AuthorPPA Staff

FROM LEFT:  KYW’s Racquel Williams, PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer, and Philly 3.0’s Engagement Director John Geeting

Last week Bridging Philly invited the Philadelphia Parking Authority to discuss its multiple quality-of-life and public safety initiatives, including:

• Automate Speed Enforcement Cameras
• ‘Ghost Car’ Enforcement
• Abandoned Vehicle Enforcement
• Bike Lane Enforcement
• Neighborhood Truck Parking Enforcement

(PHILADELPHIA) – Citing 45 deaths and over 135 injuries since 2011, Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) Executive Director Rich Lazer announced today that the PPA’s new Bicycle Lane Enforcement unit will begin patrolling and enforcing bike lane regulations on Monday, May 1, 2023, in selected city neighborhoods. 

 “Bicyclists are an integral part of Philadelphia’s transportation ecosystem. Since 2011, 45 bicyclists have been killed, and over 135 have been injured. We must do all we can to protect our bicyclists and provide them safe access to city streets,” said PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer.

 “Beginning next Monday, we will expand our ongoing bike lane enforcement efforts to include a designated bicycle lane enforcement unit that will concentrate exclusively on ticketing vehicles that illegally park in our designated bike lanes,” Lazer said.

 “The PPA has issued over 25,000 tickets for bike lane safety violations since 2014. Enforcement is a deterrence aimed at changing behavior and encouraging compliance with our bike lane regulations. The staggering number of violations clearly demonstrates the need for a focused enforcement unit to concentrate solely on bike lanes in Center City, University City, and South Philadelphia,” Lazer said.

Lazer thanked the new bike lane enforcement unit for “stepping up to the plate and volunteering for these new public safety patrols. All of their hard work and dedication is very much appreciated.”

 Lazer credited the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia for their “vigilance and hard work in protecting bicyclists and moving the city’s Vision Zero goals closer to reality.”

 Commenting on the PPA’s new Bike Lane Enforcement Initiative, Sarah Stuart, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, said, “We are very excited and relieved to see the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s program get underway.  Many of Philadelphia’s unprotected bike lanes are chronically encroached upon by drivers who park or stand with impunity.  Bicyclists have been asking for increased enforcement of such motorists for years. The Bicycle Coalition welcomes this team of enforcement officers on bikes to be able to efficiently and sustainably keep bike lanes clear and safe for the  bicyclists they were designed and built for.”

“Our goal is to improve public safety and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods by encouraging compliance with bike lane regulations and keeping our bike lanes clear and free of parked vehicles,” Lazer concluded.

Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) Shift Coordinator Catherine “Cathy” O’Connell recently received the “Impression Makers” award from Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) Employee Recognition Program. This award recognizes customer-facing employees who provide direct customer service to passengers.

As a shift coordinator, O’Connell’s job duties and responsibilities include assisting PPA cashiers, supervisors, and PHL passengers. She works the 4 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. shift Wednesday through Sunday and has been with PPA for seven years, and enjoys the opportunities available at the organization.

O’Connell usually starts her day with a cup of tea and has a positive mindset: “Today is going to be a good day!”.

“I enjoy working at the airport and interacting with passengers,” said O’Connell. “I get the chance to talk to many different people and learn about the places they are departing and arriving from.”

In his nomination of O’Connell, passenger Rori Dajao stated, “Cathy is an amazingly helpful employee. I was stuck in a traffic jam on the departure side of the airport. In 30 minutes, I moved from Terminal A to Terminal E. I called PPA and got connected with Cathy, who was immediately sympathetic to my plight and was able to direct me to a tunnel between Terminals E and F, which allowed me to park in economy, not in short-term parking, like I was resigning myself to do. She restored my faith in humanity and allowed me to make my flight to Houston!”

Over the years, O’Connell has perfected her communication, networking, and multi-tasking skills. She enjoys assisting her coworkers, managers, and passengers. Her colleagues describe her as easygoing, kind, and hardworking.

“Making the work environment a better workplace is my goal,” said O’Connell. “Teamwork is important. My coworker on my shift is my work family, and we often help each other.”

O’Connell’s fundamental principle is to “make a difference in someone’s life.”

She has many positive memories with passengers and feels satisfied when she leaves an impression. “I like leaving an impact on passengers since, most of the time, we are the first and the last contact they have,” said O’Connell.

“Working for my employer is easy,” said O’Connell. “I come to work, do my job, and hope to make a difference. If it wasn’t for the passengers parking at PHL, I would not be here. I am here to let them know PHL is a great place to park and work!”

Written By: PHL Newsroom

The PHL Employee Recognition Program was established by the airport’s Guest Experience (GX) Department. Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by the GX Council Steering Committee’s Employee Conduct and Recognition Committee. For more information about the program and to nominate an employee, click here.