Last week, the City of Philadelphia, led by the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) and Vision Zero Philadelphia, visited St. Joe’s Preparatory School in North Philadelphia to announce the completion of the fifth Neighborhood Slow Zone. The Tenth Memorial Neighborhood Slow Zone was constructed throughout the summer and fall of 2025 and includes:
- Speed Limit Reduction to 20 MPH
- 51 Speed Cushions
- 12 Gateway Treatments
- 58 Corner Clearances and Curb Extensions
- 2 Midblock Crosswalks
“Safety is what I care about,” said Donna Price, Block Captain and traffic safety champion, who applied for the slow zone with support from community partners in 2019. After the application was accepted in 2021, the safety improvements were co-designed with residents, stakeholders, and OTIS throughout 2022 and 2023. The Slow Zone includes three schools where many students walk to school. “We, as adults, have to protect the children so they can have safe passage to and from school,” said Price regarding the need for safety improvements around the schools.
“The Neighborhood Slow Zone Program is a key part of Vision Zero.” said Michael Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for the City’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems. “Vision Zero Philadelphia is committed to eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on Philadelphia streets. To eliminate deaths, we must reduce speeds and make our streets more predictable.”
Speed reduction and roadway redesign are fundamental Safer Speeds and Safer Streets solutions. They are part of Philadelphia’s Safe System Approach. The Safe System Approach guides Philadelphia’s investment in Vision Zero for the next five years which will be expanded upon in the Vision Zero Action Plan 2030.
“With the slower speeds and better street design in these communities we’re taking real steps to protect the kids, protect our elders, and everyone else who walks, bikes, and travels through these communities” said Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. “This project came from the neighborhood, came from the residents,” said Young, highlighting the importance of the community-driven nature of the Neighborhood Slow Zone program.
The Slow Zone is bounded by Cecil B. Moore Ave, N 21st St, Ridge Ave, Girard Ave, and N 16th St. Within the Slow Zone there are many community institutions including St. Joe’s Preparatory School, the Gesu School, the Meade School, the Tenth Memorial Baptist Church, Ingersoll Park, and the William B. Moore Manor Senior Center. The traffic safety improvements will improve safety and access to these resources.
In addition to roadway design improvements, the ribbon-cutting was an opportunity to educate students about how to travel safely on our roads. Safe Routes Philly joined the Vision Zero team to do traffic safety activities with students from the Gesu School. According to Pete DeCarolis, Safe Routes Philly program coordinator, “Our kids deserve a city where they can travel between their schools, homes, and playgrounds without getting hurt by a vehicle. Making sure all Philadelphia school students learn how to safely walk, bike, and use transit is only half of the job. We must also build streets that encourage adults to drive more safely—and that means slowing down. Combining safety education with safer designs like this slow zone makes our streets safe not only for our youngest commuters, but for everybody.”
In addition to Tenth Memorial, the West Passyunk Neighborhood Slow Zone in South Philadelphia is also in construction. There are six additional Slow Zones across the city in various phases of planning and design. Vision Zero is committed to the Neighborhood Slow Zone Program and eliminating deaths on our roadways.
