Vision Zero PHL Conference 2026
Limited tickets are still available for the Vision Zero PHL Conference 2026! Learn more and register for the March 12 conference here.
Philadelphia Transportation Firsts
As we celebrate 2026, and Philadelphia as the birthplace of the country this year, the city is also celebrating all of the other firsts that happened here with the 52 Weeks of Firsts. Over the course of the year, we’ll be highlighting some transportation firsts from Philadelphia – starting with ballon travel! While not the transportation we typically focus on, the first balloon flight in America was on January 3, 1793, from Philadelphia at Walnut and 3rd Sts. to Deptford, New Jersey!
This month, aligning with Black History Month and Transit Equity Day, we want to highlight the story of Caroline LeCount, colloquially known as “Philly’s Rosa Parks”. Transit Equity Day was observed on February 4th (Rosa Parks’ birthday). It is a national day of action advocating for safe, reliable, and accessible public transportation. Continue reading below to learn how the City is working towards transit equity by improving transit travel times.
Caroline LeCount’s First Legal Seat on the Trolley
Caroline LeCount was born in South Philadelphia in 1846. She was the first Black woman in Philadelphia to pass the teaching exam. LeCount was a teacher and then principal at the Ohio Street School (later named the Octavius Catto School, named after her fiancé who was killed for advocating for voting rights for African Americans). The Ohio Street School was near the intersection of today’s Waverly and Quince St.
Caroline LeCount advocated for the desegregation of streetcars in Philadelphia. During LeCount’s life, over half of the streetcar companies in Philadelphia did not allow for Black people to ride. For those that did allow them to ride, the degradation continued by not allowing Black riders to sit.
In 1867, after many years of civil disobedience on Philadelphia streetcars and sustained advocating in Harrisburg, a Pennsylvania state law was enacted banning racial discrimination on streetcars. Three days after the law took effect, LeCount attempted to ride a streetcar, flagging it down at 11th and Lombard St. The streetcar operator did not stop and called her a racial slur. LeCount filed a complaint in court (and had to prove that the new law did in fact exist!). Eventually, the conductor was arrested for the crime and this event set the standard for Philadelphia streetcar companies going forward.
In 1867, after many years of civil disobedience on Philadelphia streetcars and sustained advocating in Harrisburg, a Pennsylvania state law was enacted banning racial discrimination on streetcars. Three days after the law took effect, LeCount attempted to ride a streetcar, flagging it down at 11th and Lombard St. The streetcar operator did not stop and called her a racial slur. LeCount filed a complaint in court (and had to prove that the new law did in fact exist!). Eventually, the conductor was arrested for the crime and this event set the standard for Philadelphia streetcar companies going forward.
There is much more to know about Caroline LeCount. To start your journey, visit: https://exhibits.library.villanova.edu/institute-colored-youth/graduates/caroline-lecount-bio.
Caroline LeCount imagined as painted by Katie Haire, 2024
There are no known photos of Caroline LeCount.
New Bus Lanes
Last fall, red bus lanes were installed on three transit corridors: Chestnut St from Broad to 21st, Walnut St from 19th to Broad, and Oregon Ave from Front to 5th.
Dedicated bus lanes are an important design tool to improve bus service for transit riders. At congested locations along a route, they improve overall travel times and bus reliability for the entire route. The new red bus lanes are already having a positive impact on travel times. Analysis of morning rush hour trips found buses on Walnut Street are now moving 12.6% faster than before the dedicated transit lane was installed. On parts of Walnut where there were no changes to bus lanes, travel times slightly increased during the same period.
Route 42 on a bus lane, Walnut & 16th Streets
Why does this matter? Transit provides transportation services to everyone, providing equity to Philadelphians without any other means to travel around the city. Dedicated bus lanes ensure that transit riders receive the efficient, dependable trip that they deserve. It also more equitably allocates are limited roadway space by ensuring that the highest capacity vehicle on the road can move passengers quickly to their destination.
Indego Expansion
Indego’s 2026 expansion plan builds on last year’s progress, introducing service to five new areas while continuing efforts in select expansion zones from 2025. This year’s expansion focus includes:
- Germantown
- West Kensington
- Southwest Philadelphia
- Wynnefield Heights
- Packer Park / FDR Park
These expansion zones were selected due to many factors, including community input, equity considerations, access to destinations, transit connectivity, and alignment with ongoing City efforts to improve street safety and bicycle infrastructure. By the end of 2026, we aim to add approximately 40 new stations and 800 docks to our system, including expansion and infill stations.
With Philadelphia heading into a major year, we’re looking forward to supporting how people get around the city in 2026. Here’s how you can get involved:
- Buy or Renew Your Indego Pass: Help power bike share into 2026 by riding with Indego and supporting a more connected, sustainable city.
- Suggest a Station: Help us decide where to expand next! Use our Suggest a Station tool to recommend locations for future Indego stations.
- Advertise with Indego: Showcase your commitment to community and promote sustainable living by advertising on our kiosks. Contact our partners IKE Smart City at salesinquiry@ikesmartcity.com to learn more.
Grants Update
In December and January, a number of Vision Zero projects were awarded State grant funding, including the following:
- Wissahickon Gateway Trail ROW Acquisition, $947,668 awarded (Multimodal Transportation Fund, PennDOT) to acquire the right-of-way necessary to complete a significant gap in the Schuylkill River Trail between Main Street at Ridge Avenue and the Ridge Avenue Bridge over Wissahickon Creek
- Frankford Avenue Multimodal Improvements, $2,400,00 awarded (Multimodal Transportation Fund, PA DCED) to install pedestrian-scale lighting and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at key crossings, repair sidewalks, and provide new furnishings and landscaping along Frankford Avenue commercial corridor
- Woodland Avenue Complete Streets, $1,489,782 awarded (Multimodal Transportation Fund, PA DCED) to improve traffic safety for all users and enhance transit service performance through bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure updates on Woodland Avenue
- Hunting Park South, $750,000 awarded (Multimodal Transportation Fund, PA DCED) to install separated bike facilities on West Hunting Park Avenue between Old York Road and Roosevelt Boulevard and upgrade existing bike lanes on Lycoming Street through restriping, stop bars and flex posts
- Wayne Junction Signal Improvements, $2,287,880 awarded (Green Light-Go, PennDOT) to remove and replace obsolete signal equipment at five intersections surrounding the historic Wayne Junction SEPTA Station
- Citywide Serial to Ethernet Controllers, $3,421,440 awarded (Green Light-Go, PennDOT) to replace outdated and failure-prone serial communication devices to increase the reliability of the City’s signal network
Safe Routes Philly is bringing back their Spring Training Season!
Last year, ten schools stepped up to the Spring Training challenge leading to the largest Bike, Walk and Roll to School Day in program history. Spring Training 2026 starts April 1.
Learn more about how your school can join in on the fun by registering for our kick-off meeting Friday, March 13, 2026 3:30 – 4:30pm at https://bit.ly/SRPSpring2026.
Partner Updates
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP)
We’re just weeks away from the 2026 Vision Zero PHL Conference! This annual event brings together industry and community leaders in the areas of public health, engineering, and urban planning. Over the course of two plenary sessions and six break-out sessions, speakers and attendees exchange ideas, discuss innovative policies, and present projects that address the changing societal landscape as our city seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities. Learn more and register for the conference here.
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The 2026 National Bike Summit will take place in-person in Washington, DC, from Tuesday, March 24, through Thursday, March 26, 2026. We’ll be joining the League of American Bicyclists on Wednesday for Lobby Day to share our stories with our elected officials and how federal funding for a safe active transportation network in your community is critical to the future of the region. Read more here. For those interested in joining either the Pennsylvania or New Jersey delegations and meeting with congressional staff for your district and senators, we encourage you to attend Lobby Day at the congressional offices on Capitol Hill and join us in person for a day dedicated to celebrating public transit and imagining what’s next! Sign up Here
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Pennsylvania is one of 16 states that does not require behind-the-wheel training for new drivers. The last time behind-the-wheel training for new drivers was systematically studied was in 1983. CHOP and Penn just published the protocol paper for the DRIVER study, a large randomized study of teen driver training in Pennsylvania. Read the open access paper here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12771938/
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In “Sneckdowns: What Snow Might Tell Us About Traffic Safety”, Dr. Sara Freed from the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP describes how snowfall can highlight areas where streets can be redesigned to make them safer for everyone. https://injury.research.chop.edu/blog/posts/sneckdowns-what-snow-might-tell-us-about-traffic-safety
Girls in Gear
Girls in Gear is an all-abilities biking program designed for girls. From Glide to Ride clinics covering biking basics to Club GIG for seasoned riders, your don’t want to miss out on spring programing with Girls in Gear. See our spring schedule and register at girlsingear.org/pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
PennDOT’s Highway Safety Law Awareness Week was February 15-21 and highlighted critical Pennsylvania traffic laws to reduce fatalities and injuries. Key aspects of the awareness week include bicycle safety, teen driver safety, emergency vehicles and situations. For more information and resources, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.
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Input requested! PennDOT is seeking public input on traffic safety and driving behaviors through an online survey. The survey is available at https://qualtrics.pa.gov/jfe/form/SV_5vGB4JsXQGDXtye through February 28 and should take about five minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous.
Vision Zero in the News
Philadelphia 
What the f— is Philly doing to make streets safer? (Philadelphia Inquirer)
SEPTA to use AI-powered cameras to ticket cars that block trolley lanes (Philly Voice)
Speed zone enforcement begins near 5 Philadelphia Schools (6abc News)
How do you feel about Pennsylvania’s streets and highways? PennDOT survey asks for your input on safety (CBS News)
Philly to put up ‘No Stopping’ signs along bike lanes citywide after receiving $1 million from PennDOT (Philly Voice)
Getting Around: Tips for Navigating Philadelphia (Visit Philadelphia)
AI-powered cameras on SEPTA buses have led to thousands of tickets (NBC10 Philadelphia)
T5 Trolley Modernization Project receives $2 million grant (West Philly Local)
What We’re Reading 
US DOT looks to limit traffic safety camera funding (Smart Cities Dive)
Vision Zero Jobs
School Crossing Guard (B), Streets Department
Bicycle Coalition Educator, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP)
Swing Bridge Ambassador, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP)
Field Technician, Indego
Chief Financial Officer, Indego
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, March 6 to Virginia Lynn at virginia.lynn@phila.gov.