Calling for the Committee for Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to examine the feasibility of a Citywide daylighting initiative, and help determine best practices to protect cyclists, ensure pedestrian safety, and prevent needless traffic deaths.

WHEREAS, Intersection daylighting restricts parking close to street corners to keep lines of sight clear at intersections, therefore reducing risk of collisions. Making intersection daylighting a priority intervention strategy would include removing parking spots near corners; and

WHEREAS, When vehicles park near corners, pedestrians and cyclists cannot see vehicular traffic, and drivers cannot see pedestrians or cyclists. Daylighted intersections are clear of parked vehicles enabling drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to see further down City blocks and make safer navigation decisions; and

WHEREAS, Other major Cities have implemented intersection daylighting and seen positive safety results - Hoboken, New Jersey has not had a pedestrian death in the last seven years. Daylighting is also being implemented in Jersey City, San Francisco, and Portland; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia has a rate of traffic deaths three times higher than that of New York City, where a bill regarding intersection daylighting is under consideration; and

WHEREAS, Investigation of intersection daylighting in conjunction with data about the streets with higher rates of injury as well as types of severe crashes can inform data-driven best practices to protect all Philadelphians from traffic violence; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby calls for the Committee for Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to examine the feasibility of a Citywide daylighting initiative, and help determine best practices to protect cyclists, ensure pedestrian safety, and prevent needless traffic deaths.

End