February 2025 Newsletter

#GOBIRDS

Along with the rest of Philadelphia, the Vision Zero Team is excited about the Eagles’ win on Sunday. The Eagles’ celebration has been confirmed for Friday, February 14. Prior to the win we joined PennDOT, the PA State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, SEPTA, and AAA Mid-Atlantic to share the message to plan for a sober ride. Don’t drive impaired. Make a plan to celebrate safely. Go Birds!

Program Updates

2025-2030 Action Plan Development

We need your support (yes, you!)  to write a plan that keeps our Vision Zero actions focused on community priorities. The Vision Zero Action Plan 2025-2030 is being updated this year and is set to be completed by October 31, 2025. The Vision Zero team is updating the action items that guide our efforts and set our priorities. Each month this year, we are featuring a program that advances the goals of the Vision Zero Action Plan. This month, we are featuring the Vision Zero Ambassadors.

We are looking for your feedback on community needs and priorities through surveys as well as in-person roundtable sessions. Please click below to stay included on Action Plan updates or to express interest in your organization participating in a Vision Zero roundtable session. Your feedback will help us to continue to craft new programs like this that address traffic safety concerns across the city.

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2025 Vision Zero Ambassadors

The 2025 Vision Zero Ambassador Application is Open!

We are looking for outgoing and motivated people to become Vision Zero Ambassadors this spring and summer and help spread the word about Vision Zero and traffic safety Vision Zero Ambassadors will be the voice of their community around traffic safety issues by creating messages and activities that resonate with their friends and neighbors.

This year, Vision Zero ambassadors will also help shape the Vision Zero Action Plan 2025-2030. This document will guide Philadelphia’s traffic safety initiatives through the end of the decade. Ambassadors will directly inform the goals, strategies, and actions that will help us achieve zero fatalities on our roadways. 

Ambassadors are trained on traffic safety concepts, Vision Zero, and the resources that are available within the City. They also receive support and guidance from City staff during their ambassador engagement period. This year’s program runs from late March through September 2025. For their time and effort, Vision Zero Ambassadors will receive a stipend of $1,750 upon completion of the program. People who are better connected to low-income communities and communities of color are encouraged to apply! Applicants must be 18 years or older.

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#BLACKHISTORYINTRANSPORTATION

As we celebrate Black History Month and Indego approaches its 10th anniversary, we’re thrilled to honor one of the local heroes who helped shape Philadelphia’s bikeshare program.

Mr. Alan Lomax spent most of his life advocating for cycling, healthy living, and community involvement. Born and raised in Strawberry Mansion, his passion was to make life better for others in the neighborhood. He worked with the Strawberry Mansion CDC, and Friends of East Park, and was an early supporter of Indego and the BCGP’s Cadence Youth Cycling Team. As a local bike advocate, Mr. Lomax was the go-to person for anyone in the neighborhood who needed help with their bikes while encouraging community members to give bicycling a try. While attending a community meeting in 2016, he met city representatives and learned that Indego was expanding to his neighborhood. He wanted to get involved immediately and became an Indego Community Ambassador.

I was praying for something to happen like this. I wanted to get more involved in cycling again. I started seeing all these bikes and I was like ‘WOW’ my blessing was answered. So, I just wanted to get involved in it, because that’s my passion. I could just ride all day long and promote bicycles. I love it.

-Alan Lomax

After Mr. Lomax’s unfortunate passing in 2017, Indego dedicated the 33rd & Diamond station located in the heart of Strawberry Mansion to him. Mr. Lomax’s legacy and impact will live on forever.

Safe Routes Philly kicked off their city-wide walking and biking competition—Spring Training! This competition will run throughout the month of April to give schools time to prepare for Bike, Walk, and Roll to School Day on May 9th. Do you know a school up for the challenge? Register your school here.

Upcoming Events

You’ll see us and our partners out in the community at the events listed below.

• March 8 & 9—2025 Philly Bike Expo; Learn more and buy tickets here: https://phillybikeexpo.com/ (Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St)
• March 28, 9am—Vision Zero PHL Conference 2025; Learn more and register here: https://bicyclecoalition.org/vision-zero-phl-2025 (Temple University Student Center South, 1755 N 13th St)

Partner Spotlight

Big Things are Coming for Indego in 2025

Indego is growing! After a successful 2024, which brought 16 new stations, 400 bikes, and expanded service to key areas, even bigger changes are on the way. In 2025, the system will introduce bike share to new neighborhoods, add approximately 40 stations, and roll out 400 more Indego electric bikes—all while continuing to strengthen its existing network.

Want to get involved? Suggest a new station or explore advertising opportunities. Read Indego’s full blog to learn more about what’s ahead.

Partner Updates

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP)

The Vision Zero PHL 2025 Conference page is live! Please visit to find more information and to purchase tickets. Apply to poster at this year’s Vision Zero PHL conference by Feb. 17th! We are seeking unique project or program ideas highlighting effective vision zero strategies. We’re looking for posters that showcase creative solutions to reach the goal of Vision Zero and what the existing impacts are of inaction. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with industry and community leaders in the areas of public health, engineering, and urban planning. Find more details on postering here.

Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH)

Curious about We Walk PHL? This free, fun program is for anyone interested in staying active, spending time in Philly parks, and connecting with neighbors. In preparation for the 2025 spring season, we are hosting 30-minute virtual info sessions open to anyone interested in We Walk PHL, including newcomers, returning walkers, and existing or potential program partners. Join us to learn how the program works, where to get updates, and how to get involved. Sign up for a virtual info session at 5 PM on: Wednesday, February 12 or Wednesday, March 12.

Philadelphia Water Department (PWD)

Philly commuters, the Water Department needs your help! Please help us keep the city running by reporting dysfunctional hydrants or water main breaks to 215-685-6300 or water.info@phila.gov. We thank you and wish you a safe commute!

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

SEPTA is upgrading the trolley fleet with modern, accessible vehicles. New trolleys will transform the way SEPTA riders get around. New stations will bring accessible boarding along with amenities like shelters, seating, and real-time information. Operational improvements mean faster, more reliable rides for customers. SETPA invites you to an in-person and a virtual open house for the Route 36 [T5] Trolley Modernization Initiative. If you need language interpretation, please contact Candice Fontaine at cfontaine@septa.org before the meeting.

Vision Zero in the News

Philadelphia

• Philadelphia Schools and Families Gear Up for Safe Routes Philly’s “Spring Training” Ahead of May’s Bike, Walk, and Roll to School Day (hoodline)
• Progress Update: Spruce and Pine Streets Bike Lane Safety Upgrades Project | January 2025 (City of Philadelphia)
• More speed cameras coming to Philadelphia streets (WHYY)
• Community-Led Vision and $2 Million Federal Grant Drives Philadelphia’s Plan to Reconnect Neighborhoods Through Richmond Industrial Track Development (Rails to Trails)
• Lane Closures Scheduled for Safety Upgrades in Northeast Philadelphia (ChesCo)
• Philly Gets a Digital Doppelganger: A Twin City for Smarter Streets (CDOTrends)

What We’re Reading

• Congestion Relief Zone is Also a CRASH Relief Zone: Data (StreetsBlog NYC)
• Save the Date for the New Jersey Bike and Walk Summit (Bicycle Coalition)
• New Jersey Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Creating Target Zero Commission (DVRPC)
• Why the Traffic Lights Have Slowed Down on 3rd Avenue (The New York Times)

Vision Zero Jobs

Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) Internship, City of Philadelphia

Senior Transportation Planner/Senior Transportation Engineer, DVRPC

Public Participation Planner, DVRPC

Coming Soon! – Serve Philadelphia VISTA applications open on 3/3/2025. Serve Philadelphia VISTAs are AmeriCorps members addressing the injustices and root causes of poverty facing individuals and communities in Philadelphia by serving in City departments full-time for one year. The Serve Philadelphia VISTA on the Vision Zero team is critical to our work and we hope you apply or share the application in your networks when the application opens.

Join the Conversation

Vision Zero aims to eliminate all traffic deaths and severe injuries on Philadelphia streets www.visionzerophl.com. Follow OTIS on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, 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 or the larger Vision Zero community? Send your next month’s updates by Friday, February 28 to Virginia Lynn at virginia.lynn@phila.gov.