Part of a larger safety and beautification plan, the mural is designed to slow down drivers and bring a 'sense of hope' to the neighborhood.

A Philadelphia neighborhood has a new mural that supporters "hope will improve pedestrian safety, help bring business to the stores on the corridor and, as Somaly Osteen puts it, 'create a sense of hope.'" According to Juliana Feliciano Reyes, "[t]he mural is part of a larger beautification and safety effort run by SEAMAAC [Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition] for the neighborhood" and "is intended to make the intersection safer by attracting the attention of drivers, who will then slow down and stop, instead of rolling through stop signs." The coalition hopes this will improve safety for children walking to nearby schools and instill a sense of pride in the community.
"Murals aiming to slow traffic and increase pedestrian safety have been installed in cities such as St. Paul, Minn.; Baltimore; and Philadelphia — the South of South Street Neighbors Association worked with Mural Arts to install one in Graduate Hospital this year. Philadelphia had a higher rate of traffic-related deaths than New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, according to 2018 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration." Meanwhile, "Neighborhoods that are largely home to people of color and those living in poverty are more likely to experience these accidents."

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Poor Conditions in Mobile Home Parks Put Residents at Risk
Failing infrastructure, poor water and air quality, and predatory owners endanger the health of manufactured home residents, many of whom are elderly and low-income.

How Complete Streets Stands to Lose in the FY26 ‘Skinny Budget’
The President’s proposed budget could cut key resources for active transportation, public transit, and road safety programs.

Dairy Queen and Rural Third Places
Dozens of Dairy Queen restaurants across Texas are closing, taking a critical community space with them.
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