The Market and Chestnut Bus Lane Enhanced Enforcement Program, a joint effort between the city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Police Department (PPD), Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and SEPTA Police, resulted in improved bus travel times in Center City.
Chestnut Street saw a 6.4 percent improvement in transit travel times during the midday period, resulting in a 2.5-minute reduction in travel time per bus on average on Chestnut Street. Market Street saw a four percent improvement, resulting in .5 minutes saver per bus on average during the four-month long program. Additionally, travel times for the public driving on both Market and Chestnut Streets decreased slightly during the program, while increasing on average in the city.
The City of Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) explained that the time savings may sound small, but it adds up over the thousands of people who ride the hundreds of buses on these streets every day. OTIS also notes these reductions can help limit bus bunching and keep vehicles on schedule as their trips continue throughout the city.
The enforcement program began Sept. 24, 2018 and focused specifically on Chestnut Street, between 21st and 11th, and Market Street, between 7th and City Hall. The program was designed to cut down on congestion caused by illegal traffic behaviors, such as passenger vehicles driving in the bus lane, blocking a transit vehicle, blocking the box, double parking, loading illegally, parking in a moving traffic lane and illegal turns. OTIS says these violations are principle causes of significantly reduced transit speeds during the midday and evening rush hour. Enforcement partners worked together to enforce laws already on the books.
“These results show that enhanced enforcement resulted in improved travel times for both buses and the rest of the users of the streets. We hope to use the information and results from this program to improve the overall quality of commuting in the city while improving traffic flow and implementing the Transit First goal set out in the CONNECT plan,” said Michael Carroll, deputy managing director for Transportation with OTIS and SEPTA board member.
Prior to the enforcement, the city’s Streets Department examined and refreshed bus/bike only pavement markings and regulatory signs, where possible. Pre-enforcement efforts also included an educational pamphlet developed by SEPTA that was distributed by enforcement partners to vehicles stopped in the bus lane.
Between September 24, 2018 and January 28, 2019, 3,635 tickets were issued (1,347 on Market Street and 2,288 on Chestnut Street), with 75 percent being issued by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). Tickets were also issued by PPD, SEPTA Police and SEPTA Supervisors. Despite the results of the program, OTIS notes that it required significant resources from PPA, PPD and SEPTA. While enforcement partners are still ticketing violators, future initiatives, such as incentives and additional equipment on buses will be examined to keep Center City traffic flowing better. OTIS said initiatives may include incentives for legal loading and parking along the corridor; addressing parking and loading issues at specific locations; increasing fines to deter illegal parking or stopping; consideration of traffic engineering improvements; consideration of automated enforcement of bus lanes and blocking-the-box and additional bus lane enhanced enforcement program initiatives in 2019.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
