Mr. Johnson, please call the names of the next public commenters.
Last call for Ray King, Wesley Noonan Sessa and Dennis Devine. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Thank you. Please anyone, state your name for the record and begin with your comment.
Hi. I'm Wesley Noonan-Sessa, the owner of 18th Century Restorations, Inc., a preservation general contracting company that operates in the Delaware Valley, including Philadelphia. I also live in Brewerytown, part of District 5. I am testifying in regards to Bill 9 251070 for loading zones. Having loading zones streamline the logistics at projects located in the blocks with loading zones on Spruce and Pine last summer without impacting other road users, when the streets were reverted to its previous parking arrangement in the fall, we noticed a significant increase in expenses for our clients who lived and owned the buildings on these blocks. While we were working in this area, several package delivery drivers were lamenting the removal of the loading zones at the top of the block because of the ease of pulling into them. Thank you. I also support Bill 260026 for the bike lane on Columbia Ave. I bike through a bunch.
Thank you for your comment. Please state your name and begin.
Hi. Thanks for having me. My name is Dennis Devine. I'm a Fishtown resident. Forgive me if I'm a little loopy. I'm a nurse at HUP and I worked overnight, the night shift. And so, I come here grateful that some of the other testifiers spoke with gratitude about Bill 260026, about the little rump bike lane leading into Penn Treaty Park. And I'm glad that they spoke with gratitude because that's not my perspective. Mine is irritation and impatience, befitting my sleepless position right now. I come from a household that's four people, six bikes for eight years, zero cars, right. And I feel a little bit like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football when Lucy keeps taking it away, because that was -- we made a decision to try to go car-free sort of based upon what we thought was the promise of all these incoming bike lanes that have not materialized. I've been part of this Fishtown Bikeway planning process since it started, trying to advocate for safer routes for me, my children, my friends, neighbors to traverse my city and my neighborhood and my street for as long as it goes. And what we're left with is a half loaf, that we end up having to get into arguments with my neighbors about something that barely scratches the surface of what we need. I'll give you an example, a little context. I'm at a Fishtown Neighbors Association meeting and people are like oh, all this change, it's so sudden, right, like, we can't handle all this change. You heard it, four parking spaces leading into our most important green space in the neighborhood, Penn Treaty Park, connecting up with a network of bike trails along the Delaware River that the city is invested in. But they're like, oh, so sudden change. I'm like, I was sitting at a master plan for the Central Delaware Design meeting 18 years ago where they talked about Columbia Avenue being this important central connector to the Riverfront, and they talked about a bike lane coming. And they talked about all kinds of stuff that had me dancing with visions about, like, oh, okay, it'd be safe to bike here someday. And instead, what we get is this tiny little section of protected lane leading into whatever, you know, have to hope that the cars slow down behind us when we're sharing the lane going up to it. I take this route every day when I go to work and back, you know, on my shift. This is the right route to come out of Penn Treaty Park. It's the correct route. It's a safe way. My wife, we both work in University City. We bike every day and we're not the only ones. There's a lot of people who take this route. We could go faster through the streets of the city, but after a ride through the city, whatever, even Pine and Spruce, you know, we need these loading zones yesterday. But it's like a little treat to go behind Sugar House or Rivers Casino to go along the river and not have to deal with cars for a sec and then you pop out in Penn Treaty Park. It's just a little longer, but it's nice because you're not fighting off cars trying to kill you. And by the way, I almost got hit twice on my way biking here, right. So I take my life in my hands every time I get on the road on my bicycle, my only means of community of transportation besides SEPTA in this city. The next thing I want to say is, in 2021 this city padlocked the playgrounds, right. Our kids are stuck at home on their virtual schools, not getting any exercise. And I started a thing called the Fishtown Bike Gang. I mean, it just started as me taking my kids and a couple of their friends on bike rides, and I always try to take them to protected bike lanes where I could because, you know, it's safe and it's kids. It grew from 4 to 6 to 40 and 50 kids with some adults. I would be leading them on bike rides around the city and always to the Delaware River Trail. That was always an essential part of our ride.
You would think with a group of obvious kids, elementary school- aged kids, Philadelphia car drivers would slow down, wouldn't go right up behind people, behind kids on bikes, but they don't. They're honking, they're scaring kids. They have no patience and we're trying to follow the rules. Okay. And this is on this exact segment of street. A couple years ago the first time this was broached at a Fishtown Neighbors Association meeting, a person who lives on the street said, I've never had a problem with anybody with any cars behind me riding my bike on this segment. And Eric Rudy, the fantastic, recently-retired Fishtown Recreation leader, says, well, I got hit on that street. And then my kid who I dragged there, who would never speak up in public said, me too, you know. And it turns out many people had had the same experience. We need this protected bike lane, this tiny little segment yesterday. And then we need a whole lot more. Thank you very much. I just really need this city to be safer, because Barbara Freides' death I think about. I pass that ghost bike every day on my bike into work, and it doesn't seem to phase anybody. We need these protected bike lanes yesterday. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. Please state your name for the record and begin.
Good afternoon. My name is Julio Rodriguez. Thank you, Councilmembers. My day job is working for the Bicycle Coalition. We're a bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization. I'm here to speak in support of 260026, 251070, 260134 and 251029. You've heard a lot of testimony from folks that ride their bikes that have seen people impacted by traffic violence. And what you guys are voting on today are practical, targeted interventions that help create designated space, reducing chaos and making our streets safer. As of this year alone, there have been traffic deaths 4 in the city. That includes nine 5 pedestrians, four hit-and-runs and 6 a cyclist. 31 people are no longer 7 with us. That's unacceptable. 8 That's almost on par with the 9 number of homicides in the city. 10 Advocates have been asking for more 11 Vision Zero funding, and we 12 appreciate all of you for all of 13 the hard work with all of the 14 budget opportunities that you're 15 doing. I hear it. I'm really glad 16 that I can actually go after work 17 and speak to my Councilmembers. So 18 thank you for doing that. 19 I know that there's two 20 this week and we understand the 21 funding limitations, but these proposals help us get to safer infrastructure without adding more money towards the Vision Zero line item. If you've ever ridden a bike in the city, you know how things can go wrong very quickly. One moment you're in the bike lane and all of a sudden a car is right in front of you and you weave into traffic and what can happen? So many things. You end up in the hospital or worse off. I'll wrap up by sharing just last week I attended the funeral of someone that was killed riding their bike. His name was Glenn. He was killed on Aramingo Avenue. Yes, there was a bike lane with some flex posts and some broken flex posts, but that wasn't enough. A protected concrete bike lane could have saved his life. The point is more infrastructure will help us save lives. So please pass these bills, which are a real step towards making our streets safer. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. Mr. Johnson, is there anyone else on the public comment list?
There are no 7 other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. I would like to thank all the witnesses for joining us today. We will now end the public hearing and go into the public meeting. I note for the record that a quorum is present. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla for a motion on an amendment to Bill No. 260340.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I offer a technical amendment to Bill No. 260340. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of the committee. I move that the amendment to Bill No. 260340 be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 260340 be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. An amendment to Bill No. 260340 has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on Bills 250806, 250836, 250918, 251029, 251070, 260026, 260134, 260216, 260217, 260240, 260267 and 260340 as amended.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill Nos. 250806, 250836, 250918, 251029, 251070, 260026, 260134, 260216, 260217, 260240, 260267 and 260340 as amended, reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the first reading of these bills at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill Nos. 250806, 250836, 250918, 251029, 251070, 260026, 260134, 260216, 260217, 260240, 260267 and 260340 as amended, be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit for his reading of these bills at the next session of Council. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. And Bill Nos. 250806, 250836, 250918, 251029, 251070, 260026, 260134, 260216, 260217, 260240, 260267 and 260340 as amended, will be reported from this committee for a favorable recommendation with a request that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading at the next session of Council. This concludes the public meeting and the business before the Committee on Streets and Services. Thank you very much for your attendance. Thank you.
Great job. - - - (Committee on Streets and Services concluded at 2:16 p.m.) - - - C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. _______________________________ TANEHA CARROLL