East Montgomery Times

Today, Mayor Kenney proposed continued investments to improve the efficiency, accessibility, waste processing, and safety of Philadelphia’s streets as part of the City’s FY24-29 Capital Program, FY24 Budget, and FY24-FY28 Five-Year Plan.

To increase efficiency, the FY24-29 Capital Budget for the Streets Department programs $30 million for paving/reconstruction of streets and ADA ramps in FY24 and $225 million over the life of the Capital Program.

In addition, $35.5 million of new tax-supported dollars for SEPTA will leverage funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The FY24-29 Capital Budget also allocates $33.9 million for traffic engineering improvements and $2.5 million in FY24 in support of the Vision Zero initiative, to make the city’s streets safer for all users.

These capital investments will be accompanied by the following operational funding:

• $30 million for the Streets Department in pay-go/one-time funding in FY24 for paving and ADA ramps.
• The mechanical cleaning program will expand to six new neighborhoods for a total of 20; all areas will have restricted parking requiring the relocation of vehicles.
• A $1.8 million investment to stand up one additional crew to respond to illegal dumping, which builds on the FY23 investment and brings the number of crews to four.
• A $1 million investment to sustain the Taking Care of Business commercial corridor cleaning initiative in FY24, led by the Department of Commerce.

Transit passes for City employees and low-income residents

An $80 million investment over two years in transit passes for City employees and low-income residents–two major new investments designed to ease the burden of transit costs on residents and get more riders on SEPTA’s system, leading to more safety, more frequent and consistent service.

Zero-fare transit program

$31 million per year for two years to pilot a new zero-fare transit program for at least 25,000 Philadelphia residents near or below the poverty level that will provide access to trips anywhere on the SEPTA system.

Free transit for all City employees

$9 million per year to join other large employers in the region participating in the SEPTA Key Advantage Program. Working with our labor partners, the City will provide free transit for all City employees. This two-year pilot is an opportunity to boost the City’s hiring and retention efforts and aligns with our goals of sustainability, traffic safety, and equity as well.

Safer, cleaner, more accessible streets

The budget allocates half of the City-supported general obligation borrowing for FY24 to projects that make the city’s streets safer, cleaner, and more accessible for all of Philadelphia’s residents, businesses, and visitors. Proposed improvements include:

Reconstruction/Resurfacing and Installation of ADA Ramps

The FY24 Capital Budget calls for an infusion of $30 million in street paving coupled with $30 million in operating funds, which together will allow the Department of Streets to pave 75 miles of City streets and construct approximately 3,600 accessible ramps. The City will also engage professional services firms to assist with prioritizing ADA work throughout the City.

Sanitation

The Sanitation Division is receiving $4.5 million in FY24 to complete the upgraded waste processing systems at the Northwest Transfer Station in Roxborough.

Vision Zero

$2.5 million dollars in FY24 for Vision Zero to fund critical improvements to make streets safer for all users. These projects include:

• Old City Market St – 6th Street to 2nd Street
• Safe Street for All projects
  • Market Street – Juniper Street to 6th Street
  • Old York Road – Butler Street to Lindley Avenue
  • 25th Street – Jefferson Street to Sedgley Street
  • 56th Street – Arch Street to Haverford Street
  • 54th Street – Baltimore Avenue to Arch Street
  • Germantown Avenue – Indiana Avenue to Erie Avenue
  • Luzerne Street– American Street to M Street
  • Glenwood Avenue – Oxford Street to Montgomery Avenue
  • North Broad Street – Cecil B. Moore Avenue to Allegheny Avenue
  • Cecil B. Moore – 10th Street to 17th Street
• Slow Zones – West Passyunk Avenue
• Lindbergh Boulevard protected bike lanes
• Washington Avenue connector signals
• Parkside Avenue improvements at Bryn Mawr Avenue and 53rd Street

Improving Transit

The proposed capital budget includes $5.7 million in new City funding for SEPTA in FY24 and $35.5 million across five years. This funding will leverage $1.8 billion in state and federal appropriations. Projects will improve transit infrastructure, vehicles, communications, and payment technologies, providing improved reliability and safety for Philadelphia riders throughout the city and region. The City’s contribution to SEPTA’s investment is a required match for state and federal funding.

Original source can be found here.