PHILADELPHIA – In case you missed it, the Streets Department announced the kickoff of the expansion of Phase II of the City’s Mechanical Cleaning Pilot Program. With the support of Mayor Kenney’s $62 million investment over five years in street cleaning, the Streets Department has expanded Phase II to include cleaning in 14 neighborhoods identified through the Litter Index as having the highest concentration of litter and requiring additional city services to supplement cleaning efforts.  The program will run Monday, April 4 through Tuesday, November 30, 2022.

The 2022 Mechanical Cleaning Pilot Program will launch on Monday, April 4 in the following areas:

  • North Central: Broad St. to 22nd from Glenwood Ave. to Diamond St.
  • Frankford: Bridge St. to Adams Ave. from Griscom St. to Torresdale Ave.
  • Germantown: Berkley St. to Chelten Ave. from Pulaski Ave. to Wakefield St.
  • Kensington: 2nd St. to Kensington Ave. from Tioga St. to Lehigh Ave.
  • Logan: Godfrey St. to Roosevelt Blvd. from Broad St. to 5th Sts.
  • Nicetown: Broad St. to Clarissa St. from Hunting Park Ave. to Windrim St.
  • Paschall: 58th St. to 70th from Greenway Ave. to Dicks St.
  • Point Breeze: Christian St. to McKean St. from Broad St. to 24th St.
  • Port Richmond: Kensington Ave. to Aramingo Ave. from Tioga St. to Lehigh Ave.
  • South Philly: McKean St. to Oregon Ave. from 4th St. to 8th St.
  • Southwest: Woodland Ave. to Kingsessing Ave. from 49th St. to Cemetery Ave.
  • Strawberry Mansion: Diamond St. to Lehigh Ave. from Sedgley St. to 33rd
  • West Fairhill: 5th St. to 13th St. from Glenwood Ave. to Susquehanna Ave.
  • West Philly: Parkside Ave. to Spring Garden St. from 52nd St. to 40th St.

In preparation for the launch of phase II of the Mechanical Cleaning Pilot Program, the Streets Department has been installing poles and posting signage along with testing equipment on designated routes in selected areas.  To date, “No Parking” signage during specified times has been posted in six of the fourteen Phase II areas. As such, residents may notice mechanical cleaning signage presently posted on their blocks.

To facilitate a more detailed cleaning, there will be restricted street parking on streets wide enough to accommodate relocation of vehicles. Some of the routes in the expanded mechanical cleaning pilot program will require residents to move their vehicles. Authorized Philadelphia ticketing agencies will begin issuing warnings on vehicles parked on the roadway during specified no parking times during the first month of the Phase II pilot. Beginning in May, posted “No Parking” signs will be enforced with assessed fines. For the success of the program and to avoid fines, residents must adhere to the parking restrictions listed on the posted signs.

The following areas will have enforced ticketing beginning in May:

  • North Central: Broad St. to 22nd from Glenwood Ave. to Diamond St.
  • Kensington: 2nd St. to Kensington Ave. from Tioga St. to Lehigh Ave.
  • South Philly: McKean St. to Oregon Ave. from 4th St. to 8th St.
  • Southwest: Woodland Ave. to Kingsessing Ave. from 49th St. to Cemetery Ave.
  • Strawberry Mansion: Diamond St. to Lehigh Ave. from Sedgley St. to 33rd
  • West Philly: Parkside Ave. to Spring Garden St. from 52nd St. to 40th St.

The Streets Department will continue to install signs over the course of the season in the remaining eight areas. Residents should anticipate a 30-day warning period following the installation of any new signage and move vehicles as indicated.  Parking is restricted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., on a staggered schedule.

Alternate street parking intervals will be staggered from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Any unplanned obstacles, i.e., blocked streets or mechanical failure may cause a delay or cancellation for the day. Efforts will be made to service locations as quickly as possible. The mechanical sweeping program will operate Monday through Thursday excluding City-observed holidays.

This pilot program is more comprehensive than standard mechanical sweeping. Equipment used in some areas will help to clear loose litter on sidewalks and other items not easily accessible with a standard mechanical sweeper. The equipment includes mechanical brooms (large and small), sidewalk sweepers, push brooms, and trash compactors used to remove illegally dumped materials. Backpack blowers will be used as part of the launch but not on all streets. They are an effective tool when clearing debris from sidewalks and on small streets where the mechanical broom is unable to fit.  Some streets in each pilot area may have sidewalk cleaning maintenance along with mechanical broom cleaning weekly.

Residents should become accustomed to the new parking restrictions and become familiar with City sanitation regulations. To ensure proper cleaning is maintained, SWEEP Officers will patrol neighborhoods to educate residents on sanitation violations related to trash and litter and may issue warnings on vehicles not moved during designated times.

To minimize the inconvenience during parking restrictions, the Streets Department is finalizing the design of SweepPHL, a web-based map that allows residents to track and monitor the progress of the mechanical broom. The online tool will be housed on StreetSmartPHL.phila.gov.

The Department will continue to evaluate and adjust logistics as necessary to ensure the program is operating effectively and efficiently. Residents are reminded that the Mechanical Street Cleaning Pilot Program supports community led efforts to clean blocks. City Sanitation regulations must be adhered to including setting trash out on regular collection day in the authorized location. Only household trash should be set out for pick up.  Visit www.phila.gov/streets for specific regulations.

 

 

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