Following a long winter, the Philadelphia Streets Department is on pace to break records for pothole repair, but that won’t be the only improvement paid for by a proposed 33 percent increase in funding to the Streets Department.
Mayor Michael A. Nutter’s recent budget proposal for the city of Philadelphia includes a 33 percent increase in funding—from $12 million to $16 million—for the Streets Department paving budget. The extra funds will allow the department to “resurface 56 miles of city streets and install 533 ADA-approved curb ramps,” according to a recent report by Christine Fisher.
In a helpful bit of insight into how Philadelphia gets the business of street repair done, pothole repair is relatively cheap, according to Fisher, because the Streets Department uses its own labor to do repairs. “Each pothole costs about $22 to fix and is paid for with capital dollars from the paving budget. If the department repairs an additional 10,000 potholes, that costs about $220,000...”
The Streets Department has already repaired more than 12,200 potholes this winter.
FULL STORY: $16 million slated for city's worst streets
SEPTA Ready to Roll Out Major Capital Investments
Budgets reflect priorities, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will be prioritizing capital investments in the 2018 fiscal year.
Biking The TIGER
Bicycling and walking advocates should also be happy about the new TIGER grants - almost half of the funded projects included funding for bike and ped infrastructure.
Five Key Transportation Funding Proposals in Trump’s Budget
The President’s proposed 2026 budget would keep spending roughly the same for transit and rail and eliminate over $5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)