The City is moving forward with the 47th Street Repaving and Traffic Safety project, which includes a new 47th street layout. Today, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) introduced legislation to move forward with the project that will improve traffic safety for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists.
The project, which was introduced to the public in 2023 and underwent some revisions, will:
• Convert two-way vehicle traffic to one-way northbound traffic between Kingsessing Avenue and Chestnut Street
• Improve vehicle movements near St. Francis de Sales Elementary, Henry C. Lea Elementary, and Children’s Community Schools to protect young students
• Install a parking separated bike lane between Kingsessing Avenue and Chestnut Street
• Add loading zones on neighborhood and commercial blocks to enable better access for deliveries as well as passenger pickup and drop-off
• Modify curbside regulations around schools to improve the safety of student pick-up and drop-off
The 47th Street redesign project is the result of 18 months of community engagement on the 47th and 48th Street corridors. 48th Street was repaved last summer. The latest engagement on the 47th Street repaving project was a series of focus group meetings in October 2024 and a public meeting in November 2024, where more than 200 people provided feedback on the planned layout.
The Department of Streets will repave 47th Street later this year, likely in summer 2025.
March 27th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
Ugh. What a huge bummer that they are going with the one way conversion. As a parent of young children who frequently commutes to one of the schools mentioned above, one way northbound is a horrible plan. So many other options to improve the street.
March 28th, 2025 at 4:29 am
South 49th street was just repaved and had “traffic slowing pillows” added and new lines drawn and even bollards added at some corners.
This was a welcome improvement – right up until the yellow spray paint newly marked all the gas lines on the sidewalk, suggesting someone is getting ready to tear up the street for new gas lines. (While also a welcome improvement, seems ill-timed after the water lines were so recently replaced. )
March 28th, 2025 at 4:32 am
Oh and I should mention that all the street work being done in the neighborhood makes driving around the neighborhood kind of like being a rat in a maze.