A drive to guarantee rights A Council bill to allow the turns on part of Chestnut Street moved forward. By Clea Benson Inquirer Staff Writer
City Council yesterday took the first step toward allowing Center City motorists to make right turns from Chestnut Street. To keep the right lane reserved for buses and bicycles, right turns have been banned on a 10-block stretch of the busy commercial strip since it was reopened to vehicular traffic in 2000. Motorists and businesses have complained that autos sometimes must travel blocks out of the way because of the ban, which runs from 18th to Eighth Streets. Yesterday, Council gave preliminary approval to a bill from the Streets and Services Committee that would allow right turns from on six blocks, from Broad Street to Eighth. Though bicycle and public-transportation advocates have opposed the switch, many businesses - including Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - say the ban has had devastating effects. Hospital officials said the turn restriction prevents people from getting to the hospital's emergency-room garage off 10th Street and would prevent people from gaining easy access to a new garage being built as part of an expansion. "You have people trying to get to the emergency room and forced to go straight down Chestnut Street and wrap around four or five different blocks," said Carl Primavera, the attorney representing Jefferson in the matter. "Not only is it inconvenient to the business community, but from Jefferson's viewpoint, it's catastrophic in trying to save people's lives." To establish the bus and bicycle lane, the federal government paid nearly $1 million of the $7 million cost of upgrading Chestnut Street. If that lane is closed, the government might want its money back. The bill's sponsor, City Councilman Frank DiCicco, is working with the office of Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) to allow the city to keep the money. But if the government insists on getting back its money, Primavera said, Jefferson and its parking-garage developer, Interpark, are committed to raising the money from Chestnut Street businesses or paying the cost themselves. The bill is scheduled for a final vote at a May 11 Council meeting. Despite the question of the money, DiCicco said he wanted to lift the ban as soon as possible. "I'm on the fast track with this thing," DiCicco said. "Once we pass this bill, I think everyone understands we need to do it right away." The Street administration said the issue needed further study. It was unclear whether the mayor would sign the bill if it were to pass. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the Bicycle Coalition of the Delaware Valley list named "bike." To subscribe or unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
