Philly’s Zero Fare program for low-income residents is not in Mayor Parker’s budget

Aimed to make crossing the street safer, pedestrian ‘refuge islands’ are being built at more than a dozen intersections along Chestnut Street in West Philly.

Developments have been proposed for three outlier sites. But some speculate that one of Philly’s “eds and meds” heavyweights could still enter the mix.

Unlike other big cities, rental properties are not inspected proactively. Amid an affordable housing crisis, advocates say that’s putting low-income tenants at risk.