FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA - “Earlier this month, Philadelphia City Councilmember Mark Squilla introduced aresolution calling on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to study the economic, public health, and environmental impacts of removing or burying the section of I-95 that runs through South Philly neighborhoods instead of expanding it during the 95 Revive project.
“Urban highways through neighborhoods and along waterfronts have uprooted families and continue to harm the residents who remain due to poor air quality, noise, and accessibility. I-95 is no different,” says John Walker, organizer with 5th Square Advocacy.
“In the last 20 years, peer cities have removed large sections of their urban highways to great benefit. Meanwhile, PennDOTs current plan will expand the highway through South Philly, not only increasing the harm, but also removing athletic space from the community to modify ramps.”
“I-95 is at the end of its useful life. We at 5th Square Advocacy applaud the passing of this resolution and further ask, since we must spend hundreds of millions either way, that DVRPC and PennDOT make our community safer, cleaner, and greener by removing or burying I-95 rather than re-enforcing the status quo that harms our neighbors for the convenience of through traffic.”
5th Square Advocacy is a nonprofit urbanist organization working towards a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia.
Our volunteers and organizers can be reached at info@5thsqadvocacy.org
