Authorizing City Council's Committee on Streets and Services to hold a public hearing to investigate the current intergovernmental relationship, policies, and practices of The City of Philadelphia and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specifically The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), regarding repairs, maintenance, and design of Pennsylvania State-Maintained Highways that are in the County of Philadelphia; and, in furtherance of such investigation, authorizing the issuance of subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

WHEREAS

, There are currently over 200 roadways or sections of roadways (390 miles) that are in Philadelphia that are deemed State Highways, and are the responsibility of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS

, The City of Philadelphia is committed to taking all appropriate measures to ensure the safety of our citizens and visitors to our great Municipality; and

WHEREAS

, Numerous sections of State Highways are deteriorating, require reconfiguration, and have lacked attention and repairs, causing hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians; and

WHEREAS

, There is a concern about the degree of maintenance, and coordination of design between PennDOT and the City of Philadelphia on repairs of State Highways located in the County of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS,

For example, the current configuration of access ramps from the South Street Bridge to the Schuylkill Expressway are hazardous and are in desperate need of reconfiguration, since they take traffic into the fast lanes, and, despite the fact that design work began on the Bridge, reconfiguring the ramps is not part of the plans; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That City Council’s Committee on Streets and Services is authorized to hold a public hearing to investigate the current intergovernmental relationship, policies, and practices of The City of Philadelphia and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specifically The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, regarding repairs, maintenance, and design of Pennsylvania State-Maintained Highways that are in the County of Philadelphia; and, in furtherance of such investigation, authorizing the issuance of subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

End