As described in a blog post in early December, after a major outreach effort conducted by the City’s the Office of Transportation Infrastructure and Sustainability (oTIS) in 2020, in late fall 2021 oTIS initiated an effort to gather additional input on the Washington Avenue repaving project. They formed a small working group of community members and interested stakeholders, and the Bicycle Coalition was invited to participate. As part of that working group’s activities, a new paper survey for the redesign of this corridor was distributed during December and early January. Results of the paper survey are now being tabulated by the City. The working group will be meeting again in mid-January to learn more about the results.
In the meantime, a resident who lives near Washington Avenue, with support from several neighborhood organizations, created an online petition supporting the final 3 lane crossing design and requesting that the City start the repaving project.
Collage of two District maps created by Jonathan King. See the full images further in the post.
The petition was created by Jonathan King (on Twitter @jrking215) and endorsed by the Point Breeze Business Association and neighborhood groups in Graduate Hospital, Bella Vista, Passyunk Square, East Passyunk Crossing, and Dickinson Square West.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia supports the petition and invites anyone who lives in the neighborhoods covered by the 1st and 2nd Councilmanic Districts to take a few minutes to consider signing the petition here.
The petition urges 2nd District Council Member At-Large Kenyatta Johnson, 1st District Council Member At-Large Mark Squilla, and Philly oTIS to finalize the 3 lane design for Washington Ave and start repaving as soon as possible. Currently, the petition shows strong support from residents who reside in the two Councilmanic Districts that cover the corridor. 884 people from the 2nd District of Philadelphia represented by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson have signed the petition in support, and 749 people have signed in the 1st District, represented by Councilman Mark Squilla.
This is a developing issue. We will report on the the activities of the working group and ongoing decisions by oTIS as they develop. To stay up to date with what is happening with Washington Ave, please follow us on Twitter @BCGP.