The Philadelphia Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) is resuming community meetings that would help determine new traffic safety features for South 47th Street from Chestnut Street to Kingsessing Avenue. Blocks along 47th Street from Chestnut Street to Paschall Avenue is on the City’s Vision Zero High Injury Network (HIN) and the 47th Street Traffic Safety project aims to improve traffic safety for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists along the corridor.

This project, along with the 48th Street Safety project was first introduced to residents in 2023, but the redesign and repaving of the street were put on hold earlier this year as more public input was needed. The initial plan included such changes as the conversion of a portion of the street, between Paschall and Market, to one-way vehicle traffic.

The new series of community meetings include three focus groups and one general public meeting, co-hosted by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District).

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The Table Sessions, Sattriya Dance Company, May 2024. (Photo by Shannon Sophy)

After 20 years, a West Philadelphia visionary arts group which has staged more than 100 productions, including an ambitious (and sold-out) undertaking supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, is changing its name and evolving. Journey Arts is the new name and branding of Intercultural Journeys, a gem in Philadelphia’s performing arts world.

Journey Arts plans to increase its offerings, including more ambitious and complex shows, seeking new and additional funding, and offer artists more production/development time of projects. And another large-scale production is already underway this coming season.

“Journeys are for seekers – when we create, perform, and witness together, the journey is that much richer and more nuanced,” Carly Rapaport-Stein, Executive Director of Journey Arts said. “Wayfinding together is our artistic beating heart. We seek connection and we are on this journey together. Today, our new name and visual identity match our ethos of artist-forward work and belonging for all.”

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The Friends of Clark Park, the volunteer-run organization that oversees much of the management of the park, is gearing up for the 2024 Parktoberfest, which will take place next Saturday, Oct. 19, 2-8 p.m.. Parktoberfest is a family-friendly event and a great opportunity to spend time with your friends and neighbors at the park, located at 43rd and Chester. The event will include live musical performances by local bands, food from neighborhood restaurants, and beer from Carbon Copy. The event is suitable for all ages!

Parktoberfest is a fundraiser for the Clark Park Master Plan, which was approved by the City last year. This new plan aims to expand the park’s impact on the community through multiple improvements and renovations.

“We are currently working to fund its final design and implementation,” says the Friends of Clark Park board member Cameron O’Grady. “The plan serves as a vision document, outlining substantial renovations to Clark Park to rejuvenate Park B. It includes plans for new playgrounds, a social gathering space near 45th and Chester, and other amenities and improvements.”

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Here’s some exciting news about a West Philly-based organization that has been helping unemployed but motivated local talent to get job training and pursue hiring opportunities with local employers. The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, founded by the University City District (UCD) in 2009, has recently dropped “West Philadelphia” from its name. The reason is the rapid expansion beyond the West Philly borders over the past few years, which is impacting new neighborhoods and new industries. So, the new simplified name is The Skills Initiative.

“Although West Philadelphia is no longer in our name, it will always be our home. We will continue to be anchored in West Philadelphia, close to our University City District offices and founding major employer partners,” reads a recent announcement by UCD.

To go along with this exciting news, UCD has released a digital publication titled Skills Initiative: The Next Chapter, a collection of stories about employer partners, program alumni, funders, and staff that showcases the new Skills Initiative brand and impact. Click here to view or download the new publication.

A new look and logo have also been developed, driven by “a desire to match the quality of our visual presentation with the quality of our staff, services, and the talent of our participants.” The different colored blocks in the new logo represent the many stakeholders who make the Skills Initiative’s work possible.

For more information about the Skills Initiative, visit: philadelphiaskills.org.

A bicyclist riding along Woodland Avenue while a new separated bike lane is under construction. (Photo by West Philly Local)

UPDATE (10/1/2024): Legislation authorizing a bike lane on Woodland Avenue from Chester Avenue to South 42nd Street was introduced on Sept. 26 by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. This is part of the Phase 2 of the Woodland Ave Complete Streets Project. If the bill is passed it will authorize the replacement of the parking lane with a 2-way bikeway on the south side of Woodland Avenue in 2027. The bill to turn the parking lane into a bike lane in front of the Woodlands cemetery was passed in 2022 and the work is currently underway (read more below). 

(9/20/2024): Streets Department crews have begun work on Woodland Avenue between the VA Medical Center Driveway and Chester Avenue, as part of the Woodland Avenue Complete Streets project which aims to improve safety for all users – drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists – between VA Driveway and 42nd Street.

Phase 1 of the project, which is expected to be completed this fall, includes the addition of a separated bike lane from VA Driveway to Chester Avenue along north and south curb and installation of traffic signals with crosswalks at Chester Avenue and 40th Street Portal/The Woodlands. To accommodate the addition of the bike lane, street parking in this section of Woodland has been removed.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) wants your input on how to spend more than $170 million in federal funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to install public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Pennsylvania. At least $14 million of this funding will be allocated to Philadelphia to subsidize the installation of public EV chargers.

Residents have an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback for this project as PennDOT is currently conducting a brief survey to help inform the program and identify location priorities.

PennDOT is first required to use the federal funds towards building a network of fast charging along major roadways, which is also reflected in the survey. You can check PennDOT’s progress to deploy this charging network on the PennDOT NEVI Active Projects Map.

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