Philadelphia – Today, Councilmember Anthony Phillips (9th District) introduced legislation to support the Streets Department in more swiftly installing traffic calming measures in the vicinity of public, charter, and private schools. Increasingly, motorists are speeding with reckless abandon, endangering pedestrians, including students near schools. The intent of this bill is to ensure the Streets Department has the necessary tools to mitigate unnecessary risks to the safety of student pedestrians.
“It is my hope that this legislation will allow the Streets Department to more easily, and more readily, install traffic calming measures around all schools — public, charter, and private — in our city,” said Councilmember Anthony Phillips. Councilmember Phillips further emphasized, “I have heard from too many neighbors that they are frustrated with the slow pace of the installation of traffic calming measures. So, I look forward to partnering with the Streets Department to ensure we keep all our students safe.”
With this in mind, Councilmember Phillips has secured the support of Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. Commissioner Williams said, “The Philadelphia Streets Department is pleased to support” this bill. Williams continued, “This bill will help reduce installation time for critical traffic calming measures designed to protect our citizens, especially our children. Traffic calming measures will help reduce crashes caused by excessive speeding. The ultimate goal is to support our Vision Zero Initiatives, which aim to reduce the number of traffic deaths to zero by 2030.”
The bill was co-sponsored by Councilmembers Thomas, Squilla, Vaughn, Driscoll, O’Neill, Harrity, Bass, Gilmore Richardson, Gauthier, Lozada, Jones, Brooks, and Johnson. With the combined support of the administration and his Council colleagues, Councilmember Phillips looks forward to seeing the enforcement of this bill used as a tool to enable and encourage the Streets Department to make our roadways safer for student pedestrians.
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Councilmember Anthony Phillips represents the 9th District, which includes Mt. Airy, Crescentville, Fern Rock, Lawndale, Melrose Park Gardens, Summerdale, West Oak Lane, East Oak Lane, Lawncrest, Burholme, Olney, Oxford Circle, and Logan. He serves as Chair of Council’s Committee on Children & Youth.
