Philly's Roosevelt Boulevard might be in for a facelift, and locals had their say on its future. The city, together with PennDOT and SEPTA, is looking at six different redesign options, aiming for a completion in 2040. The City of Philadelphia's official website recently updated residents on the progress of The Boulevard Reimagined study, which combines varied roadway and public transit proposals.
Community feedback was gathered from four in-person forums, alongside an online survey and a pair of virtual town halls. In summary, 235 people showed up to talk roads and routes in person, while the online survey drew in 626 total responses. Meant to shape the project, public input is now being used to score and rank the different proposed alternatives for the thoroughfare. Present at the town hall, a majority of the participants lived within two miles of the trouble-prone boulevard.
As for the redesign alternatives, these include a mix of roadway styles and transit types, catering to multiple visions for the 21st-century boulevard. Each alternative supports its set of goals and needs, as reported by the city's website. From better bus lanes to safer pedestrian crossings, these alternatives highlight the different priorities and challenges faced by a historic throughfare in need of change.
Engagement and local responses are crucial to the process, with the city keen on ensuring whichever route they pick, it aligns with what Philadelphians want and need. According to the city's breakdown, a sharp focus was given by respondents on accessibility and safety, suggesting roads and transit of the future must heed these as cornerstone requirements.
