CHESTNUT STREET TRANSITWAY

Philadelphia Code tit. 12, ch. 12-2600

in effect

Philadelphia Code § 12-2601 Legislative Purpose.

§ 12-2601. Legislative Purpose. (1) It is the legislative purpose of the Council of the City of Philadelphia to improve mass transportation in the City and to enhance one of the most important shopping districts of the City of Philadelphia by limiting the use of Chestnut street from Eighth street to Eighteenth street and of the eastbound lane between Sixth street and Eighth street to approved mass transit vehicles and pedestrians. In order to assure that businesses on Chestnut street will have no difficulty in continuing to receive necessary deliveries and for the continuance of necessary maintenance, special provisions are made in this Chapter to allow necessary but orderly use of the Transitway by delivery and maintenance vehicles. Every possible effort has been made to assure that the businesses along Chestnut street will not be adversely affected.

Philadelphia Code § 12-2602 Definitions.

§ 12-2602. Definitions. (1) Chestnut Street Transitway. The Chestnut Street Transitway shall constitute that part of Chestnut street from Eighth to Eighteenth streets and the eastbound lane between Sixth and Eighth streets. (2) Emergency. The term emergency as used in subsection 12-2605(3) is limited to public utility vehicles responding to sudden disruptions in utility service of a major proportion and private maintenance and construction vehicles when repairs are immediately necessary in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the public. (3) Permitted Public Carriers. Regularly scheduled route buses operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and approved by the Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia for operation on the Transitway. (4) Tow Squad Vehicles. Vehicles owned or operated by or for the City of Philadelphia and designed for towing other vehicles. (5) Weekend. Weekend shall mean Saturdays and Sundays. (6) Vehicle. Any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn. The term vehicle shall not include any bicycle walked on the sidewalk by its operator, any wheelchair or similar device used on the sidewalk by a disabled person, or any cart or similar device, moved by human power, used to make deliveries or to carry equipment to or from buildings located on the Transitway. (7) Department. Department shall mean the Department of Streets of the City of Philadelphia. (8) Commissioner. Commissioner shall mean the Street Commissioner of the Department of Streets of the City of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Code § 12-2603 Prohibited Conduct.

§ 12-2603. Prohibited Conduct. (1) All traffic is prohibited on the Chestnut Street Transitway with the exception of pedestrians, bicycles and the classes of vehicles described in Sections 12-2604, 12-2605 and 12-2606. Notes 275 | Amended, Bill No. 970122 (approved May 14, 1997).

Philadelphia Code § 12-2604 Authorized Vehicles.

§ 12-2604. Authorized Vehicles. (1) The following classes of vehicles may enter upon and use the Chestnut Street Transitway subject, however, to the further provisions of this Chapter and all general laws and ordinances applicable to the use of the streets of the City: (a) Authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in subsection 12-102(1) and pursuant to Section 12-1304. (b) Public police vehicles assigned to the Transitway. (c) Tow squad vehicles assigned for use on the Transitway. (d) Other towing or service vehicles responding to a call from an owner or operator of a disabled vehicle lawfully on the Transitway. (e) Permitted public carriers. (f) Taxis and airport limousines. Taxis and airport limousines will be permitted at any time on the eight hundred block of the Transitway, provided that they may only enter the Transitway from Ninth street. From 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., taxis may make use of the entire Transitway subject to all applicable ordinances of the City of Philadelphia, statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and any rules or regulations promulgated by the Department. (g) Vehicles described in Sections 12-2605 and 12-2606. It is the intention of the Council of the City of Philadelphia that the regulatory powers granted herein to permit the use of the Transitway to vehicles described in Sections 12-2605 and 12-2606 shall be exercised pursuant to the following principles: (.1) Whenever possible, entry shall be permitted only during the hours of 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (.2) If subsection (.1) above is not feasible, entry shall be permitted, if possible, only during the hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Code § 12-2605 Vehicles Permitted on Transitway With Notification.

§ 12-2605. Vehicles Permitted on Transitway With Notification. (1) The following classes of vehicles will be permitted on the Transitway for necessary works thereon after notification has been given to the Department of the need to enter the Transitway and pursuant to other provisions of this Section: (a) Public Utility Vehicles. This classification shall include all vehicles and related equipment engaged in construction, service and repair of electric, gas, telephone or any other public utility facilities. (.1) The public utility vehicles permitted on the Transitway by this provision shall be limited to vehicles engaged in major repairs or installation in the street, sidewalks or abutting properties. If it is reasonably possible for work to be done by means of a rear access to property located on the Transitway or by way of parking the vehicles in the loading zones established in the numbered streets which intersect with the Transitway, this shall be required. (b) Private Maintenance and Construction Vehicles. This classification shall include all privately owned or operated: (.1) Street repair and construction vehicles and related equipment; and (.2) Street cleaning, refuse removal and snow removal equipment; (.a) If refuse can be removed through rear access, it is impermissible to remove it by way of the Transitway. (c) Public Works, Maintenance and Service Vehicles. This classification shall include vehicles operated by the City of Philadelphia or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as follows: (.1) Street repair and construction vehicles and related equipment; (.2) Street cleaning, refuse removal and snow removal vehicles and related equipment; (.3) Water and sewer repair and construction vehicles and related equipment; and (.4) All other maintenance vehicles operated by the City or the Commonwealth and designated for Transitway use by rules and regulations promulgated by the Department. (d) Vehicles employed for regular or special use as provided for in Section 12-2606. (2) Notification to the Department of proposed entry upon Transitway shall include: (a) Name of party requesting entry; (b) Description of vehicle or vehicles, and related equipment; including vehicle registration number; (c) Nature of work or other activity requiring entry; (d) Location of proposed activity on Transitway; (e) Proposed time of entry and estimated time of departure; (f) Nature of emergency, if any, requiring immediate entry; (g) Such other information as may be required by the Department. (3) The Department shall schedule the times when it will be permissible for each vehicle which must enter the Transitway to do so, taking into consideration the number and kinds of vehicles which are expected to be present. Incases of emergency, entrance may be permitted immediately. (a) Whenever contact with the Department cannot be made, a vehicle responding to an emergency on the Transitway shall be permitted to enter the Transitway without notification to the Department, provided that all reasonable efforts are employed not to obstruct traffic and provided that the Department shall be notified as soon thereafter as possible. (4) All notification must be received by the Department by 4:00 p.m. if entrance to the Transitway is desired before the beginning of the next work day of the City. (a) If entrance is needed onto the Transitway on any holiday observed by the City or on any weekend, notification shall be given by 4:00 p.m. of the last day upon which the offices of the City of Philadelphia are open for normal business. (5) When the work or other activity which required entry upon the Transitway has been completed, the vehicle shall be removed immediately and the Department shall be notified of said departure as soon as possible.

Philadelphia Code § 12-2606 Regular and Special Uses.

§ 12-2606. Regular and Special Uses. (1) Regular Use. (a) Any person who desires to use the Chestnut Street Transitway on a regular basis may apply to the Department for permission to do so. Such permission shall be granted upon the showing, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or his designee that: (.1) The nature of the use sought is such that the user could not reasonably be required to conduct his business through a rear access to property located on the Transitway or by other means including loading zones established on the numbered streets which intersect with the Transitway. (b) In those instances where the Department has approved the use of the Transitway on a regular basis, the Department may, at the request of the person who has made application, assign a specific time and place for such person to use the Transitway on a regular basis without such person having to notify the Department on each occasion when the Transitway is entered. No person who has been granted the use of the Transitway on a regular basis and during a specified time, and who fails to meet said schedule, may enter the Transitway at any other time without the express permission of the Department after notice. (.1) Such notice need only provide the: (.a) Name of party requesting entry; and (.b) Proposed time of entry and estimated time of departure. (.2) Upon receiving such notice the Department shall schedule the time when it will be permissible for the vehicle to enter the Transitway. (c) Any person who has been given permission to use the Transitway on a regular basis but without specific times shall notify the Department whenever such person desires to use the Transitway. (.1) The notice provision of subsections 12-2606 (1)(b)(.1) and (.2) shall apply. (d) The Department may fix the length of time for which permission on a regular basis is granted to use the Transitway as it deems desirable for efficient administration and for the convenience of the public. (e) Permission to use the Transitway on a regular basis shall be conditioned upon continued compliance with the applicable requirements of this Chapter and all applicable rules or regulations promulgated by the Department to implement the provisions of this Chapter. (f) Vehicles allowed on the Transitway on a regular basis and during a specified time must leave the Transitway within the time allowed. All other regular use vehicles must comply with the provisions of subsection 12-2605(5). (2) Special Uses. (a) Any person who desires to use the Chestnut Street Transitway on other than a regular basis may apply to the Department for permission to do so. Such use shall be granted upon the showing, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or his designee, that: (.1) The nature of the use sought is such that the user could not reasonably be required to conduct his business in any other way, such as through a rear access to property located on the Transitway or by way of the loading zones established on the numbered streets which intersect with the Transitway. (b) Persons desiring to obtain permission to use the Transitway for special use shall comply with the provisions of Section 12-2605 pertaining to notification to the Department. (c) Application may be made for special use by either the person who wishes to enter the Transitway or the interested party located on property abutting the Transitway.

Philadelphia Code § 12-2607 Administration.

§ 12-2607. Administration. (1) The Department is empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions and purposes of this Chapter and for the efficient administration of the Transitway.

Philadelphia Code § 12-2608 Penalty.

§ 12-2608. Penalty. (1) Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter or any rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall, upon summary conviction, pay a fine of fifty dollars ($50), together with costs of prosecution. (2) Repeat Offenders. Any person who commits, on more than one occasion, a violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter or any rules and regulations promulgated hereunder, shall be guilty of a separate offense of Repeat Violation, and for each such Repeat Violation, shall be subject to a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300), or imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both. A person shall be guilty of a Repeat Violation regardless whether the second or subsequent violation occurs before or after a judicial finding of a first or previous violation. Each violation, after the first, shall constitute a separate Repeat Violation offense. Notes 276 | Amended, Bill No. 758 (approved July 24, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1081.

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-285935Fetched: 10/27/2026