August 2025 Newsletter
2025-2030 Action Plan Development
The Vision Zero Action Plan 2025-2030 is being updated this year and is set to be completed by October 31. The Vision Zero team is updating the action items that guide our efforts and set our priorities. Each month this year, we are featuring either a program that advances the goals of the Vision Zero Action Plan or the progress being made on Action Plan development. This month, we are featuring our work towards Transportation Equity in Vision Zero.
Since the beginning of this year, we have been collecting feedback on community needs and priorities through surveys, pop-up events, and in-person roundtable sessions. The Action Plan Survey closed on June 30 so that we can review and incorporate what we learned from you into the Action Plan. To stay up-to-date on progress, check for updates in this monthly newsletter and online at bit.ly/action-plan-25-30.
Transportation Equity – Tracking Demographic Disparities in Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) supplements PennDOT crash data with hospital and vital statistics data. This data shows traffic-related hospitalizations and fatalities disproportionately affect Philadelphia’s pedestrians, Black and Hispanic residents, and those living in the highest poverty ZIP codes.
Recognizing these persistent disparities, PDPH developed an Underserved Communities metric to better understand where fatal and serious injury crashes occur and who is exposed to them.
Black and Hispanic Philadelphians Experience Higher Rates of Traffic-Related Deaths
Traffic Related Deaths Among Philadelphians by Race/Ethnicity Age Adjusted Rate Per 100,000 Residents1
- PA Vital Registration System, U.S. Census Bureau Annual County Population Estimates
To create the metric, PDPH divided the city’s census tracts into four zones. Tracts in the fourth quartile (with the highest score) have the highest proportion of residents who are non-white and households whose incomes are below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Tracts in the first quartile (with the lowest score) have the lowest proportion of residents who are non-white and households whose incomes are below 200% of the FPL.
- PennDOT Crash Data (2019-2023), American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables (Table S1701, 2023). Map prepared by the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Nearly one-third (137 miles) of the High Injury Network (HIN) is located in tracts that score highest on the underserved communities metric. Conversely, only 14% (61 miles) of the HIN is located in tracts with the lowest scores. This indicates that the higher burden of crash-related hospitalizations and fatalities among Philadelphia’s low-income and non-white communities relates to the high concentration of high injury roads in these communities. The latest data show that the KSI crash rate is 2.4 times higher in areas that score highest on the underserved communities metric compared to areas that score lowest—the Vision Zero Action Plan commits to tracking changes in these scores over time and to advancing traffic safety improvements that aim to eliminate this disparity.
KSI Crashes per 100,000 Residents (Five-Year Average), By Areas with High and Low Underserved Communities score1
- PennDOT Crash Data (2019-2023), American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables (Table S1701, 2023)
Infrastructure Solutions Team (IST)
The Infrastructure Solutions Team (IST) is creating opportunities for Philadelphians to build, grow, and maintain wealth through the strategic use of infrastructure investments. To learn more about how the IST is driving economic mobility for Philadelphia’s infrastructure workforce and businesses, check out the 2025 Report and Action Plan which was released this month. The report is now available to view on here and more information is available on the Infrastructure Solutions Team’s website.
Safe Routes Philly is ready to roll into the new school year! Sign up for a virtual meeting with the Safe Routes team or schedule an in-person morning visit for one-on-one school support.
National Walk & Roll to School Day October 8th. Reach out to saferoutesphilly@phila.gov to learn how to plan and engage your school in this annual celebration. Click here to learn more and officially register your school. Join in on the fun!
Upcoming Events
You’ll see us and our partners out in the community at the events listed below.
- Thursday, September 4 – Baltimore Ave Dollar Stroll, 5-8pm (Clark Park, 4300 Baltimore Ave)
- Saturday, September 6 – Germantown Bike Ride, 10am (Fernhill Park, 4600 Morris St)
- Saturday, September 6 – Soul School Festival, Noon-8pm (1800 Block Washington Ave)
Partner Updates
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP)
Events:
- Tuesday, September 2 (recurring weekly): Transit Tuesday Rallies
- Saturday, September 6 : Bike Ride for a Safe Germantown
- Saturday, September 13: Roll Wit It – Fun Ride and Challenge When you ride Roll Wit It, you’re paying it forward — your entry fee and team fundraising goes to support the BCYC collegiate scholarship program.
- Saturday, September 27: NW Schuylkill River Trails Summit
News:
- Press Statement: Transit Riders Denounce Senate Republicans for Passing a Bill that Would Deepen Transit Crisis
- We Buy More Electric Bikes than Electric Cars. So Why Does Charging Them Feel Like Thievery?
- Traffic Fatalities see a decrease in the first 6 months of 2025
Actions:
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Research Shows Virtual Car Seat Check Program is Highly Effective: Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that virtual car seat installation assistance can provide an acceptable and effective alternative to in-person instruction, demonstrating 100% accuracy rate following remote guidance. Click here for more information.
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In a July 30 news brief, CHOP announced that more than 10,000 teens have completed virtual driving assessments (VDAs) across the CHOP Primary Care network. The VDA is a 15-minute evaluation followed by personalized feedback and is available to teen patients at 28 CHOP Primary Care practices through a grant from NJM Insurance at 28 CHOP Primary Care offices.
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)
The Regional Safety Task Force (RSTF) is hosting an in-person meeting about Safe Routes to School on Thursday, September 11 from 10am-12pm (free lunch provided). Speakers include Greater Mercer TMA, the City of Philadelphia, and Safe Routes Partnership. Please register here by Friday, August 29.
DVRPC’s offices are located at 190 N Independence Mall West, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1520.
Indego
Cycle September is a national bike competition, hosted locally in Philadelphia by the Clean Air Council. To celebrate and encourage rider participation, Indego is offering a special discount on the Indego30 pass. Get your first month of Indego30 for just $1! (Normally $20/month, or $5/month with a valid PA ACCESS card)
With Indego30, you’ll enjoy an unlimited number of 1-hour rides for 30 days on Indego’s classic bikes. This limited-time offer will run from September 1 – September 30, 2025, and can be redeemed online at rideindego.com or on the mobile app using promo code INDECYCLE25.
Please note:
- This discount is not valid for riders with an active Indego pass.
- Additional fees apply when upgrading to Indego Electric or for single rides longer than 1 hour.
Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH)
Feet First Philly Public Enhancement Grant Application are Open! Please share with your community partners!
Feet First Philly’s Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant Program is back again for the sixth year! This grant program has funded over 64 projects across Philadelphia since 2020, and all city residents and community groups are invited to apply.
This program has a funding focus on supporting communities that historically have had less investment (or active disinvestment) in the built environment and city services. Feet First Philly seeks projects that improve walkability by making neighborhoods safer and easier to walk and roll in. The program has supported many different types of projects over the past few years, based on the belief that residents know their community best and are the best advocates to identify and carry out public space improvements.
Feet First Philly is partnering again with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to provide funding for projects to create and improve public spaces, particularly in underserved communities. Mini-Grants between $500 and $2,000 will be awarded to address the financial and technical barriers that organizations face when creating or improving public spaces.
Register for Informational Webinar
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The Fall Walk Leader Interest Form is live! Step up and join the We Walk PHL Walk Leader Team! We Walk PHL is a program in partnership among Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation that offers free weekly walking groups throughout the city. For more info about the program, visit our page.
Interested Partner Organizations—If you are a potential organization looking to collaborate with We Walk PHL, please complete the form to the best of your ability and/or share it with potential volunteers. You can find the form here – We Walk PHL Fall 2025 Walk Leader Interest Form!
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
PennDOT Launches Campaign to Prevent Bridge Hits: ‘Check Your Height, Know It’s Right’. More than 600 bridges have been hit by vehicles that surpassed height requirements in the last 10 years – PennDOT is reminding drivers to be mindful when driving large vehicles to prevent more damage to Commonwealth bridges. Drivers are responsible for knowing the height of their vehicle – whether a personal vehicle or a rented one – and observing and complying with posted bridge heights. Pennsylvania motorists can use 511PA to check their route for low-clearance bridges (<13’6”) using the “Low Bridge” map layer. When the map layer is on, low bridges are indicated with a bridge icon that users can click for more information about the location.
For more information on PennDOT’s “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” campaign, visit https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/news-and-media/media-resources/trucks. For information on The Eastern Transportation Coalition Bridge Hit effort, contact Marygrace Parker at mgparker@tetcoalition.org.
Vision Zero In the News
Philadelphia 
I Don’t Bike. But I Support Bike Lanes (The Philadelphia Citizen)
‘The most dangerous street in Philadelphia’: Speed cameras will soon go live along Broad Street (WHYY)
Chinatown Stitch design advances despite funding cancellation (WHYY)
SEPTA cuts are moving forward, GM Scott Sauer says (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
A dangerous Philly street is getting safety improvements. Expect traffic delays until January (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Philly Running Alliance looks to give running community a seat at the table (WHYY)
Man who struck and killed CHOP doctor riding bicycle while driving drunk sentenced to 6 to 20 years in prison (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
How a simple change to your car can help make roads safer for all (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Family, community advocating for bike safety in FDR Park (ABC)
What We’re Reading 
Road diets: Trump moves to block road safety measures that slow traffic and save lives (Milwaukee Independent)
This Bucks County town set to activate red-light cameras in August. How it works (phillyburbs.com)
Automated Traffic Enforcement Is More Popular Than You Think (Bloomberg CityLab)
Vision Zero Jobs
Project Manager Infrastructure Economy, Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS)
Senior Manager Infrastructure Economy, Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS)
Transportation Planner, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)
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, and community? Send your updates for next month’s newsletter by Friday, September 12 to Virginia Lynn at virginia.lynn@phila.gov.