500 miles of trails, government reopens, & more

Photo credit to Jack Larson.

Catch up on the latest sustainability news

Circuit Trails network reaches 500 miles of trails across the region. The Circuit Trails network connects Philadelphia to Trenton and beyond through walkable and bikeable trails. The network now includes 420 miles of completed trails and 91 miles of trails in progress, meeting a goal first set by the Circuit Trails Coalition in 2017 to reach 500 miles by 2025. The Coalition launched the “500 Moments to Celebrate 500 Miles” storytelling campaign to highlight people’s experiences on the trails.

Parks reopen after government shutdown. The Liberty Bell, which is managed by the National Park Service, reopened last week at the end of the federal government shutdown. Parts of Independence Hall will remain closed through early 2026 for renovations. Billy Penn

PA approves new budget without transit funding. On November 12, Pennsylvania legislators finalized a $50.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2026. The budget includes over $900 million in new funding for education across the commonwealth, $46 million for childcare workers, and a $5.56 million increase for the violence intervention programs. The budget, however, does not include funds for mass transit. The Philadelphia Tribune

Advocates push for clean energy before tax credits end. The Community Advocates for Clean Energy of Greater Philadelphia is encouraging municipalities to take action to switch to solar before a federal tax credit is set to expire. 45 municipalities throughout southeastern Pennsylvania have made renewable energy commitments according to reports. “By installing solar power systems and transitioning to clean energy, municipalities can significantly reduce carbon emissions, enhance public health by mitigating air pollution, set an example for the community, and save substantial amounts of money over time through lower energy costs,” said Bill Sabey, a volunteer with Community Advocates.

Cover photo: Biker on the Schuylkill River Trail, courtesy Jack Larson

Angie Bacha

Angie Bacha (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based solutions journalist and recent Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media and Globalisation student in Aarhus, Denmark. Previously, she worked as a student journalist at Community College of Philadelphia and Editorial Intern at Resolve Philly. Some other hats she has worn: Human Rights and Theatre Studies graduate; teaching artist; carpenter; AmeriCorps volunteer; and rock climbing gym shift supervisor.