November 16: Navy Yard BSL extension study | Monthly Indego passes and equity | Two-way Spruce and Callowhill

Dan Kelley reports federal, state, and local officials, along with local labor leaders, will release a new study today on the economic impact of extending the Broad Street Line to the Navy Yard, as well as estimates for the ridership boost that would come along with this. Here’s what we know about this project to date. 

Spruce and Callowhill Streets are soon becoming two-way streets at Columbus Blvd, reports Mike DeNardo. The change, spearheaded by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, will allow northbound drivers to turn toward Center City, reducing traffic on Columbus. 

A Conshohocken-based developer plans to build a 55-foot, 53-unit apartment building across from The Piazza in Northern Liberties on one of the largest remaining vacant lots in the neighborhood, reports Natalie Kostelni.

A new paper from NACTO looks at the evidence that monthly bike share membership options can increase ridership, and are especially attractive to lower-income riders. Lots of interesting findings in there from Philadelphia’s experience with Indego.

Irina Zhorov at Keystone Crossroads has three ideas to steal for safer city biking, including speed cameras, automated enforcement, and stricter liability laws that assume driver responsibility for crashes. 

With all the votes officially counted (but results not yet officially released) incumbent at-large City Councilman Denny O’Brien is just 389 votes short of hanging onto his seat, reports Mensah Dean. Barring any changes, Republican Al Taubenberger will replace O’Brien in January. 

Claudia Vargas confirms that Mayor-elect Jim Kenney wants to return to a strong managing director form of government. Michael Nutter delegated power to his team of deputy Mayors, but under Kenney, all department heads will report to Mike DiBerardinis. 

Governor Tom Wolf says the revenue mix in the “half a loaf” budget framework he and Republican lawmakers agreed to falls more heavily on renters than homeowners.

Matt Assad looks at the downside of downtown Allentown’s billion dollar redevelopment boom: the dislocation of existing residents and merchants, some of whom have been evicted or relocated multiple times since 2010.

The new “Changing Spaces” documentary from Keystone Crossroads tells the stories of PA cities leveraging their historic legacies or tapping new resources to stay relevant in the 21st century.