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.
In Philadelphia, we can claim the first hospital in the country (Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751) as well as the first children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 1855). As a leading pediatric hospital, CHOP has pioneered many areas of pediatric care from vaccines to neonatal care. In 1998, CHOP’s newly formed Center for Injury Research & Prevention (CIRP) led the Partners for Child Passenger Safety project, the world’s largest child-focused motor vehicle crash surveillance system. Findings from this and subsequent studies continue to inform child passenger safety. This September is Child Passenger Safety Month. Read more to learn about how to ensure child passenger safety.
Join Us this Sunday for the Slow Down, Save Lives Advocacy Walk this Sunday
Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia (FSSGP) is hosting a Slow Down, Save Lives Advocacy Walk on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to show support for the new automated speed enforcement cameras along Route 13. We hope you will join us and show your support for safer streets. If you are unable to walk the entire route, please join us for a portion of the walk. This event will happen rain or shine.
Visit this link to get more information and RSVP.
2026 Vision Zero Ambassadors
This spring and summer, our incredible Vision Zero ambassadors were out at events sharing the importance of traffic safety all across the city. VZ Ambassadors completed 68 events this year in 21 zip codes – that’s about half the city!
This year our ambassadors attended the Vision Zero PHL Conference 2026. They learned about traffic safety statistics and solutions, community engagement, Indego, Safe Routes Philly, and Vision Zero policy. From the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll to community budget town halls to the OTIS social accounts, the ambassadors were in neighborhoods and online having over 2,500 conversations with Philadelphians about the importance of slowing down and making sure we all get home safe. Thank you to Dante, Jada, JP, Kim, Leonard, Megan, Sheena, Sonia, Veda, and Yvette for every conversation you had and for your commitment to Vision Zero. Philadelphia is a better place because of you.
Child Safety Passenger Month
Across the U.S., car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 0-14 years old. Are you using your child’s car seat correctly? Children are our most precious cargo, but keeping kids safe during car rides is not always straight-forward. Child Passenger Safety Week is a great time to learn how to protect children through age- and size- appropriate car seats, booster seats and seat belts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars. No matter how long or short the trip is, everyone needs to buckle up.
Read more about child passenger safety resources here: phila.gov.
Grants
Philadelphia was awarded two PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) grants:
- $2,141,269 to restore two historic streets in the Brewerytown neighborhood.
- $804,936 to improve the intersection at Shawmont Avenue and Minerva Street.
School is back in session! Don’t miss out on Safe Routes Philly’s fall celebrations:
- October 7 – National Walk to School Day
- November 18 – Ruby Bridges walk to School Day. Check out how schools participated last year here.
- Anytime during the school year – Safe Routes Philly Basics. School staff and teachers may schedule their 30-minute safety session here for second and third graders.
Partner Updates
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Join us throughout September as we celebrate National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Month. National CPS Week is September 20 – 26, 2026, but keeping children safe on the road is important all month-and all year-long. Families can take advantage of in-person or virtual car seat checks to receive personalized education and make sure their child is riding as safely as possible. Don’t wait—schedule your car seat check today and help keep your littlest passengers safe, every ride, every time!
Clean Air Council
Public Space Mini Grant
Feet First Philly is partnering again with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to provide funding for projects to improve public spaces, particularly in underresourced communities. Mini-Grants between $500 and $2,500 will be awarded to address the financial and technical barriers that communities face when creating or improving public spaces. Funding can be used to support public space projects, including planning and design, construction and implementation materials, education, insurance, stipends, staff time, or other needs. Be creative and improve a public space that matters to your community.
Applications are due on October 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply here.
The Pretzel Pedal Challenge
The Pretzel Pedal Challenge hosted by GoPhillyGo and Clean Air Council is for the entire month of September! This month, take action to reduce air pollution by skipping the car as you move around the city for work, school or fun. Create a Share-A-Ride profile here and log your bike trips through Sept. 30 and automatically earn reward points for discounts and local prizes. Whether you are new to biking or an expert cyclist, don’t wait! Bike with us this month towards cleaner air and a healthier Philadelphia. This is the last week to get log your rides for a chance to earn cool prizes.
🚲 Create a Share-a-Ride profile
🚲 Pick a destination and go on a ride!
🚲 Log your rides from 9/1-9/31 and earns points to qualify for prize drawings!
Indego
September is here, and it’s time to shift gears! 🚲 Whether you’re starting a new school year, looking to add more movement to your day, or trying to cut down on your carbon footprint, Indego is an easy way to switch up your routine. This September, get one month of Indego30 for just $1 with code INDESHIFT26 at rideindego.com.
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 27, 2026 – Slow Down, Save Lives Advocacy Walk
10am-6pm, starting at 4153 N Broad St with an afternoon break at Sedgley Porter House (3250 Sedgley Dr) - October 7, 2026 – Walk to School Day
Various Locations
Vision Zero in the News
Philadelphia 
What Philly can – and can’t – do to reduce the number of people killed in car crashes (The Conversation)
$134M in Roosevelt Boulevard changes move ahead as subway debate continues (NBC10 Philadelphia)
Speed violations drop on Broad Street as enforcement expands, Philadelphia Parking Authority says (6abc Philadelphia)
The status of the Spring Garden Connector project (Billy Penn at WHYY)
E-bike crashes surge in Pennsylvania (Fox 29 Philadelphia)
New speed cameras in West and North Philadelphia will start warning drivers on Monday (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Fewer people are running red lights, PPA says (Philadelphia Inquirer)
What We’re Reading 
Tesla’s electronic doors are forcing a rethink of car safety rules (Scientific American)
Vision Zero Jobs
School Crossing Guard, 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, October 9 to Virginia Lynn at virginia.lynn@phila.gov.