Broad, Germantown, and Erie (BGE)

Bringing restoration, beautification, traffic safety, and investment to downtown North Philadelphia.

About

Started in 2017, the Broad, Germantown, and Erie Project is a joint effort between City departments and neighborhood organizations. The project's goals are to:

Make the intersection safer. The proposed changes to traffic flow will improve pedestrian and driver safety.
Create new public spaces. Two new plazas will be built at the intersection and reflect a community-driven design.
Create jobs and support businesses. Community partners have received increased funding for sidewalk cleaning, and storefront improvements are in progress. Business support is underway, as is research on local hiring.
Honor local history. A team of neighborhood history enthusiasts is focusing on historic buildings, photo essays, history collections, and public art and markers. They are selecting historic photos for the “pop-up” park and helping lead an artist-selection process for public art in the plazas.

Community partners collaborate with the City on this project and provide direction. Our partners advise us on how to do outreach, provide the first round of community feedback, and suggest improvements to the project.

Connect

Email	bge@phila.gov
	Phone: (215) 436-9886
Social	Facebook Twitter Instagram

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Project timeline

2017

Mayor Kenney starts the Broad, Germantown, and Erie (BGE) Task Force.

A study shows that Broad, Germantown, and Erie are part of the 12% of Philadelphia streets where 50% of all traffic deaths and severe injuries happen. In the Vision Zero initiative, these streets are called the High-Injury Network.

2018

Nicetown-Tioga Library is chosen to receive improvements through Rebuild. Rebuild is the City’s program to improve parks, rec centers, playgrounds, and libraries across Philly’s neighborhoods.

North Broad Street is closed to car and bus traffic from BGE all the way to City Hall for Philly Free Streets, allowing people to run, walk, bike, and play all along the street for half of the day.

An engineering study is started to look for ways to make the BGE intersection safer for walking, driving, taking SEPTA, and biking.

2019

Called to Serve CDC starts a workforce development program to help community members get and keep jobs.

Five stores install new awnings. Ten stores start pursuing new storefronts.

Four stores start the process for interior renovations: Tops Beauty, Caribbean Feast, Dwight’s BBQ, and the Black & Nobel building.

Philly Free Streets is held on North Broad Street again.

In September, the Broad, Germantown, and Erie Honoring History Committee starts meeting.

In October, a public meeting is held to get feedback on idea for engineering ideas to make the BGE intersection safer.

2020

January 2020

The task force holds a public meeting and resource fair to get feedback on an updated idea to make the intersection safer. Residents share their thoughts on important neighborhood history and what should be in new public plazas.