Renderings: Changes coming to E. Passyunk “sneckdown” intersection

A couple weeks ago Albert Stumm at Passyunk Post reported that the traffic calming plan for the intersection of 12th, Morris, and E. Passyunk Ave in South Philadelphia is moving forward, and that Sam Sherman of the Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corp. used my “sneckdowns” blog post from This Old City last winter as supporting evidence to persuade the Streets Department.

Sherman has shared the two proposed site plans for that project with PlanPhilly:

The plans are still a work in progress between PARC, the Passyunk Ave BID, the East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association, the Streets and Commerce Departments, and Councilman Mark Squilla’s office.

PARC’s original proposal would remove the right turn lane from E. Passyunk onto 12th Street on the corner where A Man’s Image stands. A revised concept, which Sherman says is preferred by the Streets Department, would leave the turn lane intact, extend the traffic triangles further into the intersection, and feature a slightly larger neckdown protruding from the southeast corner of 12th and Morris. Both plans would remove three curb parking spaces, as well as some illegal, colloquially-recognized ones. 

On our Jane’s Walk last Saturday, David Goldfarb of East Passyunk Crossing called it one of the most confusing intersections in South Philly, in part because there are so many different traffic lights there, and potential stopping points for cars. It’s not always clear who’s supposed to be where.  

That’s why a portion of the project’s $700,000 price tag will go toward the purchase of new traffic signals for both pedestrians and vehicles.

Sherman says the sidewalk extensions also provide an opportunity to beautify the avenue, and extend the pedestrian space. Both potential designs would replace all of the sidewalks around the intersection up to the building line, and add six more feet of sidewalk space along the blocks forming the pinchpoint, providing more space for planters and street furniture, and sidewalk seating at Birra and the eventual ground-floor tenant of the mixed-use building under construction across the street on Morris.

PARC is aiming to have the project ready for construction by early 2016.