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The Chinatown Stitch: Reconnecting Philadelphia to Vine Street


A Complete Streets project

About

The Chinatown Stitch project seeks to reconnect Philadelphia’s Chinatown. It will build a highway cap over the I-676 Expressway between 10th and 13th streets. It aims to repair some of the harms caused by the expressway’s construction. The project aims to make Vine Street safer for people who drive, walk, ride bicycles, and use transit. It also aims to make it easier for residents and visitors to get to work, school, doctors, stores, and parks.

The City's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems is leading the project in partnership with the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, PennDOT District 6-0, and the Federal Highway Administration. Almost $160 million in funding makes the project possible. The funding comes from local, state, federal, and philanthropic sources.

The project will also include job training programs 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. They will prioritize workers from disadvantaged economic backgrounds.

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Timeline

2023

Community visioning

In February 2023, PennDOT and the City are awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program.

Public engagement, phase 1: Co-learning
  • The study team holds several public engagement opportunities to understand the Chinatown community's priorities and needs.
  • This includes a large vision and goals survey, pop-up events in the neighborhood, and a public community visioning workshop.
Public engagement, phase 2: Developing the concepts
  • The study team develops potential cap designs based on community feedback from phase 1.
Public engagement, phase 3: Sharing the community vision
  • The study team uses the community feedback and technical analysis to determine the final concept design.
  • Participants want a cap with a modern design that feels like it’s part of a typical Philadelphia neighborhood. They also want green space, park amenities, and bike and pedestrian safety improvements.
2024

Preliminary engineering and data collection

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:

  • Preliminary data collection and analysis
  • Preliminary engineering studies
2025

Concept development and design

Public involvement, phase 1: Pre-launch
  • The project team gathers information from key stakeholders and the community. Topics include facilities, programming, and maintenance.
Public involvement, phase 2: Discovery
  • The project team presents design options. They seek to understand the needs, challenges, and desires of the community.
Public involvement, phase 3: Discussion
  • The project team gathers input for either a shortlist or one locally preferred option through in-depth conversations with community members.
Public involvement, phase 4: Share-back
  • The project team listens to reactions around the final design and share-back from the engagement process.
2026

Final design

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.

See full timeline

Events

  • Apr
    26
    Chinatown Stitch Pop-up Event
    2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
    235 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

    Chinatown Stitch Pop-up Event

    April 26, 2025
    2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, 3 hours
    235 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
    map
    Chinatown Community Park
  • Apr
    27
    Chinatown Stitch Pop-up Event
    11:00 am to 1:30 pm
    10th Street Plaza, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

    Chinatown Stitch Pop-up Event

    April 27, 2025
    11:00 am to 1:30 pm, 3 hours
    10th Street Plaza, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
    map
  • May
    2
    Chinatown Stitch Pop-up Event
    2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
    1012 Callowhill St, Philadelphia, PA 19123, USA

    Chinatown Stitch Pop-up Event

    May 2, 2025
    2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, 3 hours
    1012 Callowhill St, Philadelphia, PA 19123, USA
    map

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