Legal Eagles at the Forefront of Community Engagement: Advocating and Listening at the Castor Avenue Town Hall. May 15, 2025 — Philadelphia, PA

Legal Eagles at the Forefront of Community Engagement: Advocating and Listening at the Castor Avenue Town Hall

May 15, 2025 — Philadelphia, PA

On Tuesday evening, May 14, Legal Eagles proudly joined local residents, business owners, and civic leaders at Northeast High School on Cottman Avenue for the fifth town hall meeting addressing a transformative infrastructure proposal: a $28 million PennDOT plan to redesign Castor Avenue.

The event, hosted by State Representative Jared Solomon, featured attendance by State Senator Christine Tartaglione and representatives from PennDOT, offering a platform for public input and open discussion on the upcoming project.

Legal Eagles participated not only as advocates for legal equity but as active stakeholders in the wellbeing and future of our Philadelphia communities.

A Community in Transition: What the Project Entails

The proposed redesign would reduce Castor Avenue from four lanes to three, with the addition of a dedicated bike lane, enhanced lighting, increased greenery, a dedicated left hand turn lane, and other improvements aimed at boosting pedestrian safety and neighborhood livability.

This "road diet" initiative reflects a growing trend in urban infrastructure that prioritizes multi-modal transportation, traffic calming, and aesthetic revitalization.

Community Concerns: Balancing Flow and Function

While many attendees welcomed the changes—particularly advocates for safer streets and environmentally sustainable design—some local business owners voiced concern. The main issue? That the reduction in traffic lanes could lead to congestion, deter customers, and negatively impact foot traffic.

Legal Eagles commends the range of perspectives shared. As a group dedicated to empowering and representing the public interest, we recognize the importance of balancing economic vitality with public safety and sustainability.

What the Studies Show: Road Diets in Action

PennDOT is not the first to propose such a transformation. Road diets have been implemented in cities across Pennsylvania and the nation, including State College, PA, and New York City, with compelling results:

• In Seattle, a 4-to-3 lane conversion on Fauntleroy Way resulted in a 30% reduction in collisions, improved pedestrian safety, and minimal impact on travel time.

• Los Angeles’ Venice Boulevard road diet saw an increase in cyclist traffic and a decrease in speeding, although it faced opposition from drivers and businesses similar to concerns raised at Tuesday’s meeting.

• Philadelphia itself has experimented with road diets on Baltimore Avenue and Spruce/Pine Streets—both showing reduced vehicle speeds and fewer serious crashes over time.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), road diets can reduce crash frequency by 19% to 47%, especially in areas with high foot traffic and speeds above 35 mph—both applicable to Castor Avenue.

To be fair, Legal-Eagles has been informed that the road diet studies on Washington ave revealed 81% sidewalk parking increased and were concentrated on 700, 800, and 900 blocks.

At the Castor ave town hall meeting by residents who are convinced that reduction of the lane to a bike lane will create double parking issues voice dissent and explained that frustrated drivers will use side streets which were never intended for traffic.

Business owners fear a loss of customers and lack of loading zones.

Similar issues have been occuring on Erie avenue and were used as a compare and contrast to what will happen to Castor avenue if the project is approved.

K.Y.W news radio did a piece on May 13, 2025 and interviewed Stater Representative jared Solomon and Take Back Your Neighborhood Acting president Robert Rudnitsky

Legal Eagles: Championing Civic Participation

Our team’s presence at the meeting underscores a key pillar of Legal Eagles' mission: supporting community empowerment through active civic engagement. We believe real progress comes from collaboration—between government agencies, elected officials, community groups, and residents.

This is more than a street redesign. It's a reimagining of what our neighborhoods can become: safer, greener, and more inclusive spaces for all.

What’s Next?

Legal Eagles encourages all members of the community to stay informed and involved. Public feedback is still being gathered, and PennDOT is expected to finalize plans later this year. Whether you’re a commuter, business owner, or resident, your voice matters.

Let’s continue to engage, question, support, and shape the future of our neighborhoods—together.