Philadelphia stands at a transit crossroads. Amidst uncertainty over SEPTA's financial future, ambitious plans for a Roosevelt Boulevard subway system offer a glimpse of what could transform the city's northeastern corridor. Our conversation with Jay from the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway advocacy group unpacks both challenges and opportunities facing Philly's transit landscape.

The SEPTA funding situation exemplifies the frustrating cycle of American transit politics. Despite service resuming after threatened cuts, CEO Leslie Richards has made clear: this is merely a temporary patch. Pennsylvania legislators have essentially kicked the problem two years down the road while depleting reserves meant for critical infrastructure maintenance. What makes this particularly maddening? Solutions exist and work elsewhere. From municipal self-taxation models that built Seattle's light rail network to congestion pricing in urban centers, proven funding mechanisms remain politically untouchable in Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, a transformative vision continues gaining momentum along Roosevelt Boulevard – a notoriously dangerous 12-lane thoroughfare stretching through Northeast Philadelphia. This grassroots campaign for subway service along the corridor has evolved from a university project into a serious transportation alternative currently under study by PennDOT. With a projected ridership of 62,000 daily passengers and a uniquely wide median offering construction advantages, the subway option presents compelling benefits.

Perhaps most exciting is the economic development potential. Roosevelt Boulevard's car-centric design has created vast swaths of underutilized land, particularly surface parking lots. These spaces could become vibrant transit-oriented neighborhoods without displacing existing communities – a rare opportunity in established urban areas. With a locally preferred alternative selection expected in 2026 and potential construction readiness by 2030, this century-old dream inches closer to reality.

Want to support better transit in Philadelphia? Check out Transit Forward Philly's advocacy work connecting volunteers with decision-makers. Follow the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway campaign on social media or visit blvdsubway.com to learn how this project could finally connect Northeast Philadelphia with opportunities throughout the region.

Send us a text

Support the show