By Erin Curry
On Monday, Mayor Kenney announced Fairhill and Willard Elementary School as the two communities to have their traffic calming proposals funded under the Vision Zero Neighborhood Slow Zone Program.
This program, introduced in October 2016, responds to Philadelphia residents’ concerns of speeding on neighborhood streets, and expands traffic calming options to entire zones of residential streets.
The “winning” communities were chosen from 28 applications and were ranked on a need basis by The Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS), in partnership with the Streets Department.
The City will work with Fairhill neighbors to plan traffic calming on residential streets between N. 2nd and N. 5th Streets, and Allegheny and Glenwood Avenues.
Around Willard Elementary, the City will work with neighbors to plan traffic calming on residential streets between Somerset & Clearfield Streets and Kensington & Frankford Avenues.
“Our city and our residents deserve safer streets,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Managing speeds to save lives is a cornerstone of Vision Zero—whether that be on large streets or residential ones. The Neighborhood Slow Zone Program will install proven countermeasures to manage speeds in the Fairhill neighborhood and neighborhood around Willard Elementary, making the neighborhood streets safer for people walking.”
Michael A. Carroll, Deputy Managing Director of Transportation for OTIS, noted, “Neighborhood Slow Zone Program supports CONNECT: Philadelphia’s Strategic Transportation Plan goals for civic engagement by collaboratively working with communities. We look forward to meeting the neighbors of Fairhill and around Willard Elementary School at the table, and to work hand-in-hand with neighbors to design Slow Zones that meet their needs.”
The Neighborhood Slow Zone Program is made possible by Automated Red Light Enforcement funding, distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The city of Philadelphia was awarded $1M to support the design and construction of two Neighborhood Slow Zones, each with a construction budget up to $450,000. These projects will be completed by September 2021.
Click here to review the Neighborhood Slow Zone Program 2019 application evaluation.