Project Overview
County: Philadelphia
Municipality: City of Philadelphia
State Route(s): Route 1005
Local Name(s): Castor Avenue
Project Type: Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP) & Streetscape
Last Updated: May 2025
The project seeks to improve Castor Avenue between Oxford Circle and Cottman Avenue. The project will beautify the streetscape and support neighborhood businesses, make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street, make public transit faster, and improve safety for everyone who uses Castor Avenue.
The project is currently in the planning phase. After community engagement in October 2024, the project advanced to final design and engineering. Construction is not expected to begin until 2027.
Fall 2024 Updated Project Proposal
The proposed design for Castor Avenue has been updated based on feedback from the community in spring 2024. The major change to the proposed design is to remove the proposed concrete medians. This was done at the community’s request to reduce the impact of the road diet on traffic and emergency vehicles.
Other elements of the project remain the same/similar to the previous proposal:
- Street trees and pedestrian lighting improve the sidewalk's look and feel, increasing light along the sidewalk at night and providing shade on hot days.
- Sidewalk repairs improve pedestrian access to local businesses and beautify the corridor.
- Upgraded transit stops create a safe space for riders to board and reduce the pedestrian crossing distance. Stopping every other block speeds up transit and increases parking.
- Traffic signal upgrades improve the flow of traffic on the corridor, allowing fewer travel lanes and better incident management.
- The change from 4 lanes to 3 lanes with added left turn lanes makes it safer for pedestrians to cross and cars to make left turns.
- Left turn lanes allow cars to easily turn left at intersections, onto side streets, and into parking lots, which reduces traffic crashes for cars and pedestrians and improves access to businesses..
The project is not yet fully funded, and this is not the final design. This round of community engagement will be used to finalize the plans for the corridor.
Get Involved:
PennDOT and the City of Philadelphia are working together to engage neighbors on the updated project proposal. Complete the online survey.
Contact Information
Ashwin Patel
Project Manager
ashpatel@pa.gov
Nikhil Kharva
Design Project Manager
nkharva@hntb.com
Accessibility
The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation or interpretation services, have special needs, or have concerns that require individual attention, please contact the PennDOT Project Manager listed above.
Title VI
Pursuant to the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the PennDOT, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891.