Philly Officials Taking On Center City Congestion

PHILADELPHIA – If you've ever been in Center City, you know how congested it gets with vehicles, pedestrians, buses, and more.

Luckily, city officials joined with partners at SEPTA and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) to announce a new effort to address Center City congestion.

The effort to limit congestion starts Monday, Sept. 24 with an initial focus on illegal movements along Market and Chestnut Streets that impact Philadelphians riding buses, walking, bicycling and driving.

The initial focus of this initiative will enhance enforcement of the bus, bike, and right-turn only lanes on Market and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. Chestnut Street will be prioritized for enforcement between 22nd and 10th Streets; Market will be enforced between 7th and 13th. The only acceptable use of the lanes are right turns.

All other activity including stopping/standing, loading, or traveling through the intersection is prohibited.

To help the Market and Chestnut enforcement effort, fresh line striping of bus lanes was done on Market and Chestnut streets. SEPTA supervisors have been providing warnings and educational pamphlets to drivers in violation in recent weeks.

Recently, Center City’s growth has contributed to an increase in the number of pedestrians, transit riders, bikers and drivers of all types that share its narrow street grid.

Philadelphia has grown by more than 50,000 residents and jobs since 2010, and Center City is now the second most dense downtown in the United States – behind only midtown Manhattan.

Thus, traffic congestion impacts the lives of residents throughout the city, costing them time, and limits their ability to reliably access employment opportunities and amenities.

"People need to get to where they are going – to work, to school, to see their loved ones – and not worry about getting stuck in traffic," Mayor Jim Kenney said. "It’s that simple. That is why the City is joining forces with SEPTA and the PPA to put this project in motion. We don’t need any new legislation, we are just enforcing laws already on the books."

Congestion also leads to higher operating costs for SEPTA, as well as impacts service.

"Our region is Pennsylvania’s economic engine, and it works because mass transit works," said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. "Unmanaged traffic compromises our ability to move people through a dense, urban area. This partnership is crucial to ensure that SEPTA can keep the economy moving."

During the effort, the PPA will focusing on no stopping and standing violations in vital bus lanes, along with other offenses, that add to congestion and create public safety issues.

"We are proud to partner with SEPTA, and the City of Philadelphia to deter illegal parking in vital bus lanes," said PPA Executive Director Scott Petri. "Our goal is not to issue tickets, but rather deter if not stop unsafe behavior and eliminate congestion from our streets."

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