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Collegeville Intersection show Frankford what a nice, walkable intesection looks like

If you’ve walked around the Frankford Transportation Center, you may feel like you’re taking your life in you hands crossing the street.  If you cross Bustleton or Frankford Ave you may get the impression that motorists are just waiting for a chance to run you down.  But it wasn’t until I got a walking tour pointing out the FTC issues that I started noticing other areas of the tristate area that were doing it right.  Take in point this intersection at the Collegeville Diner in Collegeville:

collegeville-intersection

This intersection is doing a few things.  It’s alerting motorists to an oncoming insection by showing a brick colored crosswalk.  It’s also inviting pedestrians to cross it by showing a path, several lights, and the Walk/Don’t Walk siganls.

The block of Frankford Ave crossing the FTC provides nothing but doom.  Check out this guy crossing:

guy-crosses-FTC

Poor guy, I wonder if he ever made it.  People are going to cross where they’re going to cross.  Our brains are smart enough to know the path of least resistance, even if it means putting us in danger.  It is our community( i.e. the city) job to ensure that we can safely make it.

My amateur walkability suggestion is to at least give a crosswalk and “Yield to Pedestrian” sign.  Best case, give it a light.  That spot right there is the de-facto entrance to the center and doesn’t invite anyone to cross the street to shop in stores.

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Saturday, March 2nd: Frankford Transportation Center Community Visioning Workshop

On Saturday, March 2nd the City’s Planning Commission is hosting a community visioning workshop focused on the Frankford Transportation Center. The event will take place from 10:00a to 1:00p at Frankford Aria Health, 4900 Frankford Avenue, in the 2nd floor conference rooms / cafeteria.
We hope you will be able to join – and please help us spread the word for what will surely be a productive morning!
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Last Week for Peaches at the FTC Farmer’s Market

We took a look at the FTC Farmers market last week and I have to report rave reviews from the neighbors here on the block who sampled the corn and peaches.  I emailed Lindsey (the farmer) to see if there would be more this week and she reports that this may be the last week for peaches.

Coming up though: “The season is ending for peaches, tomatoes, and watermelons, but we’ll have lots of fall crops to fill the table.  In the weeks to come, we’ll start bringing sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, collard greens, turnips, etc.  We’re also excited about our winter squash haul this season–we have 5 different varieties that should keep us well-stocked through Thanksgiving.  And, thankfully, we expect to have the corn into October.”

The market is open Tuesdays, from 2PM to 6PM.  Located at the Frankford Transportation Center on the corner of Frankford and Bustleton Avenues.  Try the Peace water melon if you get a chance.

 

 

 

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Food Trust Farmers Market Comes to Frankford

The Food Trust, a nonprofit founded in 1992, started out by conducting nutrition education classes for children at Reading Terminal Market. After the Trust opened its first farmers’ market at Tasker Homes in Grays Ferry, they  began working with communities to develop lasting and stable sources of affordable foods.

They strive to make healthy food available to all.  As part of that mission, they have established local farmers markets throughout the city and on Tuesday, July 26th, they are coming to Frankford at the corner of Bridge Street and Frankford Avenue.

It will run every Tuesday from 2pm-6pm.  There will be two vendors there: Hands on the Earth Farm and Quaff Meadows.  Both will have a delicious variety of fruits and vegetables as well as pasture-raised lamb provided by Quaff Meadows!  The market accepts cash, Access cards, WIC & Senior vouchers, and Philly Food Bucks (a $2 voucher given out for every $5 a person spends on their Access card).

Attention shoppers, I know you are out there.  I’ll be up there on Tuesday to take your picture.  Come out and check the market out and then chime in with a comment on what you think.