NE Philly neighbors sue PennDOT to reverse commercial corridor

Northeast Philly neighbors sue to block PennDOT’s plans to narrow a commercial corridor for cars, add bike lanes

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Residents of Northeast Philadelphia are taking action against PennDOT to combat construction in their community.

Robert Rudnitsky recently filed a lawsuit against PennDOT, SEPTA and his own state representative, Jared Solomon.

Rudnitsky leads Take Back Your Neighborhood, a community organization where he also serves as zoning chair.

Known for working alongside city officials to support local development, Rudnitsky is taking a stand against a project he believes threatens the commercial corridor of Northeast Philly.

A $27 million traffic safety and beautification project along a 1.7-mile stretch of Castor Avenue between the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Oxford Circle to Cottman Avenue.

“We don’t understand why somebody would want to reduce the roads because you won’t get them back,” Rudnitsky said. “The biggest concern is parking. Right now, we have good parking. The second concern is the reduction of traffic. And three solid years of this road being torn up. Most of these businesses will not make it through three years. And they’re not going to apply for the insurance.”

“The best case scenario is to give the folks the beautification that they would like, some better lighting, trash cans, spruce up the street. Obviously, incorporate the bike lanes … we’re okay with everything. Just don’t touch the road,” Rudnitsky said.

The project would add separated bicycle lanes, reducing the width and replacing aging sidewalks, bumping the sidewalk out into the street at intersections for the Route 59 SEPTA bus that runs on an electric trolley track overhead and install brighter street lights that will illuminate pedestrians better.