Ridge & Midvale Pedestrian Island

[billy ross]

Trains are hard to turn around, so oftentimes they just run backwards to return to where they started from, but that can be confusing because then the locomotive is in the rear and the final passenger car is then leading the train at speed. To keep people from getting too confused about this, Amtrak does a black and yellow paint scheme on the end of that cab car to let them know that they need to beware, since that car may be hurtling towards them at full speed. If this becomes an issue at Ridge and Midvale we could paint the street surface outside of the pedestrian crosswalk in a way to make it clear that it's a do not enter segment. I think that changing the color/pattern of the pavement would be more effective than a confusing promiscuity of signage. Also, considering that that stretch of Midvale is 25mph max and of Kelly is 35mph max people should be going slowly enough to be able to respond to squirrelly behavior in adequate time. The possibility of people screwing this up should cause people to slow down to sane speeds there, which is what I think the main purpose of the traffic island is. That makes it easier and safer for pedestrians to be able to cross the street.

[Hypebeast]

Looks like its completed?

[mixiboi]

Almost...



it just needs the ceremony...

[MrsWeisass]

Almost...



it just needs the ceremony...

and maybe some shubberies?

[PhillySteak]

I hope it's back lit at night. You almost need to know what it says to read it in the daylight.

[MrsWeisass]

I hope it's back lit at night. You almost need to know what it says to read it in the daylight.

Agreed. it was hard to tell what it said when i drove by yesterday.

[Hypebeast]

From the pictures it doesn't look like there are lights behind it, nor is it wired for lighting.

[the mule]

Even though the direction of the text is awkward as hell, that's still 100x better than the junk that Wissahickon & Roxborough settled on.

[Mike D]

Agreed. it was hard to tell what it said when i drove by yesterday.

I'll give that agree an agree. I was right next to it on my bike today and struggled to read it. I love the concept but I think the tone of the metal and stone are too close in hue that creates a problem reading it.

[PhillyTex]

I think it needs a flame between the stone and the steel, ala Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen".

[billy ross]

and maybe some shubberies?

Perhaps this is a job for Roger then?

[johnnie]

How thick is the stone? Hard to tell from the pics. Maybe 8"? I am just wondering when a car hits it if it will come crashing down. The way people drive in this town, it is just a matter of time. Hopefully they put up some sort of bollards to protect it.

[alex]

I saw it in person today. I agree that it's hard to read, but I'm not sure whether that's a problem. The pedestrian island is there to calm the traffic and make the area pedestrian-friendly, so it isn't like the whole project was only about the sign. We didn't have an East Falls sign before this, and I haven't heard anyone complain that it's difficult to find the neighborhood. Most newcomers look for Midvale Avenue.

[HammRadio]

Haven't driven by there yet, will do tonight... will check if its easier for turns on to Midvale to notice which side to enter. Looks great from the pics though.

East Falls gateway project takes shape on Midvale Ave.

[Hypebeast]

I'll give that agree an agree. I was right next to it on my bike today and struggled to read it. I love the concept but I think the tone of the metal and stone are too close in hue that creates a problem reading it.

agreed. I had high hopes for this but it is really hard to read. It looks nice though.

[Malloy]

Def cant read it now under most circumstances. The original press release and the info on the EFDC site claim it will be illuminated (at night). For $1,100,000 I hope people driving by can read East Falls.

East Falls Development Corporation

The stone column of the sign will be illuminated at night, so the letters will visible, but the sign will not have internally-illuminated glowing faces or letters. Lighting will be the minimum brightness necessary to function and to compete with surrounding glare. The flat version of the sign does not reflect its true beauty.

The East Falls Development Corporation is leading a project to build a Gateway Pedestrian Island with a sign in East Falls. This project brings together a number of community goals and plans, including creating an identity, a new wayfinding system, and pedestrian safety.

The East Falls Development Corporation is happy to announce a Groundbreaking Celebration. Join Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. and the EFDC at the future location of this transformative project.

The Streets Department is moving forward with the Pedestrian Island and Streetscape Project on Midvale Avenue at Kelly Drive. The pedestrian island will be an attractive pedestrian refuge - about 100 feet long that will separate the two directions of Midvale Avenue. It will have a dramatic lit gateway sign that will provide a visual welcome to East Falls.

The pedestrian island will stop the criss-crossing of traffic across Midvale Avenue and make it easier for pedestrians and bicycles to navigate through this busy intersection. At the same time, because of the wide width of Midvale Avenue, it will not change the number of lanes on Midvale. In addition the pedestrian island, this project includes repaired sidewalks and attractive pedestrian scale lighting along East River Road, which is currently unlit.

This $1.1M project was made possible with a combination of funds: Federal transportation dollars through PennDOT, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the City of Philadelphia Streets Dept. ($680K), and City commercial corridor bond funds through the City's Commerce Department ($420K).

This celebration breaks ground on a long-awaited project that will be part of the transformation of the East Falls Riverfront Business District.