Mayor Jim Kenney today proposed continued investments in better and safer streets as part of the City’s FY22-27 Capital Program, FY22 Budget and Five-Year Plan.
The FY22-27 Capital Program for the Streets Department recommends an overall investment of $417.9 million, including a historic infusion of $317.2 million over six years for road reconstruction and resurfacing, and installation of ADA ramps.
The budget allocates half of City-supported general obligation borrowing for FY22 to projects that make the city’s streets safer, cleaner, and more accessible for all of Philadelphia’s residents, businesses, and visitors. Proposed improvements include:
Reconstruction/Resurfacing and Installation of ADA Ramps
Philadelphians who responded to our recent resident survey made it clear that street conditions remain a top concern. The city proposed an investment of $132 million in street paving which is a $100 million increase that will allow the Streets Department to pave 115 miles of City streets and construct approximately 6,955 accessible ramps. The City will also engage professional services firms to assist with prioritizing ADA work throughout the City.
Strengthening Vision Zero
We know that 80 percent of all traffic deaths and serious injuries occur on 12 percent of Philadelphia streets. Making our streets safer is critical and a proposed $1 million dollar investment ($6 million over the next six years) towards traffic safety improvements will help the path forward to zero traffic deaths by 2030. The projects include: Continuing the Neighborhood Slow Zones program and bicycle safety infrastructure improvements.
Improving Transit
SEPTA proposed $3.5 million in investments of new City tax-supported funds. This funding will leverage $195 million in state and federal grant funds in FY22. Projects will improve transit infrastructure, vehicles, communications, and payment technologies, providing improved reliability and safety for Philadelphia riders throughout the city and region.
Upgrades to Sanitation Sites
$1.5 million is proposed as an investment to complete the upgraded waste processing systems at the Northwest Transfer Station in Roxborough.
Bridge Restoration
$500,000 is proposed to serve as the City’s match requirement for several key bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction projects such as the Montgomery Avenue Bridge over Amtrak at 30th Street, MLK Drive over Schuylkill River, and Tabor Road Bridge over Tacony Creek.
