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SEPTA kicks off Regional Rail makeover with rider survey

If you’ve used Regional Rail more than a few times, you’ve probably griped about the service more than a few times.

• The transit authority says it’s ready to listen. A new survey kicks off a system-wide overhaul, one that’ll happen in smaller chunks so the plan doesn’t just get shelved (like it has in the past).

The first question, Lizzy McLellan Ravitch reports, is whether SEPTA should prioritize making trains run more consistently, more frequently, or faster.

Philadelphia City Council names Joel Embiid ‘MVP’

Joel Embiid had a rough end to the season. The Sixers exited the playoffs right after it was confirmed he was again denied the league MVP award.

• Does it help if he’s City Council’s MVP? Philly lawmakers yesterday passed a resolution — one of thousands its adopts each year — naming the basketball superstar “Most Valuable Philadelphian.”

The move made national news as basketball writers picked it up. Some people thought the move was cute, but the most common response was “cringe.”

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled 

• A new Pew report traces four possible economic futures for Philly, scenarios that shift based on projected job growth, changing job locations, and the tax landscape. [Pew Trusts/Inquirer$]
• The CDC approved booster shots for kids 5 to 11, and the Philly Health Department is urging parents to take advantage of the dozens of places offering the COVID vaccine. Cases in the city are rising again, and only about a third of residents over 12 are boosted. [ABC News/PrepMod/Billy Penn/phila.gov]
• PHL Airport CEO Chellie Cameron is leaving to become president and CEO of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Hailed as a “crisis-tested” big thinker, she begins in July. [Al Día]
• Last night marked the sixth of nine public meetings about the school district’s plan for improving facilities. If you want to tune in, register to attend the last meetings next week. [Chalkbeat/Google Forms]
• PPA is hiring eight bike lane enforcement officers, a team on bicycles that will “focus exclusively on patrolling and issuing tickets” to cars parked in bike lanes. [WHYY]
• The two-day Italian Market Festival returns in full force this weekend, with dozens of vendors and games. We’ll be there Saturday to gather recs on food and drink (that kettle corn tho), and to cover the infamous grease pole climb. Stay tuned. [Visit Philly/Billy Penn]
• Famed Temple hang Draught Horse Pub, which closed last year, will reopen as The Peabody this fall thanks to Glu Hospitality, the folks behind Figo and Leda & the Swan. [Billy Penn/PhillyVoice]

MAYOR WATCH

In the works since 2019, the Neighborhood Slow Zone Program has its first ribbon cutting today in Fairhill, with Mayor Kenney helping introduce the area with lower speed limits and traffic-calming devices.

ON THE CALENDAR

🎸 Bands supporting Billy Penn: We’re emceeing a music show at The Fire, the woman-owned indie music venue and bar on Girard Avenue. Come hang at our table as you check out local bands with sounds ranging from blues-rock to surf-goth. Tickets are $15, and a portion of sales benefit BP’s journalism. (8 p.m. to midnight, Wednesday, June 1)

👍 Local sex ed nonprofit YES! hosts the inaugural ConsentFest, with food, games, activities, art, vendors, animals to pet, and storytime on the Lawn at UCity Square. (2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 21)

🍹 Refresh your mixology skills with Art in the Age’s “Spring Spritz” cocktail workshop in Old City. Tickets include a hands-on demo where you’ll make two drinks to enjoy. (7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24)