2024 headlines that hit home

Bridges, trains, water and parks: Infrastructure challenges of 2024

by Donna Shaw and Carla Robinson
Posted 12/25/24

As aging systems and climate change continued to stress local resources and test local neighborhoods, Northwest Philadelphia grappled with significant infrastructure challenges in 2024, from transit funding crises to bridge repairs and school renovations.

SEPTA's financial troubles dominated infrastructure concerns throughout the year, with the transit agency facing what could be its most serious crisis in recent memory. On Dec. 1, the agency implemented its first fare increase in seven years, raising base fares to $2.50 across buses, subways and trolleys – a move expected to …

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2024 headlines that hit home

Bridges, trains, water and parks: Infrastructure challenges of 2024

Posted

As aging systems and climate change continued to stress local resources and test local neighborhoods, Northwest Philadelphia grappled with significant infrastructure challenges in 2024, from transit funding crises to bridge repairs and school renovations.

SEPTA's financial troubles dominated infrastructure concerns throughout the year, with the transit agency facing what could be its most serious crisis in recent memory. On Dec. 1, the agency implemented its first fare increase in seven years, raising base fares to $2.50 across buses, subways and trolleys – a move expected to generate $14.4 million in annual revenue. 

While the increase was modest compared to initial proposals, it highlighted deeper financial challenges facing the system. A more dramatic 21.5% fare increase planned for January 2025 was postponed after Gov. Josh Shapiro announced emergency funding to address the agency's operating deficit, but concerns about service cuts and the system's long-term sustainability persisted throughout the year.

The future of the Chestnut Hill West line, a crucial transportation artery for Northwest Philadelphia, hung in the balance as SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards confirmed activists' fears during a public hearing on the transit system's future. Richards warned that without addressing a $240 million budget gap in the upcoming fiscal year, "certain Regional Rail lines will go away." While she didn't specify which lines faced elimination, the statement sent shockwaves through Northwest Philadelphia communities that depend on regional rail service.

In response to the threats of service cuts, a coalition of Northwest Philadelphians formed "Save the Train" to preserve service on the Chestnut Hill West line. The group demonstrated their commitment to maintaining rail service by staging a creative rally that began at the Richard Allen Lane station, continued aboard the train to Chestnut Hill West, and concluded with a Route 23 bus ride back to Mt. Airy. 

The Philadelphia Water Department faced its own set of mounting challenges as serious questions emerged about the costs and effectiveness of its Green City, Clean Waters initiative. The program, introduced in 2011 to address the city's antiquated sewer systems through green infrastructure installations, has seen expenses balloon to at least $4.5 billion at its halfway mark - more than $2 billion over original estimates. The cost overruns directly impact residents through increased stormwater charges on monthly bills, raising concerns about the program's sustainability and its impact on ratepayers.

Traffic safety improvements continued along Lincoln Drive, one of Northwest Philadelphia's most notorious thoroughfares, as the city and state released preliminary second-stage schematics for additional safety measures and plans for Emlen Circle. According to Anne Dicker, president of West Mt. Airy Neighbors and co-chair of its traffic calming committee, while the second phase will enhance driver and passenger safety, it falls short in addressing pedestrian concerns. 

The Wissahickon Valley Park received welcome news with a $14.2 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration to reconstruct the nearly 200-year-old Valley Green and Bells Mill Road bridges. The funding, part of a federal program to strengthen transportation infrastructure against climate-related threats, aims to improve the bridges' resilience against increasingly violent rainstorms that have damaged park infrastructure in recent years. 

The four-year project will require significant adjustments for park users: the heavily traveled Bells Mill Road Bridge, which serves as a crucial artery connecting Chestnut Hill and Roxborough, will be limited to one lane during construction. The Valley Green Road Bridge will close to vehicles but remain open to pedestrians and cyclists, requiring visitors driving to Valley Green Inn to access it from the Roxborough side via Wise's Mill Road. The project timeline allocates two years for design work and two years for construction, reflecting the complexity of updating historic infrastructure while preserving its character.

Another park infrastructure project, however, saw completion after many years of waiting. Friends of the Wissahickon completed a $3.5 million restoration project at Valley Green Run, featuring a new pedestrian bridge and streambank stabilization. The project, finished in December after 10 years of planning, addresses erosion issues that threatened Philadelphia's drinking water supply and improves safety for park visitors at Wissahickon Valley Park.

Recovery efforts at Our Mother of Consolation School faced unexpected setbacks as officials postponed its reopening to April 2025. The 109-year-old building on East Chestnut Hill Avenue, devastated by a 2023 roof fire, required additional structural reinforcement beyond initial assessments. The delay stemmed from permitting issues for steel I-beams and columns needed to shore up the first and second floors, according to Bert Brong, chief estimator for Wyndmoor-based Delran Builders, the project's general contractor. The structural modifications were deemed necessary by engineers from Sheward Partnership, LLC, the firm designing the school's new interior after discovering the lower floors required additional support to maintain the building's long-term stability.

The Water Tower Recreation Center celebrated two major projects powered by community action - newly planted gardens, and fundraising that paid for the lighting of the historic water tower and WW ll Monument, along with a new sign and bench. Members also lobbied for and contributed to a long overdue renovation of the outdoor basketball court. 

Amid these challenges, Pastorius Park received positive news with the announcement of a $275,000 restoration project that promises to reshape one of Chestnut Hill's beloved green spaces. The Paul W. Meyer Northeast Woods Restoration Project, scheduled to break ground in spring 2025, represents the historic park's largest restoration effort to date. The ambitious initiative will focus on revitalizing the northeastern woodland section and addressing environmental issues, reclaiming approximately one acre of unimproved land along Shawnee Street and West Hartwell Lane. The project honors Paul W. Meyer, former F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens and longtime Chestnut Hill resident, who helped establish the park's 100-year restoration plan and has been instrumental in preserving the neighborhood's natural heritage.