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AuthorPPA Staff

HomeArticles Posted by PPA Staff (Page 28)
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The Philadelphia Parking Authority Breaks Ground on New 210 Space Neighborhood Parking Lot in Old City

PPA Executive Director Scott Petri joined local Old City civic leaders today at the groundbreaking for a new 210 space neighborhood parking lot located under the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at the corner of 2nd & Florist Streets.

“The construction of this new 210 space parking lot will enhance the quality of life for local residents by providing convenient parking for local residents. The PPA is committed to providing the best customer service possible and working with local neighborhood groups to improve parking options for local residents,” Petri said.

“One of the guiding principles at the PPA is to provide safe, convenient, and cost effective parking options. As we move forward with this particular project, we are also exploring renovation and upgrade projects at other local neighborhood parking lots throughout the city,” Petri said.

Petri expressed special thanks to the Delaware River Port Authority, Franklin Bridge North Neighbors Inc., Councilman Mark Squilla and the Old City District.

Commenting on the anticipated new parking lot for local residents, Old City District CEO Job Itzkowitz said, “In its Vision2026 plan, Old City District advocated for increased multimodal opportunities for Old City, including additional bike lanes and pedestrian improvements, as well as parking and lighting under the bridge—something Old City residents and business owners have sought for decades.”

He continued, “Improvements to the space will generate several ancillary benefits, including making the area under the bridge feel safer at night via lighting and additional eyes and ears on the street, as well as better connecting the neighborhood north and south of the bridge.  We are grateful that DRPA and PPA were able to make this space work for the community.”

The 210 space lot will be available to local residents on a monthly rental basis. The lot should be fully operational by the spring of 2019.

 

 

 

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MU City Wide

PPA’s Widely Popular meterUP Mobile Payment Parking App Now Available City-Wide

After an initial pilot program, the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s hugely popular meterUP pay by phone parking app is now available city-wide and can now be used at over 8,000 coin-operated meters and 975 kiosks throughout the city.

Commenting on the city wide availability of meterUP, PPA Executive Director Scott Petri said, “We are delighted this very popular and convenient mobile payment option is now available at all kiosks and meters throughout the city. Our customers now have the convenience of paying for parking or adding time remotely anywhere in the city – instead of having to continuously carry cash or coins.”

Hailed as a major PPA technological innovation aimed at improving customer service and convenience for motorists parking in Philadelphia, there have been over 1 million meterUP transactions and over 150,000 downloads since December 2017. The app has been widely embraced — receiving an IOS rating of 4.8 out of 8,200 reviews and a 4.5 Android rating out of 430 reviews at the App Store.

“Our goal with the city-wide expansion of meterUP is to further improve customer service and the overall parking experience in Philadelphia for residents and visitors alike. meterUP is a major step towards improving customer service and convenience through the use of innovation and technology,” Petri said.

The meterUP app allows drivers to pay for parking with a smartphone and remotely add more time to kiosks or coin-operated parking meters. Registration and use of meterUP is easy and saves customers time and money. Users can extend parking sessions remotely and stop time early to avoid wasting unused minutes. Customized parking expiration reminders and the ability to make prepayments are also features of meterUP.

Clearly marked signs and decals with zone numbers and directions on how to use meterUP are posted throughout the city. App users are encouraged to ensure their license plate numbers are correctly entered into their app profiles while referencing the correct meterUP zone numbers when making mobile payments.

The PPA has partnered with ParkMobile, LLC to power the meterUP app. With this mobile payment option available city-wide, both meterUP and ParkMobile are accepted for payment at all kiosks and coin-operated meters in Philadelphia – and conversely — meterUP can be used for payment in any locale in the country where ParkMobile is used and accepted

Customers are able to acquire meterUP by visiting meterUP.org, downloading it through their iOS and Android device, or by calling (877-727-5303).

 

 

 

 

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Driver of the Year 2018

The International Association of Transportation Regulators Announces Zakaria Elbaroudi, from the City of Philadelphia, as 2018 International Driver of the Year

The IATR is pleased to announce that it has selected Zakaria Elbaroudi, certified Taxicab Driver in the City of Philadelphia, as 2018 International Driver of the Year. The IATR’s Driver of the Year Award is recognition by government transportation professionals to a driver who has provided excellent service to passengers, and has likewise performed in an extraordinary manner that exemplifies the highest level of the profession.

Zakaria has been a certified taxicab driver in Philadelphia since January 2007.  During his last 11 years as a  taxicab driver, Zakaria has exhibited hard work and dedication to his profession.  He has a clean regulatory record and not a single complaint has been filed against him. William Schmid, the Deputy Director of the Taxicab and Limousine Division of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, nominated Zakaria, not only for his impeccable record and impressive work ethic, but his drive to go above and beyond in his duty.

One story in particular shows his dedication to the profession, along with his strong moral and ethical compass. On several occasions, Zakaria was  called upon to service an elderly man who lives in South Philadelphia for transportation to the grocery store, doctor appointments and occasionally the bank.  On February 10, 2018, Zakaria received one such call and took the gentleman to the doctor and then to the bank. On the trip home the customer reported to the driver that he could not find $1,500 in cash that he had just withdrawn from the bank. Zakaria  returned to the bank with the man and searched the car, but could not find the money.

The following day, Zakaria and his partner decided to do a much more thorough search of their vehicle.  They unbolted the backseat from the floor where they found the missing cash. When Zakaria went to return the money to the elderly passenger he was informed that the passenger had passed away.  Zakaria immediately returned the money to the Taxicab and Limousine Division after which the money was able to be returned to the estate executor. “Zakaria Elbouradi showed his natural ability to do the right thing, setting a positive example for professional drivers everywhere,” said IATR President Matt Daus, “and we are pleased to acknowledge his conduct and career accomplishments by presenting him with the 2018 IATR Driver of the Year Award.”

The taxicab industry is struggling to gain and maintain public confidence, and the actions of Zakaria Elbaroudi deserve to be recognized. His honesty and dedication are an example to his fellow drivers and a credit to this industry.   “Zakaria exhibited care, compassion and a strong desire to do the right thing rather than attempt to profit from another’s misfortune.  These are stellar qualities everyone should emulate.”  Said IATR chairman, Jim Ney.  

Zakaria works on a full-time daily basis by leasing a taxicab with another driver. He shares a lease on medallion taxicab P-0151 and like many other taxicab drivers, struggles to make ends meet. He currently resides in New Jersey with his wife and two children.

About The International Association of Transportation Regulators

The International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) is a non-profit organization serving and educating government transportation officials globally since 1987. IATR is growing peer group of taxi, limousine and for-hire transportation regulators, dedicated to improving the practice of licensing, enforcement and administration of for-hire transportation through the sharing of information and resources. For further information, visit IATR’s website at www.iatr.global.

 

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PPA Executive Director: Fatal NY Limo Accident a Reminder that more Oversight Needed for Uber, Lyft too

The deaths of 20 people in a limousine accident in New York last weekend shocked us all. The reports of basic safety failures by that limousine company dovetail with concerns I have raised about the current state of regulatory oversight in Philadelphia.

Recent state legislation called Act 164 banned the practice of inspecting taxicabs once every six months and now limits those inspections to only once every four years. Those inspections commonly revealed frightening safety violations. Act 164 even removed the regulator from the process of doing background checks on taxicab drivers. Drivers are now issued their official three-month driving certification without any training or regulatory review.

While we have all embraced the convenience of ride-sharing services, those private vehicles are subject to almost no inspections. They are never subject to a pre-service inspection and less than 5 percent of transportation network company vehicles are inspected in any year. Regulators in Philadelphia do not certify ride-share drivers. Regulators do not know who is out there driving or even which vehicle is engaged in ride-share services.

Unfortunately, the trend away from safety regulation has now reached the limousine industry. At the behest of limousine owners, the Pennsylvania House recently passed House Bill 2473, which will cut limousine regulatory funding. This cut will result in less safety enforcement. Act 164 has already reduced regulatory staffing by 55 percent to only 19 people.  Those 19 people must attempt to regulate much more than 20,000 vehicles in Philadelphia. How much lower can that number go before there is effectively zero enforcement?

I recognize that most people who provide taxicab, ride-share, and limousine service try to do the right thing for their customers. But reasonable oversight is important for public safety.

The public has the right to demand that the “for hire” vehicles they enter every day adhere to best practices, including those related to safety and performance. We confirm that standards are met by inspecting and testing compliance with approved guidelines. To test compliance, the scope of regulatory review must be reasonable and the testing process must be adequately funded. Appropriate compliance testing is simply not happening in Philadelphia due to funding cuts and inspection prohibitions. Now is the time to address this issue. We cannot wait for a tragic accident to move us to action.

As a first step, HB 2473 should move no further toward becoming law; it will only weaken limousine safety regulation. Then, current vehicle inspection prohibitions should be eliminated and funding restored. Specifically, limousine assessments should remain unchanged or be modified to a surcharge of $2 per trip. The current ride-share and taxicab assessments should be eliminated and replaced with a 50-cent surcharge on each trip in Philadelphia. Other cities already use this surcharge, and it works.

If these steps are put in place, more frequent vehicle inspections and enhanced real-time enforcement on the street will happen. Enforcement officers have the ability to inspect limousines and other vehicles while in the course of service. If a vehicle is in an unsafe condition, the enforcement officer can place it out of service on the spot. That is the type of commonsense oversight that will generate compliance with commercial standards and may ultimately save lives.

Because the law directs two-thirds of ride-share assessments in Philadelphia to the School District, annual funding for our schools would also increase by nearly $10 million. I urge our legislators to focus on this vital public safety issue. I am willing to help in that process in any way.

-Scott Petri

Executive Director
Philadelphia Parking Authority

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Terror Behind the Walls

Where to Park for Terror Behind the Walls

You might as well start preparing yourself for something a little frightening this fall because Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls is back, along with zombies, ghosts and ghouls lurking in every nook and cranny.

From Sept. 21 – Nov. 10, 2018 (Check this schedule for select dates) the historical prison opens up its haunted halls for the public to experience some of the scariest sights they have ever seen. Zombie prison guards, nurses, and prisoners will make it hard to fall asleep after this spooky experience. Don’t believe us? Play the video below to get a sneak peek.

https://vimeo.com/176338495
Now, Onto Parking:

Thankfully, our 19th and Callowhill lot is just a few blocks away from Eastern State, and there’s no need to worry: Our lot has a strict “NO ZOMBIE ZONE” so parking won’t be a nightmare. If you do end up heading to the amped up history lesson at Eastern State, check out our parking rates below:

19TH & CALLOWHILL STREET LOT

1901 Callowhill St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Rates:

  • Evening (enter after 5 p.m., exit by 6 a.m. Monday-Friday) – $9.00
  • Weekends – $12.00 (flat rate per day)

Need additional parking guidance? Reach out to our team on Facebook or Twitter and we will be at your service!

(Photo Cred: Eastern State Penitentiary)

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City, SEPTA and PPA Join Forces to Tackle Center City Congestion

PHILADELPHIA – City officials joined with partners at SEPTA and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) today to announce a new effort to address Center City congestion. This will kick off starting September 24, with an initial focus on illegal movements along Market and Chestnut Streets that impact Philadelphians riding buses, walking, bicycling and driving.

In recent years, Center City’s growth has contributed to an increase in the number of pedestrians, transit riders, bikers and drivers of all types that share its narrow street grid. Philadelphia has grown by more than 50,000 residents and jobs since 2010, and Center City is now the second most dense downtown in the United States – behind only midtown Manhattan. The resulting traffic congestion impacts the lives of residents throughout the city, costing them valuable time, and limits their ability to reliably access employment opportunities and amenities.

“People need to get to where they are going – to work, to school, to see their loved ones – and not worry about getting stuck in traffic. It’s that simple. That is why the City is joining forces with SEPTA and the PPA to put this project in motion. We don’t need any new legislation, we are just enforcing laws already on the books,” said Mayor Jim Kenney.

Congestion contributes to higher operating costs for SEPTA, and impacts service for customers.

“Our region is Pennsylvania’s economic engine, and it works because mass transit works,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. “Unmanaged traffic compromises our ability to move people through a dense, urban area. This partnership is crucial to ensure that SEPTA can keep the economy moving.”

During this enforcement effort, the PPA will be placing a special emphasis on no stopping and standing violations within vital bus lanes along with other offenses that add to congestion and create public safety issues.

“We are proud to partner with SEPTA, and the City of Philadelphia to deter illegal parking in vital bus lanes,” said PPA Executive Director Scott Petri. “Our goal is not to issue tickets, but rather deter if not stop unsafe behavior and eliminate congestion from our streets.”

The initial focus of this initiative will enhance enforcement of the bus, bike, and right-turn only lanes on Market and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. Chestnut Street will be prioritized for enforcement between 22nd and 10th Streets; Market will be enforced between 7th and 13th. The only acceptable use of the lanes are right turns. All other activity including stopping/standing, loading, or traveling through the intersection is prohibited.

To aid the Market and Chestnut enforcement effort, fresh line striping of bus lanes was completed on both Market and Chestnut streets. SEPTA supervisors have been providing warnings and educational pamphlets to drivers in violation in recent weeks. On September 24 enhanced enforcement will commence.

This a joint initiative of the City of Philadelphia, SEPTA and the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

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PPA to Participate In Annual Park(ing) Day on Friday – September 21st

 

On September 21, you’ll probably notice miniature parks sprouting up in some of Philadelphia’s metered parking spots; parks that weren’t there the day before. That’s because Philadelphia is one of many cities around the world hosting International Park(ing) Day.

Here’s the scoop:

Park(ing) Day is an annual event dedicated to showcasing how public spaces can be designed to better serve us all. For the past 10 years, local businesses, artists, and even individual citizens, have worked together to transform some of our on street parking spaces into alluring urban dwellings called parklets. We’re talking everything from miniature parks to miniature cafes popping up on Philly’s metered parking spaces.

In Philadelphia alone, you can expect to see over 50 parklets sprouting up throughout the day on Friday, September 21st — and if you’re in the area of 7th and Market Streets, our recycling-themed parklet will give you a convenient spot to sip on your coffee, read a book, or even eat your lunch. But of course the fun won’t only be limited to 7th and Market Streets. If you want to do a Park(ing) Day tour of Philadelphia, the below interactive map shows you where to find all the parklets throughout the city.

 

 

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Made in America

Where to Park for the Made in America Festival

Have you heard? Jay-Z is coming back to The Ben Franklin Parkway with Made in America, his two-day annual music festival. On Labor Day weekend (September 1–2) a star-studded lineup hits the stage with a wide variety of artists that’ll please every member of your crew. Performers include Jay-Z himself, beloved Philadelphia native Meek Mill, EDM genius Zedd and many others.

Now, onto parking:

More than 80,000 people are expected to head to the parkway for the festivities. Luckily, parking locations including Gateway Garage, 19th and Callowhill and the Family Courthouse Garage are within close walking distance to the festival area. Keeping your car in one of our lots is key to a stress-free experience.

If you do happen to park at a metered spot, there’s no need to rush back to feed it. When you download meterUP, our mobile payment app, you can add additional time from your smartphone and receive an alert when your time is about to expire. Thanks, technology!

View our parking rates below for economical options in the area, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook with any questions. Information on parking restrictions during the event can also be found here. 

P.S.

We we will not enforce meters or time limits on residential blocks  Monday, September 3. Happy Labor Day, Philly!

FAMILY COURTHOUSE GARAGE

1503-11 Arch St.

Philadelphia, PA 19102

Rates:

  • Up to 1/2 hour: $6.00
  • Up to 1 hour: $13.00
  • Up to 1 1/2 hours: $19.00
  • Up to 2 hours: $25.00
  • Up to 12 hours: $27.00
  • Up to 24 hours: $29.00
  • Weekends: $11.00 (flat rate per day)          

PHILADELPHIA GATEWAY PARKING GARAGE

1540 Vine St.

Philadelphia, PA 19102

Rates:

  • Up to 20 minutes: $3.00
  • Each additional 20 minutes (or portion): $3.00
  • Up to 10 hours: $16.00
  • Over 10 hours: $20.00
  • Evening rate (enter after 5 p.m., exit by 9 a.m.): $5.00
  • Weekend rate (flat rate per day): $7.00

19TH & CALLOWHILL STREET LOT

1901 Callowhill St.

Philadelphia, PA 19130

Rates:

  • Up to 1 hour: $6.00
  • Up to 2 hours: $11.00
  • Up to 12 hours: $17.00
  • Up to 24 hours: $12.00
  • Weekends: $12.00 (flat rate per day)
  • Evening (enter after 5 p.m., exit by 9 a.m): $9.00

 

Photo by Made in America courtesy of  Visit Philadelphia

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Parking, Street Closure and Transit Information for Philly Free Streets

 

PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia released details today for 2018 Philly Free Streets, scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Event Activities & Information
Philly Free Streets is a people-powered initiative of the City of Philadelphia that temporarily closes streets to cars, inviting people to walk, bike, and play. This year the event will take place on Saturday, August 11 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The route is eight-miles round-trip connecting City Hall and Erie Avenue on North Broad Street. There is no formal start or stop. People are encouraged to join the route by taking SEPTA’s Broad Street Line anywhere between City Hall and Erie stations, or by getting off the Market-Frankford El at City Hall. To learn more visit www.phillyfreestreets.com or follow @PhillyFreeSts on Twitter.

Road Closures
The Philly Free Streets route will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 11. Broad Street will be closed from JFK Blvd. to Butler Street, and east-west cross traffic will only be permitted on the following streets:

– JFK Blvd.
– Vine Street (Eastbound Only)
– Spring Garden Street
– Ridge Avenue
– Girard Avenue
– Diamond Street
– Lehigh Avenue
– Allegheny Avenue
– Erie Avenue
– Butler Street

One-way streets that feed into the Philly Free Streets route will be controlled by PPD and designated local access only. Residents and businesses will be permitted to access these roads during the event as conditions allow. Additional closures may be implemented if needed in the interest of public safety.

Roads will be opened as they are serviced and cleaned. All event-related road closures will be lifted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2018.

Delays can be expected during the course of event setup and on the date of the event. Some cross streets may be closed and detoured prior to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2018 due to public safety considerations. Motorists are advised to avoid the area by using alternate routes, and allow for extra driving time in areas near the event. Please refrain from double-parking, which creates congestion, limits traffic flow and is illegal.

Parking Restrictions
Parking restrictions on the Philly Free Streets route will commence at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2018. Parking will be prohibited on both sides of Broad Street between JFK Blvd. and Butler Street. Additional parking restrictions include:

– Arch Street from Juniper to Broad
– Vine Street (Westbound) from 13th to 15th
– Mount Vernon Street from Watts to Broad
– Wallace Street from Watts to Broad
– Fairmount Avenue from Broad to Ridge
– Brown Street from Broad to Carlisle
– Poplar Street from Watts to Carlisle
– Stiles Street from Broad to Carlisle
– Oxford Avenue from Park to Broad
– Cecil B. Moore Avenue from Park to Broad
– Montgomery Avenue from 13th to Broad
– Susquehanna Avenue from Watts to Broad
– Huntingdon Street from Broad to Carlisle
– Glenwood Avenue from Cambria to Broad
– Westmoreland Street from Park to Broad
– Rising Sun Avenue from Watts to Broad
– Venango Street from Broad to Carlisle
– Germantown Avenue from Erie to Butler

Accommodations will be made for established loading and valet zones along the route.

All event-related parking restrictions will be lifted at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2018.

Temporary No Parking Signs will be posted along the Philly Free Streets route beginning on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. If you park in the impacted area, please obey all posted signs. Vehicles parked in restricted locations after 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 11 will be towed. If you believe that your vehicle has been towed in connection with Philly Free Streets, please contact the local police district for confirmation.

Public Transportation
SEPTA is a convenient, affordable way for event-goers to get to and from the Philly Free Streets route. All SEPTA service changes, alerts and detours can be found by clicking here.

Broad Street Subway and Market Frankford Line service will operate on a normal weekend schedule throughout the day on Saturday, August 11, 2018.

Regional Rail parking lot location information is available online at: www.septa.org/parking.

SEPTA can be reached at 215-580-7800 and directly on Twitter @septa_social. For more information on SEPTA and NJ Transit routes and schedules, visit www.septa.org or call (215) 580-7800, and www.njtransit.org or call (973) 275-5555.

To download the full listing of Philly Free Streets parking, public transportation and closure information, click here.

Venue Details and Public Safety Information
The following items and activities are not permitted on the Philly Free Streets route:

– Motorized transportation (excluding motorized wheelchairs or similar equipment)
– Unauthorized solicitation
– Alcoholic beverages
– Narcotics or illegal drugs
– Bathing in pools or fountains
– Damage to property
– Feeding animals
– Firecrackers or explosives
– Firearms
– Open flame
– Littering (including pet waste)
– Public intoxication
– Unauthorized driving or parking
– Unauthorized vending
– Unleashed animals
– Weapons of any kind

Emergency Preparedness & Weather Alerts
Philly Free Streets is a rain or shine event. In the case of severe weather, listen for announcements and sign up ahead of time to receive emergency texts or e-mail alerts at ReadyPhiladelphia: www.phila.gov/ready.

For tips and general information about being prepared and ready at special events, read the Special Event Safety Guide before you attend.

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