Philadelphia Transportation Firsts
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and Philadelphia’s central role in our nation’s founding, each month of 2026 we are sharing a Philadelphia Transportation First.
Philadelphia has many education firsts. America’s first medical school (1765), America’s first art school and museum (1805), and the world’s first women’s medical college (1880) were all in Philadelphia. Publicly funded and controlled education in Philadelphia began in 1818, when the Pennsylvania General Assembly established the “First School District of Pennsylvania.”
In 1923, the first students were transported to school by bus in Philadelphia. While bus transportation to school was increasingly common by the 1930s, the earliest version was a service provided to children with disabilities. Early school buses also helped phase out “kid hacks” (horse-drawn carriages) that were used for students traveling to school in Philadelphia from rural areas. In 1939, Philadelphia followed the national trend by adopting yellow as the color for school buses (Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia).
Back to School with Safe Routes Philly
Safe Routes Philly is gearing up for the 2026-27 school year, and we’ve got a lot to look forward to. We’ll be heading to Back to School Nights across Philadelphia spreading the word about traffic safety for kids and promoting our Fall programming.
Save the date for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 18th! Celebrate the living legacy of a civil rights icon, whose story speaks to the importance of education and diversity. Last year seven schools joined the walk to school and this year we hope even more participate. Sign up for the Safe Routes Partnership’s webinar on August 26th at 2pm to learn more about funding opportunities for Ruby Bridges Day events. Click here to register.
Please navigate here or see any of the attached flyers to get started. Don’t hesitate to reach out to SafeRoutesPhilly@phila.gov with any questions. See you out there!
Back to School Safety
The return of students to school next month impacts travel patterns across the city. In the mornings and afternoons, be extra alert around school zones and choose alternative routes to avoid schools if possible. Keeping crosswalks and intersections clear is extremely important so people walking, rolling, biking and driving can see each other.
There are more than 300 schools in the City of Philadelphia. This means there are more than 300 school zones where you must be attentive to a 15-mph speed limit during pick up and drop off. The lower speed limit keeps our students safe. The following school zones have Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE):
- John B. Stetson Middle School: E. Allegheny Ave. (A to B Streets)
- Widener Memorial School: W. Olney Ave. (N. Broad to N. 16th)
- High School of the Future: W. Girard Ave. (N. 39th to N. 40th)
- William L. Sayre High School: Walnut St. (S. 58th to S. 59th)
Grants
The Green Light–Go Program is a competitive state grant program designed to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On August 4, 2026 the following grant award was announced:
- Next Generation Transit Signal Priority (Ogontz/Stenton & Frankford/Bustleton)
- This project will fund the equipment upgrade of traffic controllers and will procure software licenses for next generation transit signal priority at 140 traffic signals on four major SEPTA corridors in northwest and northeast Philadelphia.
- Locations: Ogontz Avenue from W. Cheltenham Avenue to W. Champlost Avenue and continuing on W. Champlost to N. 16th Street. Stenton Avenue from Eastburn Avenue/66th Avenue to E. Evergreen Avenue. Bustleton Avenue (from Frankford Avenue to Philmont Avenue). Frankford Avenue from E. Cheltenham Avenue to Knights Rd.
- Amount Awarded: $2,810,976.00
Partner Updates
Indego
Hot Tips to Stay Cool This Summer!
- Drink plenty of fluids before and after your ride
- Wear a hat or helmet, sunglasses, and put on sunscreen
- Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours as much as possible
- Cool off at a pool or sprayground
- Indego Riding Basics Class at Parkway Central Library
2-4pm, Saturday, July 25th - Pedal for Peace Group Ride with the 12th & 16th PPD
10am-12pm, Sunday July 26th - Pedal for Peace Group Ride with the 12th PPD
10am-12pm, Saturday August 8th
Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
Visit MY Market East, the Market East Revival’s engagement hub! Find out how the City is reviving Market East and share your opinion. This is a City-run storefront at 932 Market Street – inside the Meantime on Market activations – where the public can drop in to find out about the Revival. Talk to a city planner, complete a survey, and submit your own idea for “MY” Market East. Information collected here will inform the Market East Advisory Group’s strategy to revive the street. More information at marketeastrevival.com.
MY Market East
932 Market Street
July 15-31
Wed/Thu/Fri, 12-6 PM
Safe Routes Partnership
Apply for a Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Mini grant! This annual celebration honors Ruby’s courage and highlights the importance of anti-racism, kindness, and community connection. Mini-grants of $500 and $1,000 will be available to support local celebrations. Learn more and apply at saferoutespartnership.org.
If you are interested in attending the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day webinar to learn more about this opportunity on August 26 at 2pm, register here.
Application Period: Tuesday, July 7 – Friday, September 4, 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Upcoming Events
These events include those hosted by OTIS, as well as events joined by OTIS staff or Vision Zero Ambassadors to share information about Vision Zero with the community.
- September 3, 2026 – Baltimore Ave Dollar Stroll
5-8 pm, Clark Park (Baltimore Ave and S 43rd St) - September 3, 2026 – Indego Riding Basics
1-3 pm, Parkway Central Library (1901 Vine St) - September 18, 2026 – Park(ing) Day
9 am-5 pm, Location TBD - September 19, 2026 – Strawberry Mansion Day
12 – 5pm, Mander Recreation Center (2140 N 33rd St)
Vision Zero in the News
Philadelphia 
Philly’s e-bike and e-scooter boom comes with a more dangerous price than traditional cycling (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Speed cameras on Frankford Avenue will begin issuing fines (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Pedestrian, cyclist deaths make up larger share of Philadelphia’s traffic fatalities (WHYY)
The City of Philadelphia Unlocks Federal SS4A Funding to Improve Market East Streetscapes (City of Philadelphia)
Predatory towing is alive, well, and totally awful (The Philadelphia Citizen)
Philadelphia’s Zero Fare Transit Pilot Program (Urban Institute)
PennDOT, safety partners announce plan to reduce number of aggressive driving crashes in Philly area (6abc)
2 years after a CHOP doctor was killed riding her bike, loved ones commemorated her (Philadelphia Inquirer)
What We’re Reading 
Report Shows Yet Another Benefit to Congestion Pricing: Faster Emergency Response Times (Streetsblog NYC)
When Bicycles Become Motor Vehicles: A Public Health Reckoning For The E-Bike Era (HealthAffairs)
Vision Zero Jobs
School Crossing Guard, Streets Department
Crossing Guard Supervisor, Streets Department
Join the Conversation
Vision Zero aims to eliminate all traffic deaths and severe injuries on Philadelphia streets www.visionzerophl.com. Follow OTIS on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and help us share safety messages with your networks using the hashtag #VisionZeroPHL.
Do you have events, accomplishments, or calls to action to share with the Vision Zero Task Force, subcommittees, and community? Send your updates for next month’s newsletter by Friday, September 11 to Virginia Lynn at virginia.lynn@phila.gov.