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. will also involve the use of temporary roadway shoulder and parking lane closures. Through travel lanes will remain fully open to traffic throughout the project. Continue Reading

Complaining about SEPTA has been a Philly pastime for generations (they may never live down “We’re Getting There“). Buses that never show; ones that blow by you at a stop because they’re full; that long wait on a cold winter morning only for three buses to show up at once. Most of us have been there.

Well, transit planners at last night’s public unveiling of a proposed overhaul of SEPTA’s bus system say they are making changes – from shorter wait times to more consistent schedules and “straighter” routes.

“If we were building it from scratch, what would it look like?” SEPTA transit planner Dan Nemiroff asked during the online meeting to release the proposed route changes as part of SEPTA’s Bus Revolution project. Continue Reading

Open houses for a planned independent community school in West Philly begin this Saturday, Oct. 1.

Set to open in Fall 2023, the Roots and Branches School is recruiting kindergartners and first graders, according to experienced West Philly educator and the school’s director Rowan Machalow.

“Our vision is providing a broad and balanced elementary education to children from a range of cultural and financial backgrounds in the West Philadelphia community,” Machalow wrote in an email. “Our educational model supports educating the whole child through investigation and exploration in our academic curriculum and daily arts, music, and foreign languages, and movement.” Continue Reading

SEPTA is redesigning the entire Philadelphia region bus network as part of its Bus Revolution project and will present a draft network on Monday, Oct. 3. The redesign project aims to make buses more reliable, efficient, and easier to use. The redesigned network will combine SEPTA customers’ feedback with the Bus Revolution team’s ideas.

The new draft network will be presented online during SEPTA’s Transit Talk event on Monday, Oct. 3rd, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m..

During this Transit Talk, SEPTA will:

• Provide an update on the project timeline and next steps
• Share the Draft Network with a focus on what’s proposed and why
• Share the calendar of Fall 2022 events
• Highlight the project website and where information is available
• Let you know what is coming next. Continue Reading

A new Ethiopian-owned business is opening soon on Baltimore Avenue, a block away from popular Alif Brew & Mini Mart (and run by the same folks). An Ethiopian chicken house, Doro Bet, is coming to 4533 Baltimore Ave., the space formerly occupied by Greenstreet Coffee. The space has been vacant since March 2022 after Greenstreet had to shut down operations due to a fire.

A grand opening has been scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (free chicken bites will be offered to first 50 guests).

According to social media posts, the new chicken house will offer gluten-free fried chicken. Teff flour will be used for the coating (teff is ancient gluten-free grain that originated in North Africa). Chicken is battered in your choice of mild lemon turmeric batter (Alicha) or spicy Berbere batter (Awaze) and will come with “some delicious sauces.” Shawarma and sides, like collard greens, fries and mac and cheese, will also be offered.

Doro Bet will also have some vegan options, like fried mushroom strips and a falafel sandwich.

The hours of operation are: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays).

More information and the menu are available here.

Construction activities will begin this week on Parkside Avenue as part of the Vision Zero Project, according to an announcement by the Streets Department. Due to the construction, temporary lane closures are expected between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. throughout the duration of the project, and motorists should anticipate some traffic delays.

The project involves the construction of pedestrian and bus boarding islands, ADA curb ramps, a multi-use trail, curb alignment, traffic signal upgrades at 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue, and a new traffic signal at 50th Street and Parkside Avenue. Work will also consist of new signage and improvements to street lighting at the intersection of 52nd Street and Merion Avenue. Continue Reading