Council advances loading-zone authority after heated debate over Center City and 40th Street bike lanes

Philadelphia City Council on Thursday advanced measures to expand the city’s ability to designate time-limited loading zones and other curb regulations, a move supporters said would improve safety for people biking and walking and opponents warned would allow the Streets Department to act without adequate local input.

The most consequential items were an ordinance (bill 250718) that, as amended, would let the Streets Department adopt and revise time-limited and other parking, stopping and standing rules — including designated loading zones — across a defined Center City area, and a companion ordinance (bill 250712) authorizing parking and stopping regulations on both sides of 40th Street between Chestnut Street and Kingsessing Avenue. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced the 40th Street measure; Councilmember Jeffrey J. Young offered the amendment to the Center City bill.

Council members and dozens of speakers during a public-comment period…