PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood is set to be reconnected across a major expressway, thanks to a significant federal grant. U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, along with U.S. Representatives Dwight Evans and Brendan Boyle, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, have secured $158.9 million in funding for the project.
The initiative will bridge the Vine Street Expressway (I-676), which has long divided the historic Chinatown neighborhood. The grant will fund the construction of a new public park across the expressway, introducing traffic calming measures and creating a connection to the new Rail Park on the Reading viaduct.
Senator Casey, who played a pivotal role in passing the infrastructure law and securing the funding, said, “Decades after Chinatown residents suffered the consequences of harmful infrastructure decisions that divided their neighborhood in half, I am proud to say that we are another step closer to connecting this community.”
Congressman Evans, who co-led the Reconnecting Communities initiative in the House, highlighted the need for such efforts, stating, “This is one of the reasons I was proud to vote for President Biden’s Infrastructure and Jobs Act that continues to deliver for Philadelphia – the Reconnecting Communities initiative puts people before pavement and communities before cars.”
Congressman Boyle echoed these sentiments, pointing out how the Vine Street Expressway had long posed barriers to mobility and economic opportunity for the Chinatown community. He hailed the arrival of the funding as a testament to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s investment in repairing divisions and rebuilding American infrastructure.
Mayor Parker lauded the substantial federal funding for the Chinatown Stitch project, expressing gratitude to Senators Casey and Fetterman, Representatives Boyle and Evans, and other local elected officials. She asserted, “This project will help Chinatown better connect with other portions of our downtown and provide essential greenspace for the community.”
John Chin, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), called the grant award “transformative,” emphasizing the power of community will to effect change.
The funding was secured through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Reconnecting Communities Pilot grant program, which was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This program is the first of its kind at a federal level, dedicated specifically to reconnecting communities previously cut off from economic opportunities due to past transportation infrastructure decisions.
This major investment in Philadelphia’s Chinatown marks a pivotal moment in urban planning and community revitalization. It acknowledges the historical wrongs inflicted by ill-considered infrastructure decisions, which often disproportionately affected ethnic communities and lower-income neighborhoods.
By bridging the Vine Street Expressway, the project will not only physically reconnect the divided neighborhood but also symbolically mend the social fabric of Chinatown. The new public park will provide much-needed green space, while traffic calming measures and the connection to the Rail Park will boost the area’s accessibility.
Moreover, the project has the potential to create a ripple effect of positive impacts. It could stimulate local economies by increasing access to businesses, improve public health by reducing pollution and encouraging active transportation, and foster a stronger sense of community among residents.
In a broader context, the Chinatown Stitch project aims to represent a significant step forward in urban renewal and social equity, setting a hopeful precedent for similar initiatives nationwide.
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