It is no secret that the streets of Philadelphia can be dangerous. The city’s infrastructure needs some major improvements in an effort to keep motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians safe. Too many people are being injured out there because the roads do not foster a safe environment for those traveling by various means. Fortunately, it looks like 2020 will kick off some major traffic improvements for Philadelphia.
Traffic Improvement Funding in Philadelphia
Governor Tom Wolf recently announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is set to distribute $13.1 million in Automated Red-Light Enforcement (ARLE) revenue to fund 41 improvement projects across 34 municipalities, Philadelphia included. The $13.1 million in funding comes from fines paid from red-light violations at 31 intersections in Philadelphia. Pursuant to state law, these fines must go towards funding projects that are focused on improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion in traffic areas.
To receive grant money from the ARLE fund, municipalities across the state submitted a total of 116 applications. The applications totaled close to $33.6 million in requests for traffic improvement funding. Applications were reviewed and selected by a committee with eight members. The committee reviewed project applications for potential benefits and effectiveness as well as cost and cost-sharing. The potential regional and local impact of the project was also considered in the application review project. With the distribution of the $13.1 million in ARLE funds, the ARLE funding program will have awarded a total of $91.59 million since its inception in 2012. This money went to fund 457 safety projects.
Philadelphia is set to have several key safety projects funded with the $6.6 million in ARLE funds it is set to receive. Much of the money will go towards several improvement projects for Old City Market Street, from 6th to 2nd Street. These improvements will include things like rightsizing and protecting bike lanes as well as signal improvements. Bus boarding and pedestrian islands will also be added. Additionally, there will also be several other lower-cost safety improvements made to the city streets and sidewalks. Pavement marking will be improved, rumble strips will be added and so will curb extensions. There will also be green bicycle conflict zones.
On top of all of this, there are big plans to expand the ease and safety of bicycle access in the city. A redesign of high-quality bicycle network streets is in the works that will include both protected bike lanes as well as neighborhood bikeway corridors. Philadelphia’s Modern Roundabout Program will also continue. Intersection modifications will take place to slow traffic in these areas. To do this, the sight distance between drivers and pedestrians will be improved and pedestrian vulnerability will be reduced by reducing pedestrian crossing time. Lastly, there will be city-wide fiber optic signal integration and LED street lighting to promote walkability in commercial and residential areas.
Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys
Let’s hope that all of the traffic safety projects that received funding help make Philadelphia a safer place for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Even the safest of roads, however, can still prove to be dangerous. If you are hurt in Philadelphia, talk to one of the skilled personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy. We will consult with you regarding the potential you may have to bring a personal injury claim seeking compensation for your damages. Contact us today.
