Broad Street Unity: Standardize the Speed Limit and Reimburse Targeted Communities
Target: Mayor Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia City Council, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)
Goal: 30,000 Signatures

Why is this important?
In September 2025, the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) launched an automated speed enforcement program along Broad Street (Route 611). After a 60-day warning period, the city began issuing tickets on November 14, 2025, penalizing drivers who exceed the speed limit by 11 mph or more [1]. Fines range from $100 to $150, posing a severe financial burden on everyday Philadelphians [1].

However, the implementation of this program has revealed a glaring inconsistency that unfairly targets some of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable and impoverished communities. For the vast majority of Broad Street—which runs through working-class and low-income neighborhoods—the speed limit is strictly enforced at 25 mph [1]. Yet, in the areas surrounding the South Philadelphia stadium complex, the speed limit is inexplicably raised to 35 mph [2].

This means a driver traveling 36 mph through North Philadelphia receives a $100 ticket, while a driver traveling the exact same speed near the stadiums receives no penalty at all.

The Impact on Impoverished Communities
Traffic enforcement historically and continually tends to be biased against low-income neighborhoods and communities of color [3]. The Broad Street speed cameras are no exception. The $100 to $150 fines are not mere inconveniences; for families dealing with the high cost of living, these tickets mean choosing between paying a fine and buying groceries or paying utility bills.

While Mayor Cherelle Parker has stated that these cameras are about “safety” and not a “cash grab” [4], the reality experienced by residents tells a different story. The dual-standard speed limit sends a clear message: the rules are stricter and the financial penalties are harsher for residents living in impoverished areas than for those visiting the sports complex.

We believe in safe streets, but safety initiatives must be equitable. They should not function as a regressive tax on communities already struggling to make ends meet.

Our Demands
We, the undersigned residents of Philadelphia, demand that Mayor Cherelle Parker and the Philadelphia Parking Authority take immediate action to rectify this injustice. We call for:

 1. A Standardized Speed Limit: Make the speed limit uniform across the entirety of Broad Street. Whether it is set to 25 mph or 35 mph, the rules must be exactly the same from end to end, without special exceptions for the stadium complex.
 2. Immediate Reimbursement: Fully reimburse all citizens who have received and paid tickets under this inconsistent and targeted 25 mph enforcement measure.
 3. A Moratorium on Fines: Pause the issuance of all speed camera tickets on Broad Street until the speed limit is standardized and an equity impact study is conducted regarding the placement of these cameras.

Philadelphia is a city of brotherly love and sisterly affection. Our traffic laws should reflect fairness and unity, not division and economic penalization.

Sign this petition to tell Mayor Parker: Broad Street must be united under one fair rule! Stop taxing our impoverished communities and standardize the speed limit today.

References
[1] City & PPA Announce Launch of Automated Speed Enforcement on Broad Street
[2] Philly starts issuing tickets from speed cameras on Broad Street | PhillyVoice
[3] Speed cameras arrive on Broad Street, ticketing to start soon | Billy Penn
[4] Philly adding speed cameras along Route