City officials recently announced two complete street safety projects coming to West Philly as part of scheduled PennDOT repaving.
Both West Chestnut and West Market streets are on the city’s Vision Zero High Injury Network, which is made up of the 12 percent of streets that account for 80 percent of serious and fatal traffic crashes in Philadelphia. Streets on the High Injury Network are prioritized for traffic calming and safety improvements.
“The Chestnut and Market Streets Repaving and Complete Streets Safety Projects will offer more than two miles of increased traffic safety for people who walk, take transit, bike, and drive on those streets,” said Mayor Jim Kenney in a statement. “Our administration is committed to making critical investments in traffic safety improvements that not only enhance our neighborhoods but also ensure no one has to grieve the loss of a loved one as a result of a traffic crash.”
On Chestnut Street, the repaving project will include a new parking protected bike lane from 63rd Street/Cobbs Creek Parkway to 45th Street and refine the existing parking-protected bike lane between 45th and 34th streets, which will improve safety for people walking across Chestnut Street by reducing the number of car lanes they have to cross.
“These projects reflect our commitment to provide our West Philadelphia neighbors – whether walking, biking, or driving – with access to safe streets,” said Rep. Joanna McClinton. “I am grateful to be part of the collaborative effort that made these critical updates a reality and look forward to building on these types of improvements in our neighborhoods.”
Currently, Market Street has painted bike lanes from 63rd Street/Cobbs Creek Parkway to 34th Street, however, the planned repaving will extend those bike lanes to 30th Street.
For the Chestnut Street project, the City’s Office of Complete Streets worked closely with the Cobbs Creek Neighbors Association, the Walnut Hill Community Association, Spruce Hill Community Association, and Garden Court Community Association, business associations, Councilmember Jaime Gauthier and State Rep. McClinton.
“I’m grateful that these much-needed street safety enhancements are coming to our neighborhoods. We need to ensure that people can navigate city streets with ease – whether traveling on foot, on a bicycle, or in a car – and the projects being announced today are an important step in that direction,” Gauthier said in a statement.
Over 1,700 stakeholders filled out surveys. The city also carried out corner meetings, virtual and in-person civic meetings, and distributed flyers along the corridor. Survey results showed a strong preference for the parking protected layout on Chestnut Street and traffic analysis supports the new layout and safety improvements along Chestnut Street. Walnut Street will not be paved in 2022.
The Office of Complete Streets and the office of Councilmember Gauthier are working closely with food truck owners, the Parking Authority and SEPTA on the new roadway layout and updated curbside parking and loading regulations.
For information, visit the project page for the Chestnut and Walnut Repaving project, and view this fact sheet on the Market Street project.
