PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has earmarked $19.3 million in Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) funding to bolster seven traffic safety projects across Philadelphia. The announcement reflects Governor Shapiro’s commitment to ensuring community safety across the Commonwealth.
The ASE pilot program, authorized by Act 86 of 2018, was first implemented on Roosevelt Blvd. (U.S. Route 1) in Philadelphia, stretching from Ninth Street to the Bucks County line. Recently, Governor Shapiro signed Act 38 of 2023 into law, making the program permanent and paving the way for additional authorized locations in Philadelphia.
Under the program, the Philadelphia Parking Authority installed automated speed enforcement at eight critical locations where speeding has been a persistent concern. Fine revenues from the ASE program support PennDOT’s Transportation Enhancement Grants Program.
“There’s no question that these projects will improve safety in the City of Philadelphia,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Everyone – no matter who they are, no matter where they live, no matter how they travel – deserves to get where they’re going safely.”
The recent influx of funds brings the total amount awarded through the ASE funding program to $55.4 million since its inception in 2021.
Here are the projects set to benefit from this investment:
- Citywide Intersection Modifications Program: Awarded $1 million, this initiative aims to slow traffic at intersections, improve sightlines between drivers and pedestrians, and reduce pedestrian crossing times, thereby mitigating severe and fatal pedestrian accidents. The project will focus on design and construction at two to three locations.
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue: These iconic Philadelphia locations will receive $1.8 million to design multimodal safety, accessibility, and mobility improvements.
- Safe Bus Stops: This project, receiving $1.5 million, will install a new signal at Crescentville and Walnut Park Drive and a new pedestrian rectangular rapid flashing beacon at the bus stop south of Walnut Park Drive. “Landing pads” will be paved for passengers to board and disembark the bus safely at these new pedestrian crossing locations.
- Neighborhood Slow Zones: These zones, awarded $3 million, will feature speed management improvements, including lane narrowing, reduced corner radii, gateway treatments, speed humps and cushions, and intersection daylighting, all aimed at slowing driver speeds and calming traffic.
- 2025 Roosevelt Boulevard Route for Change Intersection Modifications: This project, with a budget of $10 million, includes curb extensions to shorten crossing distances, realigned crosswalks and lanes, upgrades to traffic signals and timing, changes to traffic movements, and new or upgraded transit shelters and stations.
- Roosevelt Boulevard Route for Change Program: Awarded $2 million, this program will conduct an alternatives analysis related to long-term improvements, including environmental analysis, preliminary engineering, and design activities. The award also includes design for short-term improvements identified in the Route for Change report.
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