Calling on the City Council Committees on Finance and Transportation to hold public hearings to gain an update on the status of the SEPTA Market Street El Project and its continuing impact on residences, businesses and neighborhoods in West Philadelphia and beyond.

WHEREAS, The SEPTA Market Street El Project is a publicly funded project to improve the efficiency of the Market Street El line through removing the current tracks and replacing them with a better designed system; and

WHEREAS, The project was originally expected to be completed by 2007, however due to contract delays, the project is expected to continue possibly until 2010; and

WHEREAS, The nature of the project has created a large construction zone along Market Street between 44th Street and 63rd Street and along several of the units blocks perpendicular to Market Street, often closing down several intersections, cross streets, and blocks of Market Street at a time to vehicular and bus traffic; and

WHEREAS, Heavy construction is about to begin in Winter of 2005, whereas removal of the SEPTA tracks will take place as never seen before in the City and adjacent blocks will become staging areas for large cranes, tractor trailers and other large equipment to begin removing the actual track; and

WHEREAS, There are over 250 businesses along Market Street in the project area who have already faced severe economic hardships due a sudden loss of a customer base causing several to close, lay off staff and/or reduce hours. Additionally, several business owners are falling further into debt due to inability to pay basic overhead costs due to the lack of inconsistent access that consumers have to these businesses; and

WHEREAS, There are over 100 residences along Market Street who due to the construction zone, have faced an increased in crime, property damage, short dumping, loss of parking spaces, unsafe pedestrian and children’s play areas and are about to face the possibility of losing access to enter their homes off of Market Street; and

WHEREAS, To date, local elected officials have not seen any contingency plans from SEPTA to address emergency relocation plans for residents and/or businesses once the heavy construction begins; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia City Council is elected to represent and protect the general well being of the Citizen’s of Philadelphia; now therefore

RESOLVED, That the City Council Committees on Finance and Transportation must hold public hearings to gain an update on the status of the SEPTA Market Street El Project and its continuing impact on residences and businesses.

End