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AuthorPPA Staff

HomeArticles Posted by PPA Staff (Page 21)

60 Day Speed Camera Warning Period for Speeding on Roosevelt Boulevard Ends July 31st. Fines Will Be Issued Beginning August 1st.

(PHILADELPHIA) As a result of legislative action in 2018 authorizing the use of speed cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard, the Philadelphia Parking Authority installed speed cameras at eight locations to improve safety and save lives in conjunction with Mayor Kenney’s Vision Zero initiative.

The cameras were activated on June 1st and after issuing warnings for the first 60 days – fines will now be levied beginning August 1st for speeding on Roosevelt Boulevard. Any vehicle electronically clocked traveling at a speed in excess of 11 miles per hour over the speed limit will be mailed a notice and fine for speeding.

Violators will be subject to a fine up to $150 — depending on the speed of the vehicle at the time of the violation, and will receive a violation and fine notice to the registered address of the vehicle. No points will be added to an individual’s driving record. The fine is aimed at deterring driving at excessive speeds that could lead to fatal injuries.

According to PPA Executive Director Scott Petri, “the decision to place speed cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard is the result of a number of high speed-related accidents over the years, many involving serious injury and the tragic loss of life.”

Roosevelt Boulevard currently has nine intersections that are monitored by red light cameras. As a result, red light running has dramatically decreased on the Boulevard by 58% since 2005.  When the first red light cameras were activated at Grant Avenue and the Boulevard in 2005, 25,673 red light running violations were recorded.  At this same intersection in 2018, 4,697 red light camera violations occurred – a staggering 82% reduction in red light running at this intersection.

“We believe red light cameras save lives — and we believe automated speed enforcement cameras along Roosevelt Boulevard will save more lives,” Petri said.

“Traffic deaths in Philadelphia are preventable and never acceptable,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. ” Adding automated speed cameras on the Boulevard is one of the most effective steps that we can take to eliminate traffic deaths. With the installation of these cameras, we continue to make progress on our Vision Zero efforts to eliminate traffic fatalities in Philadelphia by 2030.”

With an estimated 140 communities in 14 other states already utilizing automated speed enforcement cameras, their effectiveness has been clearly demonstrated. For example, between 2014 and 2017, New York City saw reduced speeding at camera locations by 63% while reducing fatal crashes by 55%.

There are now thirty-two (32) automated speed enforcement cameras operational at eight (8) different locations on Roosevelt Boulevard. Posted signage has also been installed to indicate intersections in which speed cameras are installed. The automated speed enforcement camera locations are;

  1. Roosevelt Boulevard and Banks Way

  2. Roosevelt Boulevard and F Street

  3. Roosevelt Boulevard and Deveraux Street

  4. Roosevelt Boulevard and Harbison Avenue

  5. Roosevelt Boulevard and Strahle Street

  6. Roosevelt Boulevard and Grant Avenue

  7. Roosevelt Boulevard and Red Lion Road (near Whitten Street)

  8. Roosevelt Boulevard and Southampton Road ( near Horning Road)

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Regular Board Meeting: Tuesday, July 21st, 2020

*Due to the public health impact and concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak, and in light of recommendations by public health officials, the Authority’s Regular Board Meeting scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 21st, 2020, will take place via GoToWebinar. You may register to attend the Regular Board Meeting Here*

Public comment will be accepted and considered. Anyone wishing to submit a comment for the July Regular Board Meeting via GoToWebinar can do so by emailing Kelly Quinn at kquinn@philapark.org. All such emails and requests must be received by Ms. Quinn on or before July 20th, 2020 to be considered for the meeting.

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IPMI Organization of the Year – 2020

The award, recognized during the 2020 IPMI Parking & Mobility Virtual Conference & Expo and featured in Parking & Mobility magazine, recognizes public or private parking, transportation and mobility organizations, departments, consultants, suppliers, and commercial operators that exceed expectations and meet extremely high industry standards.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) in Pennsylvania serves the parking needs of the sixth-most populous U.S. city, with more than 1.5 million residents. The PPA—which has achieved an Accredited Parking Organization with Distinction designation—recently developed a three-year strategic plan, with the goal to advance economic development and improve quality of life while reducing the environmental effects of single-occupant vehicle use.

The organization is dedicated to implementing the latest parking, transportation, and mobility technologies to enhance user experience and improve efficiency for employees. Innovations include a new mobile parking payment app, meterUP; a complete automation of the towing process through handheld devices; and numerous sustainability initiatives, including energy efficiency and waste reduction programs, parking guidance systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and off-street bike racks. Working with Philadelphia’s regional transit agency, SEPTA, PPA continues to address congestion along bus routes through targeted enforcement to reduce traffic delays, congestion, and resulting emissions.

Communication with patrons is paramount; programs allow the public to see officers from a different perspective, providing education with the goal of improving public safety. Creative communication and social media also distinguish the organization.   The PPA has created a podcast aimed at informing the community of the PPA’s efforts, featuring interviews with employees and experts about PPA initiatives so the public can better understand projects, programs, and technology.

In addition, the organization manages programs that are not typically the responsibility of municipal parking authorities, including community safety and the Vision Zero Network, an international initiative aimed at reducing the number of injuries and deaths from traffic collisions each year.

 

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Special Board Meeting: Tuesday, July 14th, 2020.

Due to the public health impact and concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak, and in light of recommendations by public health officials, the Authority’s Special Board Meeting scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 14th, 2020, will take place via GoToMeeting.

Public comments will be accepted and considered. Anyone wishing to submit a comment or listen to the July special board meeting conference call can do so by emailing Kelly Quinn at kquinn@philapark.org. All such emails and requests to listen to the board meeting should be received by Ms. Quinn on or before July 13th, 2020 to be considered for the meeting.

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Return to Work Notice

Dear Valued Employee,

The City of Philadelphia entered into the “Yellow Phase” of business reopening on June 5th. The PPA will begin to resume partial operations on June 8th, particularly for those who have not been working performing essential duties.

Protecting the health and safety of our employees and the customers that we serve is our top priority.  Accordingly, we followed city and state directives in March to shut down our operations in many locations and departments across the agency.  We will continue to keep health and safety as top priorities as we reopen our offices.

We recognize that our customers and employees need to feel safe and comfortable when they interact again with all aspects of our operations.  Therefore, as restrictions start to lessen, we are taking very important steps to ensure the well-being and safety of everyone.

Please see below the important steps we have taken.

All locations have been professionally cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized before opening.  Upon opening, all locations will adhere to regular cleaning and disinfecting schedules, including special emphasis on high-touch areas.

  • Employees and visitors will undergo a health-screening before admittance into any PPA facility.
  • Masks must be worn by every person admitted to all PPA facilities.
  • Every location has the maximum number of people allowed posted, along with proper signage to follow social distancing protocols.
  • As we begin to adhere to new safety protocols, we are taking steps to reduce the number of in-person interactions and make many of our services available online.

When the Parking Authority resumes partial business operations starting June 8th, we will have a phased re-entry plan.

  • Managers and above will report to their worksites beginning Monday, June 8th.
  • Supervisors will report to their worksites beginning Wednesday, June 10th.
  • The remaining staff will report to work EITHER Thursday, June 11th, OR Friday, June 12th.

When you report to work during the week of the 8th, you will receive training and orientation on our new protocols and operations. Your manager will contact you regarding your specific schedule shortly.

Beginning the week of June 15th, we will increase our operations with two schedules or shifts returning to all office buildings or worksites. Our team has been planning and making many preparations for all of us to return to work safely.   In order to ensure a safe start-up, one half of our staff will report at one time. Reporting will be rotated so everyone will be required to report the same number of hours in each pay period. Guidance from the Health Department will guide us as to when normal schedules will be reinstated. You will receive instructions shortly regarding your shift assignment. Anyone who can work from home will continue to do so on the days they are not required to report to the office.

Much work has been done to prepare for the return to on-location working so that we are able to do so in a safe and efficient manner.  Any questions or concerns can be directed to Michell Fortino, starting Monday, June 8th, at 215-683-9683, 215-435-2773, or HRAdmin@philapark.org.

I look forward to reuniting with all employees in a safe and responsible manner, as we continue to deliver exceptional service to the public in all of our operations.

Be safe and well,

Scott Petri, Executive Director

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