Evans, Fetterman, Parker Announce Nearly $37 Million for 2 Philly Projects

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd), Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker today announced nearly $37 million in federal funding for the city for two projects.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide $23.3 million to the city for Reaching the Steps: Transforming Philadelphia's Eakins Oval and $13,694,932 for Connecting Philadelphia's Schuylkill River Trail from Manayunk to Passyunk.

The Eakins project will design and construct multimodal improvements to Benjamin Franklin Parkway, including the Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps and the adjacent Pennsylvania Avenue. The project includes implementing a new traffic pattern, intersection and traffic signal improvements, pedestrian connectivity and disability access improvements, bicycle paths in the outer lanes of the Parkway between 22nd Street and Eakins Oval and Pennsylvania Avenue, and traffic calming measures.

The Schuylkill River Trail project will close a critical gap in by constructing the Wissahickon Gateway Trail and the Passyunk Connection adjacent to historically disadvantaged communities in Southwest Philadelphia. This project will complete a 39-mile off-road, riverside, multi-use trail between Pottstown in Montgomery County and Southwest Philadelphia. The Wissahickon Gateway Trail will be an anchor for new shops, offices, housing, public transit service, riverfront green space, and multi-use trail connections between Center City, Northwest Philadelphia, and neighboring Montgomery County. The Passyunk Connection will remove barriers to safe, affordable, and equitable mobility options along the Schuylkill River Trail.

Congressman Evans said, "This federal funding will improve transportation options and safety, as well as the quality of life for people in Philadelphia and the region. I'm proud to vote for federal funding for projects like these, and I thank Senator Fetterman for his continued partnership in bringing federal funding back to Philadelphia and the southeastern Pennsylvania region."

"Philadelphia is doubling down on being a city that truly works for people, not just cars. These two grants put that vision into action-$23 million to transform Eakins Oval into a safer, more welcoming urban destination and nearly $14 million to complete the Schuylkill River Trail. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence around the corner, it's only fitting that Philadelphia leads the charge in showing what the future of urban living can be. This is exactly what all our nation's cities should be working toward and I'm proud it's happening right here in the birthplace of America," said Senator Fetterman.

"Both of these federal grants - made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - will allow us to continue the positive growth of our city's transportation network for all modes of travel," said Mayor Parker. "Many Philadelphians commute to work, medical appointments, and other daily functions as a cyclist or pedestrian. These projects will provide much needed connections with a focus on traffic safety in Southwest, Northwest, and Center City. This is what we mean when we say we are building a Safer, Cleaner, and Greener Philadelphia with Economic Opportunity for All. I would like to thank Senator John Fetterman, Representative Dwight Evans, and all of our federal partners in securing these transformational grant awards."

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. In addition to taxes, the committee also oversees trade, Social Security and Medicare. Evans' website is evans.house.govand his social media handle is @RepDwightEvanson Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

John Fetterman is the senior senator representing Pennsylvania in the United States Senate. He is a proud member of the U.S. Senate Committees on Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and has been a champion in fighting for issues that matter most to Pennsylvanians. The Senator's website is fetterman.senate.gov and his social media handle across all platforms is @SenFettermanPA.

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