๐ฅ Next Week: Fireside Chat with Angela Brooks / ๐ธ School Zone Speed Cameras / ๐ Intercity Bus Terminal Open House and Survey
February 19, 2026
Weekly Newsletter #13 // February 19, 2026
5th Square Advocacy is an urbanist organization of grassroots advocates building a coalition for better transportation, land use, and public space policies. Our work is made possible through the support of a growing network of sustaining members.
๐ฅ NEXT WEEK: FIRESIDE CHAT WITH ANGELA BROOKS
Next week on Thursday, February 26th, join our Housing Committee for a "fireside chat” event
with city planner Angela D. Brooks who oversees the H.O.M.E Plan as the City of Philadelphia's Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer, and is Immediate Past President of the American Planning Association (APA).
We will be hosting it at Indy Hall and providing hoagies, beer, and seltzers.
Earlier this week, the PPA officially turned on speed cameras in five high-crash school zones
throughout the city. Following a 60-day warning period, drivers who speed during school hours will begin to receive tickets.
Thank you to CM Thomas for sponsoring legislation to enable this pilot program! We look forward to seeing these five schools become safer, and we hope to see the program expanded to other schools.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 6:00–8:00 PM Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street
This is our chance to push for a new intercity bus station that treats riders with the dignity they deserve, strengthens our city's transit connections around the region and country, and supports a more equitable Philadelphia for decades to come. Stay in the loop by signing up with our friends at Transit Forward Philadelphia
CPC is also conducting a survey
to help them evaluate three different locations they are currently considering.
๐ณ๏ธ RUN FOR COMMITTEE PERSON
Our sister-org 5th Square PAC is encouraging you to run for the city's most local political office this spring: Committee Person.
These roles are the "foot soldiers" of Philadelphia’s political parties, and by serving in your voting division, you can help reform the political machine, make ward committees more democratic, and ensure we elect representatives who support urbanist positions.
Starting this week, you can get on the ballot by collecting a few dozen signatures from your neighbors; whether you are ready to run or just want more information, SIGN UP HERE
to receive a toolkit of voter lists, how-to guides, and petition forms.
๐ฐ HORSE RACING OR TRANSIT FUNDING?
At a time when Harrisburg is unable to find money in the budget to fund PA's transit agencies, we still somehow have enough money to give the horse racing industry $200 million every year. And now, House Bill 2071 is seeking to increase
that amount.
We oppose sending gambling revenue to subsidize horse racing while public transit systems are being forced to cut services and increase fares around the state.
An anti-horse racing coalition organized a petition calling on the PA legislature to end taxpayer support for horse racing. Sign it here.
๐ BECOME A MEMBER
Thank you so much to those of you who have already joined 5th Square Advocacy as a member!
As a reminder, 5th Square Advocacy is a new, separate organization from 5th Square PAC which will focus on election-related activities while 5th Square Advocacy will be the new home for our issue advocacy and legislative efforts going forward. Should you have to choose which organization to support with your membership, we highly recommend choosing 5th Square Advocacy.
๐จ ACTION ITEMS
๐ Intercity Bus Terminal Survey
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is planning for a future intercity bus station and they're looking for feedback about three possible locations. Take their survey here.
CHOP is currently constructing a 7-story, 1,000 space parking garage in Grays Ferry which would bring considerable additional pollution to the neighborhood. CHOP has applied for a "Complex Source" air pollution permit from the City of Philadelphia's Air Management Services (AMS)--you can ask AMS to hold a public hearing
about the proposal.
EVENTS
Wharton-Weitzman Future of Cities Conference Fri, Feb 20, at 8:30 AM | The Study at University City, 20 S 33rd St The Future of Cities Conference is a student-led, faculty-advised conference that aims to bring together urban innovators and experts from the public and private sectors to challenge and deepen the discourse around the trends, technologies, and policies transforming the future of our cities
Transit Equity Day: Celebrate Public Transit and Envision the Future! Feb 21, 12:00 PM | Kensington Corridor Trust, 3400 J Street Join Transit Forward Philadelphia in person for a day dedicated to celebrating public transit and imagining what’s next! Dive into engaging conversation and activities as they explore ways to make PA's transit safe, sustainable and accessible for everyone.
Intercity Bus Terminal Open House February 25, 6-8 PM | Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market St The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is hosting an open house to gather community input on their plans for a permanent home for Philadelphia's intercity bus operations.
Urbanist Fireside Chat with Angela Brooks February 26, 6pm to 8pm | Indy Hall, 709 N 2nd St Join our Housing Committee for a “fireside chat” event with city planner Angela D. Brooks who oversees the H.O.M.E Plan as the City of Philadelphia's Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer, and is Immediate Past President of the American Planning Association (APA).
DVRPC Planning and Funding Transportation Infrastructure Across the Region Mar 4, 06:00 PM | Virtual via Zoom Join DVRPC for a webinar that will inform and engage residents in major regional planning and transportation initiatives. It will provide an overview of long-range planning efforts for Update: Connections 2050, explain the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), how projects are prioritized, and show how residents can provide feedback to help shape planning decisions.
2026 Vision Zero PHL Conference Thursday, March 12th, 9:00am to 4:00pm | Temple Student Center South, 1755 N 13th St This year's Vision Zero conference, with the theme "Putting Community First: Revolutionizing Street Safety", invites participants to explore how the physical, social, and economic city converge and what’s possible when community needs and lived experiences guide decisions
Do you like this newsletter and our advocacy work?
We need your support to sustain Philly's Urbanist Movement (and get cool perks) Join us as a member TODAY!
5th Square Advocacy is a grassroots nonprofit organization driven to advance a vision for a more accessible, sustainable, equitable Philadelphia for all residents.
