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You always hear about the Streets Department…now find out exactly what we do.

The Philadelphia Streets Department and the divisions within it are responsible for the City's vast network of streets and roadways. Included among our many duties are the ongoing collection and disposal of residential trash and recyclables, as well as the construction, cleanliness and maintenance of our entire street system. It's hard for the public to imagine all that goes into that general "job description," but here are some facts and figures to put things in perspective.

The Streets Department's mission is to provide clean and safe streets in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The department delivers a number of City services that are critical to maintaining the public health and safety in our communities. These essential services include, but are not limited to, curbside trash and recycling collection to over 540,000 households, maintaining all traffic control devices and street lighting, the construction and maintenance of 320 bridges and 2,525 miles of streets and highways and snow and ice removal.

The department is organized in three divisions:
Sanitation, Transportation and Administration

The Sanitation Division is responsible for conducting an integrated solid waste management system that includes refuse collection, recycling and disposal of the City's waste materials. Annually, the division collects and disposes of approximately 700,000 tons of rubbish and 100,000 tons of recycling, completes over 42,000 miles of mechanical cleaning. The Division also cleans illegal dump sites and disposes of abandoned tires, bulk items and household hazardous waste along with manage community outreach and educational initiatives that encourage recycling and litter reduction. Some of the programs developed through the Sanitation Division include Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC), UnLitter Us and Recycling Rewards.

Within the Transportation Engineering Division, there are three units.

The Highway Unit constructs, repairs, and maintains City streets by determining the location, time, method, and manner for openings or excavations of underground street reconstruction. This Unit is also the primary response unit for the City in weather events such as snow and ice. The streets system in Philadelphia totals 2,575 miles – 2,180 miles of city streets, 35 miles of Fairmount Park roads and 360 miles of state highways. The Highways Unit builds and maintains 2,525 miles of this system.

The Survey and Design Unit plans and constructs city bridges and designs city streets, highways, drives in Fairmount Park, and roads. It performs all surveying functions for the City, furnishing lines and grades of all kinds, preparing street maps, plans and other land records of real property, and maintaining all road records and street opening data. The unit performs all highway planning functions and coordinates the City/State Highway Program.

The Traffic and Street Lighting Unit is responsible for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the City's street lighting system including 100,000 street lights and 18,000 alley lights. The Traffic and Street Lighting Unit determines the type and location of all signs, signals, markings and devices for regulating and controlling vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Its employees install, maintain, and operate traffic control devices, compile traffic data, prepare engineering studies, and analyze the causes of accidents to provide for the safe flow of traffic in the city. The Traffic and Street Lighting Unit has 2,950 signalized intersections, 15,000 conventional stop intersections, and 3,000 all-way stop intersections under its jurisdiction. The Planning and Analysis Unit assist the Transportation units with strategic planning and analysis.







 
ALERTS

2013 Tire Round-Up Program
To address the serious problem of illegally discarded tires in Philadelphia the Sanitation Division hosts the Tire Round-Up Program series during the summer. This six week program serves as one of several initiatives to address illegal dumping.

Click here for details.


STREETS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ALONG STENTON AND GODFREY AVENUES CORRIDOR
Project Will Begin July 2013

Philadelphia - Notice to proceed for the Traffic Signal Improvement Project along Stenton and Godfrey Avenues Corridor will be issued on Monday, June 10, and actual construction is expected to start by July, Acting Streets Commissioner David J. Perri announced today. The goal of the project is to improve roadway and traffic safety for both motorists and pedestrians along the Stenton and Godfrey Avenues corridors. The project is expected to be completed by April 2014.

Work will take place along Stenton Avenue from Evergreen Avenue to Broad Street, and along Godfrey Avenue from Broad Street to Front Street. The work will consist of replacing all signal equipment and interconnect a total of twenty-nine (29) intersections along five miles of Stenton and Godfrey Avenues. It will include the installation of new traffic signals, street lights, ADA compliant curb ramps and curb line modifications and sidewalks at several locations, as well as the construction of green stormwater infrastructure at the intersection of Stenton Avenue and Washington Lane.

Work will be performed by Carusone Construction, Inc. The amount of the construction contract is $6.9m, and is being funded through a federal grant, using 80% federal and 20% City Capital funds.

The Streets Department thanks the citizens in advance for their patience and cooperation during this project.



STREETS DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO 52ND STREET DUE TO RECENT SEVERE RAINFALL
Rescheduled Opening for Monday, June 17

PHILADELPHIA - The temporary closure of the southbound lane of 52nd Street from Haverford Avenue to Race Street for roadway repairs has been extended to Monday, June 17, Acting Streets Commissioner David Perri announced today. Inclement weather forecasted for Thursday, June 13 will delay the completion and opening of the roadway.

The temporary closure will allow the Streets Department crews to make necessary roadway repairs to southbound 52nd Street. The work has been scheduled for a full closure due to the street defects in the southbound lane. Motorists are encouraged to use the posted detours. Northbound 52nd Street should not be affected.

The Streets Department regrets the inconvenience to residents and businesses, and thanks citizens in advance for their patience and cooperation during this project.



STREETS DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES REPAIRS FOR N. 5TH STREET AT RACE STREET
Ben Franklin Bridge Ramp Temporarily Closed Beginning Saturday, June 1

PHILADELPHIA - N. 5th St. at Race St. will be temporarily closed to traffic from Saturday, June 1st, at 7 AM to Monday, June 3rd at 12:00 PM for necessary roadway repairs, Streets Commissioner David Perri announced today. If the work is completed sooner than expected, the roadway may open earlier. This work will close the ramp to the Ben Franklin Bridge for the weekend.

This work has been scheduled for a full closure on a weekend so the crews can repair the roadway in an expeditious and safe manner to both the Streets Department crews and motoring public. Motorists are encouraged to use the 7th St entrance to the Ben Franklin Bridge during the closure.

The Streets Department thanks citizens in advance for their patience and cooperation during this project.


STREETS DEPARTMENT REOPENS 15TH STREET BRIDGE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
Vehicle Weight Restriction Established

PHILADELPHIA - The 15th Street Bridge between Callowhill and Spring Garden Streets opened to vehicular traffic today, with a "three-ton, no trucks or bus weight restrictions," Streets Commissioner David J. Perri announced today. All trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles are required to detour to alternate travel routes for the entire length of the bridge.

The bridge was closed January 2013 due to severe deterioration to a section of the bridge. The Streets Department's Bridge Maintenance Unit re-enforced this section to strengthen the bridge.

The Streets Department thanks citizens for their patience and cooperation during this project.

 

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NEWS
06/17/2013
STREETS DEPARTMENT TO RAISE PASSYUNK AVENUE DRAWBRIDGE
06/12/2013
STREETS DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO 52ND STREET DUE TO RECENT SEVERE RAINFALL
06/12/2013
Streets Department’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Opportunity for Residents to Earn 25 Recycling Rewards Points
06/10/2013
Streets Department's Sanitation Division Community Meeting Schedule
06/10/2013
STREETS DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES MAINTENANCE WORK ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE BRIDGE

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EVENTS
05/10/2012 - 05/19/2012
2012 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM
04/19/2013
City Of Philadelphia Announces 11 Local Schools Receive Recyclebank Green Schools Program Grants - Philadelphia, in partnership with Recyclebank, awards not only schools but generous residents as well.

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RESOURCES
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KUDOS
06/12/2013
2683 Foxglove Lane
05/30/2013
Streets Department Crew
05/30/2013
13th & South Sts
05/29/2013
Streets Department Website
05/24/2013
Southwest Philly

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