The Greater Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Summit

In the past five years, Philadelphia and neighboring communities have become increasingly supportive of residents, workers and visitors who chose travel by foot or bike.  Multi-million dollar investments have been made across the region to both tie to together and expand our trail networks. Philadelphia neighborhoods have been actively building pedestrian enhancements, such as Parklets in North Philly and Pedestrian Plazas in University City. Philadelphia's Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities, in conjunction with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, invites you to celebrate, learn more about recent investments and emerging best practices at the Greater Philadelphia Pedestrian & Bicycle Summit.  

A detailed agenda is below. Morning sessions will focus on the region's trail network and policies for protecting pedestrians.  Afternoon sessions will focus on the expanding bicycle network, evolving best practices and standards, and community investments in active transportation. 

A webinar option is also available. If you register for the webinar, information about connecting to it on the 30th will be sent out via email prior to the event.

AGENDA

7:00 – 8:00 Registration and Opening Refreshments

8:00 – 9:00 Welcome by Barry Seymour, Executive Director, DVRPC

Keynote by Rina Cutler, Philadelphia Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities

9:15 – 10:30 Greater Philadelphia Trails Session
Over the past several years, the region's trail network has rapidly and significantly expanded with plans for more expansion on the way. Philadelphians can now use more than 100 miles of trails citywide for transportation and recreation. The Greater Philadelphia Trails Session will focus on plans for prioritizing and managing the expansion of the trail network, and projects that are currently under construction, in the final design stage, or recently completed.

Philadelphia Trails Master Plan - Jeannette Brugger, Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC)

The Circuit - Chris Linn, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)

Philadelphia Trail Builder’s Round Robin - Rob Armstrong (Philadelphia Parks and Recreation), Tom Branigan (Delaware River City Corporation), Lane Fike (Schuylkill River Development Corporation), Kay Sykora (Manayunk Development Corporation), Patrick Starr (Pennsylvania Environmental Council), and Karen Thompson (Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)

10:45– 11:45 Streets Department Policies for Protecting Pedestrians
The Streets Department works hard to protect pedestrians everyday by optimizing traffic signals, managing intrusions in the right of way during construction, and other measures. Streets Department Policies for Protecting Pedestrians will demystify the Department’s policies and decisions.

Construction and the ROW - Michelle Brisbon, Philadelphia Department of Streets

Low Cost Safety Improvements – Gustave Scheerbaum, Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU)

Sidewalk Café Regulations – David Perri, Philadelphia Department of Streets

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch and Learn

City staff and advocates will lead discussions over a boxed lunch (available to all-day registrants). These discussions will provide an opportunity for area experts to frame some of the key problems associated with a given topic and to answer questions. Locations for each session are listed. Please pick up your box lunch and proceed to your chosen session.

Future of Transportation Funding - T.E. to T.A. and the latest from Harrisburg - Andrew Stober, Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities & Spencer Finch, Langan Engineering – New Jersey Room

Street Level Advocacy: Lessons Learned about Generating Public Support for Bike Lanes - Sarah Clark Stuart, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia & Charles Carmalt, Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities – Pennsylvania Room

Managing Sidewalk Encroachments: Lost Cause or Moving Target? - Debby Schaaf, Philadelphia City Planning Commission – 7^th Floor Admin Room - Please meet by the elevators

DVRPC’s Project Design Strategy Discussion - Ryan Gallagher, Liz Smith, Joe Banks, DVRPC – Project Rooms A and B – Please meet by the elevators

Safe Routes to School - Lessons learned through Safe Routes Philly - Diana Owens Steif, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia – Project Room C – Please meet to the left of the elevators

1:15 – 2:15 Bike Network Expansion Panel
The completion of Philadelphia’s bicycle network requires balancing the striping plans of the city’s Streets Department, developing templates for bicycle friendly streets on Philly’s narrowest roads, and understanding the complexities of bicycle and pedestrian safety. The Bike Network Expansion Panel provides an opportunity to preview forthcoming efforts to increase Philadelphians’ bicycle mobility.

Paving Plans and Bicycle Networks – Darin Gatti and Stephen Lorenz, Philadelphia Department of Streets

What is a Neighborhood Bikeway – Susan Dannenberg, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

The State of Bicycling Safety – Charles Carmalt, MOTU

2:30 – 3:30 Neighborhoods and Active Transportation Round Robin Neighborhoods across Philadelphia have been improving their neighborhood transportation networks through innovative investments. Community groups, development corporations, and special services districts across the city will showcase some of their work and discuss challenges the face.

Better Blocks – Andrew Dalzel, South of South Neighborhood Association

Walk Philadelphia and Wayfinding in Center City – David Kanthor, Center City District

Pedestrian Plazas and Parklets in University City – Prema Gupta, University City District

Using Street Furniture to Enhance Commercial Corridors – Henry Pyatt, New Kensington CDC

3:45 – 4:45 Evolving Standards and Best Practices

As more and more people choose to ride their bicycles, walk, or take transit to work, cities must adapt in order to accommodate these changing travel habits. Evolving Standards and Best Practices will look at changing design review processes, traveler behavior monitoring and management, and education.

Complete Streets Handbook – Ariel Ben-Amos, MOTU

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Monitoring – Scott Brady, DVRPC

Enforcement and Education – Aaron Ritz, MOTU