Clean Air Ohio

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

Join the Clean Air Council in participating in the Pretzel Pedal Challenge! Log your bike rides from September 1-30 to automatically earn points that qualify you for discounts and prizes! Create a Share-A-Ride profile to join!

WHYY: SEPTA gets $80 million federal grant to make ADA upgrades at trolley stations – Federal grant money has been awarded to SEPTA, through the All Stations Accessibility Program. $80 million has been allocated for the reconstruction of the 22nd Street, 33rd Street, and 36th Street trolley stations, building elevators, and a complete overhaul of facilities. The upgrades should be completed in 2-3 years, coinciding with the implementation of new accessible trolleys, slated for arrival in 2029.

6ABC: Local athletes develop lifelong passions atop bikes with Independence Youth Cycling – Independence Youth Cycling is a local nonprofit that connects kids with cycling through bike-share programs, coaches and teams, and team rides. The nonprofit supports series across Philadelphia, south Jersey, and Montgomery County. Teams include introducing kids to mountain biking as a sport through race and adventure events, and trail rides in different parks across Philadelphia.

BillyPenn: The status of the Spring Garden Connector project – The Spring Garden Street corridor has been waiting for improvements and upgrades since 2009. The corridor improvements include protections for cyclists and pedestrians, increased access to green space, and better connectivity to the nationwide East Coast Greenway Project. The project did succeed in 2016 with a public art installation along I-95 underpass outside Spring Garden Station. However, the core concept, protected bike lanes, is still to come. The project is still in the design phase, with hopes to find construction contracts in 2029.

Mass Transit Mag: New Garden State Initiative report says NJ Transit needs performance-based review, not just more funding

The Inquirer: Burlington County’s free shuttle bus will finally hit the road next week

Transit Forward Philadelphia: The Impact of Trolley Modernization on Philly Students

Philadelphia Today: PHL Airport Buys 31.6-Acre Property for $42 Million to Fuel Future Expansion

Mass Transit Mag: NJ Transit advances bus technology upgrades to add Wi-Fi, better bus tracking

Pittsburgh Business Times: Amtrak creates board committee to guide expansion as Pittsburgh gains second daily train

Annie Fox, staff attorney at Clean Air Council, speaks at the rally.

“We know data centers are coming, we know the people of Philly are unprotected, and we demand that Council take one step to adding protection with a moratorium NOW.”

PHILADELPHIA – More than 200 Philadelphians gathered Monday outside City Hall to launch the No Data Centers in Philly campaign, calling on City Council to pass a citywide data center moratorium. 

VIEW PHOTOS // WATCH LIVESTREAM

Two potential data center sites have been identified in Southwest Philadelphia and the Northeast, but Philadelphia does not currently have any rules on how communities should be protected. 

Philly’s push for a moratorium is part of a growing national response: More than 500 communities nationwide have passed data center moratoriums or bans. If passed, Philadelphia would be the largest city in the country to pass a data center moratorium. A local petition calling for a moratorium has gathered more than 2,300 signatures.

Data centers increase electric bills, pollution, water waste, and power surveillance and AI technologies. A recent poll found 76% of Pennsylvania voters oppose data center construction in their communities.

Groups in attendance supporting the call for a moratorium represented physicians, moms, veterans, pastors, children, neighborhood groups, environmental groups, racial justice groups, and more, including: Moms for Clean Air Force, Food and Water Watch, About Face Veterans Philly, Alliance for a Just Philadelphia, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, Reclaim Philadelphia, March on Harrisburg, Save Chinatown, No Arena in the Heart of Our City, Peace Justice Sustainability Now, HERE 4 Climate Justice, Sunrise Philly, Camp Sojourner, the Organizing Center, Philly Thrive, Black Alliance for Peace, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Amistad Law Project, 215 People’s Alliance, Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, Earth Quaker Action Team, Clean Air Council, Library Freedom Project, and more.

Sonya Sanders, resident of Grays Ferry and board president of Philly Thrive, said:
“People in my neighborhood are still sick and suffering from the pollution of the oil refinery that went on for generations. I lost my beloved husband, Big Ray, to cancer because in my eyes, the pollution killed him. And now Big Tech wants to come in here and do it all over again. They want to get rich off our backs, profiting off Black and brown people again. Thinking about my friends who are struggling with cancer and breathing disorders, and in memory of my husband Big Ray, we’re saying: press pause. Put the people at the table. We need to put people before profit. We need a moratorium now.”

Nikki Grant, co-executive director of Amistad Law Project, said:
“Data centers are the physical place where the AI tools that surveil us live. We know that the safest communities have an abundance of resources like quality education, affordable housing, healthcare, including mental healthcare, and clean air and green spaces. Unfortunately, instead of making deep investments in the things that keep us safe, Black and brown and working class communities in Philadelphia get police, prison, detention and deportation. If we want to stop the overpolicing of Black neighborhoods, we must stop the massive expansion of hyperscale data centers nationwide, and that fight starts here at home. That’s why we demand a moratorium now.”

Dr. Daniel Wolk, family physician and geriatrician at Bryn Mawr Family Practice and Residency Program and member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, said:
“Peoples’ health depends on the health of their environment. We are now in the midst of a race by big tech companies, fossil gas producers and their billionaire leaders to build data centers as fast and as big as possible, regardless of their impact on public health, driven by the need for profit. Data centers, powered by fossil gas, pollute our air with toxic nitrogen oxides and tiny particles called PM2.5, increasing rates of asthma in our children, and deaths from heart disease, stroke, dementia, and respiratory disease in our elders. Guided by the first principle in the Hippocratic oath: ‘First, do no harm,’ we call on City Council to enact a moratorium now on data center development in Philadelphia.”

Annie Fox, staff attorney with Clean Air Council, said:
“We know that new dirty fossil fuel power generation and extra fracking needed to feed these behemoths will multiply air pollution linked to asthma, heart disease, and even premature death, most endangering our children, our elders, and people who already have health struggles. There’s also so much that we don’t know, and we can’t race ahead until we do. What regulations are right to protect the people of Philadelphia and our environment? We need that moratorium to give the city government time to figure that out. The city shouldn’t trample our health in a contrived race to attract huge data centers that benefit large corporations, not us. More than 500 communities have passed data center moratoriums, let’s make Philadelphia next.” 

Shawmar Pitts, managing co-director of Philly Thrive, said:
“Big Tech could build a data center in Philly right now, today, if they wanted to, because we don’t have a moratorium. We don’t have protection for the people. Big Tech gets a tax break, and then we gotta pay their taxes, their electric bill, their water bill, and sacrifice our health. Slowly dying in Grays Ferry from the refinery poison was normal to us. So we know the playbook already and it’s not happening again. We wanna see City Council stand with the people and be on the right side of the history, making sure we benefit economically and we put the health of the people first. Do it with a moratorium now.”

Austin Cole, national co-coordinator of the Black Alliance for Peace, said:
“These are not neutral buildings. Data centers help expand surveillance while our PECO bills go up and we get air, water, and noise pollution. They concentrate power and control in unaccountable companies led by tech oligarchs and unaccountable police, ICE, and federal agencies who surveil our communities, harass our families, and prey on our neighbors. A hyperscale data center in any neighborhood in our city is a threat to all Philadelphians, especially working class, Black, Brown, immigrant, and poor residents. We know data centers are coming, we know the people of Philly are unprotected, and we demand that Council take one step to adding protection with a moratorium NOW.”

Senia Lopez, resident of Northeast Philadelphia and organizer with 215 People’s Alliance, said:
“Northeast Philadelphia is often forgotten by our elected officials, but developers and Big Tech companies have not forgotten us. Big Tech is targeting Philadelphia for data centers, including a potential site two miles from my home. They see our neighborhoods as places where they can build, expand, and make money. But right now, Philadelphia has no clear rules to ensure that the people affected by these decisions have a say. A moratorium would give Philadelphia time to create protections and establish a process in which residents have real power over what gets built in our neighborhoods.”

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No Data Centers in Philly is a campaign to put Philly first. We’re calling for a citywide data center moratorium, binding standards to protect our affordability, health, jobs, data, and quality of life, and a transparent public process that ensures Philadelphians decide what gets built in our communities. We believe that what gets built in our city must strengthen the neighborhoods and people that make Philly, Philly – not sacrifice us.

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

Join the Clean Air Council in participating in the Pretzel Pedal Challenge! Log your bike rides from September 1-30 to automatically earn points that qualify you for discounts and prizes! Create a Share-A-Ride profile to join!

NBC Philadelphia: Speeding, double parking fuel safety concerns on East Girard Avenue – East Girard Avenue in Fishtown is an extremely busy corridor, and advocates held a walkthrough this week to push for safety improvements for pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, and transit riders. Issues facing this corridor include speeding drivers, double-parked cars, illegal turns, and pedestrians crossing outside of crosswalks. Improvements could include dedicated turning zones, pedestrian infrastructure, curb extensions, and more traffic signs.

Mass Transit: Off the Beaten Path: Pittsburgh’s streetcar past keeps rolling at Pennsylvania Trolley Museum – Children can enter the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for free throughout September. The museum, located in Washington County, has more than 50 trolleys and streetcars on display. Visitors can ride working trolleys along 4 miles of track. Pittsburgh’s trolley system dates back to the late 1800s, and visitors can learn all about that history and more.

Metro Philadelphia: Gusset Plate Project brings art under the El in Kensington – Murals painted by residents over the past few years were installed onto triangular gusset plates that connect columns and beams holding up the Market-Frankford Line along Kensington Avenue. The Kensington and Harrowgate neighborhoods have received a little more color due to the mural plates, which can be found between Huntington and Tioga stations.

PARK(ing) DAY PHL: PARK(ing) Day is September 18, 2026

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: The Pennsylvania Turnpike is added to Oklahoma’s PikePass system

New Jersey State Democrats: SINGLETON, CCSNJ, SJTA TO ANNOUNCE NEW MICROTRANSIT SHUTTLE IN BURLCO

Virgina Mercury: Amtrak to suspend Virginia-to-D.C. service for critical track upgrades Oct. 16–26

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

As exciting events continue in Philadelphia, learn how you can get around to major summer 2026 events without a car, or being stuck in traffic with GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map!

The Inquirer: SEPTA gets $13.3 million from D.C. for new Silverliner Regional Rail train cars – A $13.3 million federal grant is going to SEPTA to help replace the 223 Silverliner IV train cars that were pulled from service last year. After being in service for half a century and several fires, the train cars were pulled for safety inspections and repairs. The grant is part of the Rail Vehicle Replacement Program, and work will begin in the Fall. 234 new cars will be built, at an estimated cost of $2 billion.

ABC 6: More than 330K drivers ticketed along Broad Street since speed camera enforcement began: PPA report – Speed cameras have been capturing driver data along Broad Street since November 2025 at 15 locations. Drivers exceeding 11 miles over the speed limit are fined starting at $100, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority released a report on violations through March 2026. In total, more than 330,000 drivers were ticketed along the Broad Street corridor.

CBS Pittsburgh: $82M in federal grant money will help Pittsburgh Regional Transit purchase new light-rail vehicles – Pittsburgh Regional Transit is receiving over $82 million in grant funding. The funding will be used to purchase new vehicles for the light-rail system, the “T.”. 45 new vehicles will be replacing old cars on the T, and will feature a more modern interior and on-vehicle wheelchair lifts.

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Lawmakers wrestle with the proliferation of e-scooters on Pa. roadways

WHYY: Philadelphia Cycling Classic returns, reconnecting fans and cyclists with longtime traditions

The Inquirer: New speed cameras in West and North Philadelphia will start warning drivers on Monday

WPXI: Bicyclists flock Pittsburgh’s streets for 33rd annual Pedal PGH fundraiser

Pittsburgh City Paper: Lawrenceville’s guerrilla crosswalks are a white-striped call for change

Philadelphia Today: IBX Partners with Philly Bike Ride for One of the City’s Signature Fall Traditions

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

As exciting events continue in Philadelphia, learn how you can get around to major summer 2026 events without a car, or being stuck in traffic with GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map!

Transit 4 All PA is hiring fellows, with two paid positions in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties: to support transit advocates in building local demand for transit. If you live in Luzerne or Lackawanna County, and you ride transit, apply TODAY. Application closes on September 2, 2026. Learn more here. 

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Additional Amtrak passenger train service to and from Pittsburgh to begin in mid-November – A second daily passenger train will be running between Pittsburgh and New York, via Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The train will begin running in mid-November. Ridership on Pittsburgh to Philadelphia trains exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2024, with nearly 234,000 passengers.

The Inquirer: The return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic will close roads – This weekend the Philadelphia Cycling Classic is back, utilizing the original route of the Ben Franklin Parkway to Kelly Drive. Road closures will start on Saturday and continue into Sunday. SEPTA routes that travel through Manayunk and Roxborough or on Kelly Drive will be detoured.

Metro Philadelphia: Open Streets returns to Center City for 7 Sundays of car-free fun this fall – Center City is bringing back Open Streets: West Walnut, for 7 weekends this fall. Starting September 13 through October 25, along Walnut Street between Broad and 19th Street, and 18th Street between Chestnut and Locust, will close to vehicles from 7 AM until 6 PM. Open Streets will run from 10 AM until 5 PM on Sundays.  Businesses along the closure routes reported an average 59% increase in foot traffic, and 37% increase in sales.

WHYY: Market Street Bridge closed to cars for a year as part of a nearly $150 million upgrade

The Inquirer: Lower Merion has issued more than 600 violations from red-light cameras since mid-July

StreetsBlog USA: Philadelphia Figured Out to Stop Double Parking — Will Other Cities Follow Suit?

The Inquirer: New trail connector lets bikers ride 70 miles from Philly to Reading. It’s ‘a really, really big deal.’

CBS Pittsburgh: Signs for upcoming PennDOT projects causing concerns for drivers, but impacts won’t be long-lasting

Philadelphia Today: Philadelphia Named Finalist to Host 2028 Democratic National Convention