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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMFebruary 12, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 12, 2007
CONTACT: Solomon Jones
(215) 829-1620/ (215) 370-5681
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah today released his plan for ensuring stability and expanding transportation opportunity for all Philadelphians.
To build a strong base for city transportation policy, Chaka Fattah will re-establish the Office of Transportation to coordinate and plan all city transportation policy. Additionally, Fattah strongly supports the Governor's plan to ensure a dedicated funding source for public transportation and will lead a regional effort to pass this legislation in Harrisburg.
The Fattah Transportation Plan helps Philadelphians in regards to both mass and individual transit. It includes upgrading transportation infrastructure, reducing the cost of car insurance, and working to resolve parking issues within the City of Philadelphia.
"Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods with hundreds of thousands of people who rely on public transportation," said Fattah. "Safe, reliable transportation, whether it is a bike, bus or car, is the heart of my agenda."
SEPTA is a key player in Philadelphia's transportation system, and the Fattah Plan acknowledges this. As Mayor, Chaka Fattah would work to redefine the city's relationship with SEPTA and make regional rail funding more fair for city residents.
Fattah also wants to improve accountability at the Philadelphia Parking Authority by conducting an independent audit of the agency, making more of its positions available to those in the Civil Service, and returning it from state to local control. Under Chaka Fattah, city and state cooperation on all transportation matters will be dependent on the renewal of local control of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
In addition, Fattah's transportation plan advocates green transportation alternatives.
"Good transportation is also green transportation. For a relatively low cost, we can increase Philadelphia's use of alternative fuel vehicles," said Fattah. "We can make the taxi cab fleet better, cheaper, and greener; promote hybrid vehicles for city government vehicles and work with SEPTA to bring in more diesel hybrid and alternative fuel buses. I am also committed to making Philadelphia the most bicycle-friendly city on the East Coast."
Fattah's plan also calls for safer and more coordinated responses for disasters.
To learn more about Chaka Fattah's transportation plan to move Philadelphia forward, please visit the policy page of our website at http://www.phillyforfattah.com/policy_center.asp
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