Authorizing the Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to investigate rail operators' responsibilities for cleanup, maintenance, and beautification of transit entry points into Philadelphia.

Authorizing the Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to investigate rail operators’ responsibilities for cleanup, maintenance, and beautification of transit entry points into Philadelphia. WHEREAS, Each year Philadelphia disposes of nearly 1.5 million tons of residential and commercial waste, one ton for every resident, while spending tens of millions of dollars each year cleaning up short dumping and litter; and WHEREAS, The vast majority of entry points into the City are riddled with graffiti, trash, and debris along its railroad tracks, making for an unsightly view for those who live, work, or visit Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Ownership of the train tracks that make up the Philadelphia transit system include Conrail, SEPTA, Amtrak, CSX, and Norfolk-Southern. CONRAIL owns the Richmond Secondary freight rail right of way, Trenton Avenue Elevated, Frankford Street Industrial Track, and Delair Branch, all operated by Conrail, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and AMTRAK owns the Northeast Corridor; and WHEREAS, Many neighborhood groups, City departments, and volunteers have worked diligently for years on strategies to clean up the tracks, including graffiti abatement programs, surveillance cameras for short dumping violations, and regular reporting of illegal activities to law enforcement; and WHEREAS, In June 2017, the City of Philadelphia reached an agreement with Conrail to address a stretch of train tracks used for an open-air drug market in North …