Streets Department crews are set to begin repaving five major thoroughfares in Philadelphia this week, including some streets in West Philadelphia. The work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday night, May 18.

There will be temporary street closures and parking restrictions to accommodate street resurfacing on the following streets:

• Spruce Street from 63rd Street to South Street/Convention Avenue
• 34th Street from Walnut Street to Spruce Street
• Presidential Blvd/Neil Dr/Falls Road from City Avenue to Falls Bridge
• MLK Drive from Falls Bridge to Art Museum
• Windrim Avenue from Wayne Avenue to Fisher Avenue

The resurfacing work for these streets is expected to be completed by mid-June. During the work, residents should expect parking restrictions – temporary ‘No Parking’ signs will be posted in advance of each scheduled activity.

Construction work will begin on the Safe Spaces for Cycling Project, starting the week of April 26th (weather permitting), according to today’s announcement by Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams.

The project involves the upgrading or reconfiguring bike lanes with the installation of pavement markings, flexible delineator posts, and bike lane related signage.

The following streets in West Philadelphia are included within the scope of this project:

• Parkside Avenue from Girard Ave to 52nd St. Continue Reading

The Indego bike station at 44th and Walnut.

Indego, Philly’s bike share program, has announced that it will expand in West Philadelphia and parts of South Philadelphia next year. Indego is planning to install approximately 30 new stations in the city next year, including in the new service area in West Philly, which includes the neighborhoods of Garden Court, Walnut Hill, Cedar Park, and Mill Creek (see map below).

Indego also plans to add more stations to the already existing service area and will introduce 300 electric bikes to its fleet in 2021.  Continue Reading

The SEPTA Trolley Tunnel that connects West Philadelphia with Center City will be closed every night from 12 a.m. until 5 a.m., beginning Sunday, Dec. 13 until further notice, SEPTA has announced. During the closure hours, SEPTA crews will be working on COVID-19 maintenance, which includes deep cleaning of the stations.

During the overnight tunnel closure, Route 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 trolleys will be on diversion to 40th and Market streets where riders can transfer for free to or from Market-Frankford Line trains or the overnight MFL Owl buses at the 40th Street Station for travel to/from Center City.

Trolleys will continue to operate on their regular route throughout West and Southwest Philadelphia.

In the wake of the tragic death of 25-year-old Avante Reynolds, a pedestrian killed on Cobbs Creek Parkway last month, and the demand for changes from the community, PennDOT and the city’s Streets Department have agreed to carry out safety improvements on the Parkway. The decision was announced today during a meeting with elected officials from West Philadelphia that included State Sen. Anthony Williams, State Rep. Joanna McClinton, and City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.

PennDOT will begin installing multiple improvements within the next month, including rumble strips along the center lanes along the Parkway from Girard Avenue to Baltimore Avenue. A new style of rumble strip technology will be used which minimizes noise and nuisance to neighboring residents.  Continue Reading

The Cobbs Creek Community Association and 5th Square have launched a petition demanding a safer Cobbs Creek Parkway, one of the city’s deadliest roadways. The petition is addressed to PennDOT and the Philadelphia Streets Department and demands immediate action to make this road safe for all its users.  Continue Reading