Clean Air Ohio

NOV. 6, 2026

The American public, struggling under the burdens of higher costs at home and war abroad, took to the polls Tuesday to demand change. I was working the polls in my neighborhood in South Philly and felt that energy all day. And change we got, from Georgia to Texas to Pennsylvania.

The next morning, everybody was asking, “What does this mean?” What does it mean for transit? For fracking? For data centers? The unspoken undercurrent of some of these questions was, “Can I finally relax and breathe out?”

The new political landscape brings with it great opportunities for the environmental movement to win good policy that has long been out of our grasp. For the first time in years, we have a more promising opportunity to secure safeguards from fracking, rein in unchecked data center expansion, and invest in the public infrastructure our communities need to thrive.

At the same time, we will get none of it unless we fight hard. Voting can get us a better playing field, but we have to move the ball.

That’s what Clean Air Council is here for. We will not stop pushing for fully funded public transit, for protective buffers from fracking wells, and for a moratorium on AI data centers. These things won’t happen without us, and that means all of us.

So yes, release some tension, breathe out. And then help us win a better world. We will only win it together.

In solidarity,

Alex Bomstein
Executive Director
Clean Air Council

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

Spotlight PA: Shapiro, Democrats say new trifecta will deliver minimum wage increase, transit funding, and more – Pennsylvania now has a trifecta of Democratic leadership for the first time in over 30 years. Governor Shapiro said the party will announce a policy agenda for the first 100 days in office. The policies may include transit funding, minimum wage, codified reproductive freedoms, housing reforms, and more. Democrats have a 26-24 majority in the state Senate, and 111 out of 203 confirmed members in the House so far.

WHYY: Philly plans to double its number of speed cameras in the city in effort to cut down on pedestrian deaths – The 2026 annual report by Vision Zero highlights the high number of traffic fatalities in Philadelphia. There are 9 traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents in Philadelphia, compared to New York City, which is less than 3 per 100,000. Speed cameras added along Broad Street reduced fatalities by 26% last year. Three new zones are being added to the speed camera map. Speed cameras must be approved by the state, and a timeline of installation has not yet been announced.

Mass Transit Mag: Transit sees big wins across U.S. in 2026 general election – Transportation questions on ballots across 11 U.S. states passed this week. Voters voted yes on tax increases to fund public transit services in Washington State, California, and others. Transit ballot measures had an 89% pass rate in primary and special elections prior to the general election this week. Pennsylvania voted for a majority Democratic legislature, with advocates planning to take this opportunity to support public transportation across the state.

WHYY: Democrats sweep Pa. congressional seats, helping in Democrats’ successful efforts to win majority in Congress

Philadelphia Today: Philadelphia EV Chargers: 515 New Ports Planned Across 5 Counties

Pittsburghers for Public Transit: Vote on PPT’s 2027 Strategic Plan

Philly Voice: Fatal vehicle crashes in Philly decreased by 26% in 2025, but pedestrian safety remains an issue, officials say

NBC Philadelphia: How SEPTA keeps fallen leaves from derailing your commute

OCT. 30, 2026

We’re excited to share that Clean Air Council was named Activist of the Year at the 2026 SustainPHL Awards!

This annual event, hosted Oct. 29 by Green Philly, celebrates the people and organizations who work to make the Philadelphia region healthier and more sustainable.

We’re grateful for this recognition, but environmental advocacy is a collective effort. So much of what we do depends on the communities, our members, funders, volunteers, grassroots groups, and partner organizations who work alongside us every day

We also want to give a special shout-out to Elaine Wells, a member of Clean Air Council’s Board of Directors, who won the Environmental Justice Award for her work in connecting young people with trails, nature, and literacy.

We are proud to be part of such a dedicated environmental community. Here’s to continuing this important work in 2027 and beyond!

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

Happy Halloween! There’s nothing scarier than losing access to democracy! Plan to vote on November 3. Find more information here.

Philly Voice: SEPTA affordability programs would be permanent under proposed Philly law – A proposal introduced by Philadelphia City Council could increase access to transit for Philadelphians. Councilmember O’Rourke introduced legislation to set aside 0.5% of the city’s General Fund for a transit access program in April of last year. The fund would support Zero Fare, Key Advantage, and Key Partner programs. These programs offer critical transit access to transit to low-income residents, families, and businesses across the city.

Northeast Times: SEPTA Ridership Hits Highest Level Since February 2020 as Bus Trips Climb 14% – In September, SEPTA averaged more than 822,000 riders across all modes per day. This is the highest average daily ridership SEPTA has seen since February 2020. Bus ridership has risen 14% from 2025. SEPTA is giving credit to the New Bus Network, and phase 1 of the plan began in August. Regional Rail is the only mode to decline, with average weekday ridership down 4% from last year. SEPTA notes capacity and frequency issues as the leading causes for the decrease in Regional Rail ridership.

6ABC: SEPTA buys Canadian train cars to boost fleet – Two dozen Canadian EXO Transit rail cars are being serviced by SEPTA mechanics, with plans to phase them into service next year. The cars will help SEPTA meet daily service needs and should increase ridership. The new cars will seat an additional 60 to 70 riders, offer more handrails for standing passengers, and increase capacity for Regional Rail service.

NBC Philadelphia: Philadelphia Indego bike stations get high-tech upgrade with smart kiosks

WHYY: Pa. announces funding for 515 new electric vehicle chargers

Trains.com: Amtrak schedules event for public comment on restructuring

WHYY: NJ Transit is expanding a project to present art exhibitions at bus and train stations

Philadelphia Today: AIM Academy Mountain Biking Program in Conshohocken Turns 10

Philly Voice: Filmmakers who set out to produce a comedy on the PPA instead confront tragedies of a car-obsessed culture

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

Are you ready to vote on November 3? Find voting and election information here.

City of Philadelphia: Zero Fare Pilot Program fuels opportunity for Philadelphians – The Zero Fare pilot program provides free SEPTA key cards to over 37,000 low-income residents. The program launched in August of 2023, and the majority of participants were chosen by a lottery system. The unique automatic enrollment model has been a success, as Zero Fare has had a higher participation rate than any other transit benefit program for low-income riders. During the most recent quarter, the program has seen 2.4 million trips, bringing the total number of trips since the start of the program to 19.6 million.

Mass Transit Mag: Union workers approve new contract with Pittsburgh Regional Transit – Over 2,000 unionized bus operators, maintenance, and office staff have signed a four-year contract. The contract with Pittsburgh Regional Transit includes 15% wage increases. Wages will increase by 4% in the first two years and 3.5% in the next two. The deal is expected to be approved by the PRT board on Friday October 22 and replaces a previous four-year contract that expired in June.

WHYY: Philly teens advocate for universal free student SEPTA passes – Students are advocating for an expansion of free student SEPTA passes, which currently only work between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Students are only eligible for the pass if they live more than 1.5 miles from their school, and cards do not work on weekends, or during summers or school holidays. But advocates argue that students deserve access to educational programs outside of school, job opportunities, and other civically engaging events without having to worry about the financial burden travelling could bring. Arguments against the program include behavioral concerns, cost to the districts, and students skipping taps, resulting in fare evasion.

Spotlight PA: Pa. election 2026: A complete guide to who is on the ballot, when to vote, where to vote, casting mail ballots, and more

CBS Philadelphia: Bike lanes around Philadelphia City Hall could be here to stay after City Council vote

SEPTA: SEPTA Crews to Perform Nightly Cleaning During Slippery Rail Season

PennWatch: PennDOT Launches New Social Media Campaign for Teen Drivers During Teen Driver Safety Week

Mass Transit Mag: Transit Tech Lab unveils proof-of-concept results from 2026 cohort focused on infrastructure modernization

6ABC: New Pennsylvania license plates continue to cause toll trouble for some E-ZPass users

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

Are you ready to vote on November 4th? Find Voting & Election information here.

Metro Philadelphia: New SEPTA Regional Rail schedules start Sunday – Current SEPTA Student – Sunday, October 18 will see the start of new Regional Rail schedules for SEPTA. Daily parking rates will also be reduced at all SEPTA parking garages, from $4 to $2 per day, through December 31, 2026. The new schedules can be viewed here.

Transit Forward Philadelphia: Week Without Driving 2026 – This year’s annual Week Without Driving challenged Pennsylvanians that normally drive to go car-free as much as possible from September 30 through October 6. More than one-third of people living in the United States are nondrivers. Advocacy groups with Transit Forward Philadelphia challenged Philly to go beyond one week. They advocated for affordable and reliable transit, expanded student fare cards, accessible transit stops, and building out the Transit Access Fund to expand SEPTA for all Philadelphians.

Philly Voice: City Council makes bike lane around City Hall permanent a year after it was installed by PennDOT – The existing bike lane surrounding City Hall was codified into a bill by City Council approval this week. The bike lane was installed by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation last year but was considered a pilot program. The bill, introduced by Councilmember Jeffrey Young Jr., keeps the lane in place. Cycling advocates submitted a 1,200-signature petition and sent over 400 emails in favor of the lane. The bill awaits the mayor’s signature, but was passed unanimously by City Council, meaning it can become law with or without the signature.

BillyPenn: Less honk, more handlebar: Philly Bike Ride rolls back into town

Philadelphia Today: Why Philadelphia Ranked as America’s Worst City to Drive in 2026

PennDOT: Seven Day, 24-Hour Work Begins October 19 on the Dolby Street Safety Improvement Project

CBS Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Regional Transit announces plans to permanently close the Wabash Tunnel

6ABC: AC Expressway widening project aims to improve safety and reduce congestion