February 21: SEPTA considers weekend service extension | Nutter warns of black ice, potholes | Councilman supports LOVE Park skateboarding | Walnut Lane Bridge concern | Fatal hit-and-run

Good morning, Eyes on the Street. The news this morning is buzzing with transportation related tidbits. 

SEPTA may restore weekend late-night service on the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines. SEPTA is considering extending Friday and Saturday service until 3 a.m., partially due to increased nightlife and residential activity in Center City. Officials are still determining the associated costs and whether or not the service could be included in the agency’s proposed budget, which will be released next month. 

Mayor Nutter warned pedestrians and motorists alike of a major black ice situation in the city. Freezing and thawing cycles have led to an increase in slick roads and sidewalks. They’ve also led to an explosion of potholes. Already, the city has filled nearly 4,000 potholes. By comparison, last year between Jan. 1 and Feb. 18 the city filled 1,540 potholes. 

Councilman Jim Kenney thinks creating a space for skateboarders in the LOVE Park redesign “would be a home run.” At the moment, preliminary plans for the park include green space, a new water feature and concessions for visitors. 

Mt. Airy residents are concerned about the pending redesign of Walnut Lane Bridge. PennDOT announced plans for an $8 to $10 million bridge overhaul in late 2012. The project is slated to begin in 2015, but residents are concerned that the project will reduce parking spaces and cause bottleneck conditions. 

In unfortunate transportation news, police are looking for the driver of an SUV who struck and fatally killed a cyclist in Southwest Philadelphia Monday. A 32-year-old man was standing in the shoulder of the 6200 block of Kingsessing Avenue, fixing his bicycle, when he was struck around 5 p.m. The driver stopped briefly and then continued driving west. 

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest. Have a tip? Send it along.
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