PHILADELPHIA, March 29, 2022 – The Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) is kicking off the community design process for Tenth Memorial Way and West Passyunk as part of the Vision Zero Neighborhood Slow Zone Program.
The Neighborhood Slow Zone Program supports the City’s Vision Zero goal introduced by Mayor Jim Kenney in October 2016 to eliminate traffic fatalities. Responding to Philadelphia residents’ common concerns about speeding on their neighborhood streets, the program expands residents’ traffic calming options from single-block solutions to entire zones of residential streets.
“The Neighborhood Slow Zone Program supports CONNECT: Philadelphia’s Strategic Transportation Plan goals for civic engagement by collaboratively working with communities. We look forward to meeting the neighbors of 10th Memorial Way and West Passyunk to work hand-in-hand with neighbors to design Slow Zones that meet their needs,” said Mike Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for Transportation.
The Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) who administers the program in partnership with the Streets Department received completed Neighborhood Slow Zone applications from 28 communities back in 2019. Complete applications were evaluated and objectively ranked on a need basis. Willard Elementary and Fairhill were the first neighborhoods to be selected to receive slow zones in the first round of the program. Construction for Willard Elementary Slow Zone and the Fairhill Neighborhood Slow Zone will be complete in April 2022. The public is invited to see the finalized construction of the Willard Elementary Slow Zone at a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 3, 2022.
In 2020, the City announced the selection of Tenth Memorial Way and West Passyunk Slow Zones as part of the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan 2025. These neighborhoods were scored based upon criteria described in the Neighborhood Slow Zone Program Application evaluating crash history, community spaces (like schools or churches), and vulnerable populations living in the area.
The Neighborhood Slow Zone Program is made possible by Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) funding, which is distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The total ARLE funding award is $1 million, which includes design and construction costs associated with the two (2) Neighborhood Slow Zones. The City continues to explore additional funding sources for the Neighborhood Slow Zone program.
A kick-off meeting for the Tenth Memorial Slow Zone will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Prep, 1733 West Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130 where neighbors are invited to give feedback on the Slow Zone designs being proposed. Two additional meetings will take place this year.
Construction for both slow zones is anticipated to begin in 2024.
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About Vision Zero: The City of Philadelphia is proud to adopt Vision Zero. Vision Zero aims to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries on Philadelphia streets by 2030, while increasing safety, health, and mobility for all. Learn more at www.VisionZeroPHL.com.
