Street-cleaning program returns to Philadelphia neighborhoods on Monday
In its fifth year, the effort aims to clear trash and debris and improve the quality of life in 14 neighborhoods.
Street cleaning resumes on Monday in Philadelphia, bringing back roadway scrubbing — and parking restrictions — after a long winter off.
The city’s mechanical street cleaning program, now in its fifth consecutive year, targets 14 areas with high scores on the city’s Litter Index — including streets in Frankford, Germantown, Kensington, Logan, Nicetown, North Central Philadelphia, Paschall, Point Breeze, Port Richmond, South Philadelphia, Southwest Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion, West Fairhill, and West Philadelphia.
The program runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week, until Oct. 29 — except for holidays. Cleaning takes place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., according to the city.
From what to expect to how to avoid getting a parking ticket, here is what you need to know.
Where, exactly, will the city clean?
No new neighborhoods have been added to the city’s cleaning plan this year — but it expanded its coverage of eight neighborhoods. The city will clean:
Frankford: Levick to Bridge Streets from Frankford Avenue to Keystone Street; Bridge to Orthodox Streets from Griscom Street to Torresdale Avenue; Orthodox Street to Castor Avenue, and from Castor to Torresdale Avenue.
Germantown: Berkley Street/Stenton Avenue to Chelten Avenue from Pulaski Avenue to Wakefield Street.
Kensington: Front Street to Castor Avenue from Wyoming Avenue to Tioga Street; Tioga Street to Lehigh Avenue from Second Street to Kensington Avenue.
Logan: Roosevelt Boulevard to Godfrey Avenue from Broad to Mascher Streets; Roosevelt Boulevard to Glenwood Avenue from Broad to Front Streets.
Nicetown: Broad to 20th Streets from Lindley to Wagner Avenues; Broad to Clarissa Streets from Windrim Avenue to Hunting Park Avenue; and Broad Street to Hunting Park Avenue from Hunting Park to Westmoreland Street.
North Central Philadelphia: Broad to 22nd Streets from Allegheny to Girard Avenues.
Paschall: 58th to 62nd Streets from Grays to Lindbergh Avenues; 62nd to 70th Streets from Cobbs Creek Parkway to Dicks Avenue.
Point Breeze: Christian to McKean Streets from Broad to 24th Streets.
Port Richmond: Lehigh to Torresdale Avenues from Kensington to Aramingo Avenues.
South Philly: McKean Street to Oregon Avenue from Fourth to Eighth Streets.
Southwest Philadelphia: Woodland to Kingsessing Avenues from 49th Street to Cemetery Avenue; 58th to 61st Streets from Cobbs Creek Parkway to Chester Avenue.
Strawberry Mansion: Lehigh to Girard Avenues from 22nd to 33rd Streets; 22nd to 29th Streets from Allegheny to Lehigh Avenues.
West Fairhill: Broad to Second Streets from Glenwood to Lehigh Avenues; Broad to Front Streets from Lehigh to Girard Avenues.
West Philadelphia: Parkside to Woodland Avenues from 40th to 52nd Streets.
When will cleaners come to my neighborhood?
City crews will sweep streets and pick up litter from sidewalks Monday through Thursday each week. Residents can view their planned routes on StreetSmartPHL.
The sweeps take place in shifts, from:
9 to 11 a.m.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1 to 3 p.m.
The crews will also beginning posting “no parking” signs on April 13 on their routes, the city said.
How can I avoid a ticket?
Cleaning crews use a mechanical broom to reach all the way to streets’ curbs — and they will not work with vehicles in the way. The city will fine vehicles that do not observe “no parking” signs.
Each fine is $31.
To avoid a ticket, residents should move their vehicles during posted street-cleaning times. If you are fined, tickets can be paid online, by phone, or in person.
Why does the city do this?
Philadelphia began its mechanical street cleaning program in 2022. The pilot program was launched to boost quality of life in neglected swaths of the city’s neighborhoods, limiting trash, unclogging storm drains, and clearing cluttered sidewalks.
City officials said the inaugural push was so successful that the program would continue each year.
Where can I learn more?
The city will host three virtual meetings next week, giving residents the chance to ask questions of its sanitation department, which runs the street-cleaning program.
The meetings take place:
10 a.m. on Monday.
6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Noon on Friday.