After seeing many of the debates and chats on various Facebook Groups, I decided to do my best to compile as much information as possible about the Roosevelt Boulevard conversations revolving around a possible subway, as well as other options. This is not my content and has been collected from various sources. I have no affiliation with any private group and am not taking an opinion on this page although I do have opinions on the project.
As a disclosure, I am a member of the Septa Citizens Advisory Committee which is an independent group and entirely volunteer based. This page is also not a product of any CAC meeting.
My goal, regardless of the path taken, is to see as much public input into any future project in the Northeast, by the people of the Northeast, in meaningful and impactful ways. The Subway IS NOT THE ONLY OPTION being discussed and so it is important for as many people to be involved and not to assume it is only a conversation about a subway.
Feel free to take the Roosevelt Blvd Survey Below
Links from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Page
Route for Change Page from PA website: This page includes all of the information on the “Route for Change” project dating back to 2021 and 2023. This project in total included things such as the new traffic cameras. You will also find current information on the recent open houses. PA Commonwealth Route for Change Link
U.S. 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard) – 2040 Alternatives to Transform the Boulevard (PennDot): From the PennDot page, “In conjunction with the City of Philadelphia and SEPTA, PennDOT has initiated additional studies to refine the 2040 Alternatives to Transform the Boulevard. This study will identify a long-term vision to transform Roosevelt Boulevard by enhancing safety, accessibility, and reliability along Roosevelt Boulevard, for all users including pedestrians by supporting local and regional travel needs, changing land use patterns, and enhancing connectivity and mobility to local communities, while promoting economic opportunities. Roadway configuration changes and implementation of high-quality transit service (and potential transit station locations) along Roosevelt Boulevard are critical improvement components necessary to directly address the purpose and needs of the long-term project.” PennDot Route for Change Link
“For this phase of the project, six alternatives are being examined:
- Alternative 1A = Partially Capped Expressway with Light Rail Transit (LRT)
- Alternative 1B = Partially Capped Expressway with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
- Alternative 2A = Neighborhood Boulevard with LRT
- Alternative 2B = Neighborhood Boulevard with BRT
- Alternative 3 = Partially Capped Expressway with Subway
- Alternative 4 = Neighborhood Boulevard with Subway”
Presentations/Posters from Public Forums
Links from the City of Philadelphia Page
How to participate: General Information page about the project as well as any future open houses. How to Participate: Click Here!
The Roosevelt Boulevard: Route for Change – This page has more detailed information about the entire project. The project (as per the City of Philadelphia site) “aims to create a safe, reliable, and accessible Roosevelt Boulevard in North and Northeast Philadelphia. The goals of the project are to:
- Plan for major long-term changes to the look and feel of the Boulevard.
- Reduce speeding, crashes, and deaths.
- Improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Improve SEPTA service and ridership.
The Roosevelt Boulevard: Route For Change Page Link
Here are some of the articles and other media that has been posted around the Roosevelt Subway project. If I missed anything, feel free to let me know! I know there are so many different articles and videos out there.
The Philadelphia Inquirer – Roosevelt Boulevard voters favor a slower, safer road with faster transit 01/08/2025 by Thomas Fitzgerald
Philly Mag – The Roosevelt Boulevard Subway Will Be Worth Every Penny 12/18/2024 by Sandy Smith
The Philadelphia Inquirer – Roosevelt Boulevard Program wants to know how residents would fix it 12/14/2024 by Thomas Fitzgerald
PA House – Solomon: Philly Needs the Roosevelt Blvd. Subway 12/13/2024 by Jared Solomon
Philly Voice – Options to improve traffic, transit on Roosevelt Boulevard to be weighed at public meetings | PhillyVoice 12/9/2024 by Michael Tanenbaum
NBC10 – Residents, officials talk Roosevelt Boulevard subway proposal – NBC10 Philadelphia 11/29/2024 by Emily Rose Grassi
The Philadelphia Inquirer – PennDOT must move forward on ‘Roosevelt Boulevard Reimagined’ | Opinion 11/29/2024 by Jay Arzu
Philly Voice – Roosevelt Boulevard subway momentum continues | PhillyVoice 03/07/2024 by Michaela Althouse
The Philadelphia Inquirer – What I wish for in 2024: The Roosevelt Boulevard subway 12/29/2023 by Daniel Pearson
The Northeast Times – A subway on the Boulevard? – Northeast Times 12/06/2023 by Tom Waring
6ABC – Hearing held today to discuss possible Roosevelt Boulevard subway in Northeast Philadelphia – 6abc Philadelphia 11/11/2023
NBC10 – Possible subway line along Roosevelt Blvd gets strong support – NBC10 Philadelphia 10/11/2023 by Emily Rose Rossi and Leah Uko
Bucks County Beacon Opinion – The Roosevelt Boulevard Subway: A Potential Game-Changer for Bucks County – Bucks County Beacon 6/23/2023 by Jay Arzu
Billy Penn – Philly’s Roosevelt Blvd Subway inches closer with planned Council hearings 6/14/2023 by Asha Prihar
Billy Penn – New Roosevelt Blvd Subway designs show cost-effective stations 06/8/2023 by Jay Arzu
WHYY – Roosevelt Boulevard SEPTA line not feasible with agency’s current funding – WHYY – or at SEPTA CEO says Roosevelt Boulevard SEPTA line not feasible with agency’s current funding – Philadelphia Business Journal (original article from Philadelphia Business Journal) 01/27/2023 by Emma Dooling
Philly Mag – Meet Jay Arzu, the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway’s Reviver – 12/28/2022 by Emily Smith
WHYY – Philadelphians want a Roosevelt Boulevard subway line – WHYY 08/27/2022 by Emily Rizzo
OCF Realty (Video) https://youtu.be/i6ZZj4AkkaA?si=iyV-ITNxr3g0bXA2
CBS3 YouTube Video YouTube Link
NBC10 Video YouTube Link
This is the link to the “Build the Roosevelt Blvd” page. From my understanding (correct me if I’m wrong) this page and project was setup by Jay Arzu, who was/is a doctoral city planning student at Penn’s Weitzman School of Design. Jay is essentially the person who reinvigorated and advocated the Blvd Subway project. The pages on Facebook and IG of the same names are also run by him. We personally have no affiliation with the group, however, I have met and interviewed Jay Arzu (for a possible future article). There page is full of information and links as well as visuals.