Title
Authorizing the Council Committee on Streets and Services to hold hearings to investigate the policies, procedures, and practices regarding the changing of the direction of streets as authorized by the Philadelphia Department of Streets.
Body
WHEREAS, Chapter 12-600 of The Philadelphia Code prescribes the City’s regulations and penalties regarding the direction of streets, vesting authority in the Department of Streets; and
WHEREAS, Street direction changes can be promulgated by ordinance or by Department regulation; and
WHEREAS, The 2100 block of Cherry street has become a flashpoint over the last several years, as the 2020 reversal of the direction of traffic on that stretch of Cherry street at the request of residents of the block has proven unpopular with many Logan Square residents; and
WHEREAS, The Streets Department proposed in 2024 a reversing of the direction of traffic of the 1500 block of Wood street along Broad street to be run on a trial basis to reduce traffic conflicts due to complaints from municipal workers; and
WHEREAS, Better documentation and understanding of these complaints would be helpful to feasibly soliciting community and stakeholder input into the changing of the direction of streets, making engagement on this issue with the Department of Streets critical; and
WHEREAS, As the City of Philadelphia continues to pursue street safety and traffic calming measures to slow down cars and keep our public right of way safe for pedestrians and cyclists, and as our streetscape continues to get remade for pedestrians through the installation of plazas, pedestrian zones, and street transportation modules, it is more important than ever that the Council understand how street direction changes are determined; and
WHEREAS, Street direction changes are one of the most dramatic alterations to City life that a government entity can make, necessitating a better understanding of the policies, procedures and practices that inform such changes; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Streets and Services is hereby authorized to hold hearings regarding the process and procedures regarding the changing of the direction of streets as authorized by the Philadelphia Department of Streets.
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