
The Chinatown Stitch project seeks to reconnect Philadelphia’s Chinatown and Chinatown North by capping sections of the Vine Street Expressway between 10th and 13th streets. It aims to repair some of the harms caused by the expressway’s construction and enhance access to jobs, education, healthcare, food, and recreation for residents, workers, and visitors.
The project is led by the City's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems in partnership with the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, PennDOT District 6-0, and the Federal Highway Administration. It is supported by nearly $160 million in local, state, federal, and philanthropic funding for planning, design, and construction.
Beyond physical improvements, the project will include workforce development initiatives funded by a Federal Highway Administration’s Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant award. These efforts will use registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and PennDOT’s on-the-job training program, prioritizing workers from disadvantaged economic backgrounds.
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In February 2023, PennDOT and the City are awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program.
In March 2024, the City is awarded a grant for planning and engineering from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program.
Throughout the year, the project team conducts the following:
The final design plan is solidified and planning for construction begins. This includes collaboration with engineers to ensure the cap meets safety requirements as well as desired functionality and load-bearing needs. Quality assurance measures are determined through precise calculations and detailed drawings.