Center City District’s Open Streets program began in September 2024 with a simple question: what would happen if streets were closed to vehicles and opened to pedestrians? From the start, the answer was abundantly clear: a people-first environment improves the experience of shoppers and residents while providing a measurable boost to businesses along the corridor.
The groundswell of support from participants, as well as high-profile endorsements from The Philadelphia Inquirer and a “Best of Philly” award from Philadelphia magazine, are an indication that we’re onto something. A year and a half and 20 Open Streets events later, we’ve learned even more than we thought we would. Read on to understand the impact of Open Streets and why we’re doubling down in 2026.
10,000 visitors per event
Cellphone-based counts from Placer.ai show how many people are present within the Open Streets footprint during the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on event Sundays. That does not take into account the number of people who arrive early and linger later in Center City. We also measured a spillover effect of 18% for the blocks surrounding Open Streets compared to a comparable non–Open Streets Sunday.
27% increase in pedestrian activity
We looked at comparable Sundays (e.g., the first or second Sunday of the year prior) to get as close of a benchmark as possible for comparison. The results showed that the absence of cars led to a 27% year-over-year increase in pedestrian activity, while overall Center City foot traffic increased 3% from 2024 to 2025.
Open Streets gave us a chance to test a principle we often talk about: people shop, cars don’t. This isn’t a case against cars in Center City — it’s a recognition that streets can serve far more people than vehicles, and that when more people are present, sales and foot traffic follow.
To measure this, we surveyed businesses shortly after each Open Streets event, allowing enough time for their internal metrics to settle, then asked them to estimate changes compared to a typical Sunday. The results were striking: on average, businesses reported 38% higher sales and 26% higher in-store foot traffic.
38% average sales increase for participating businesses & 26% higher in-store foot traffic on Open Streets days
Open Streets gave us a chance to test a principle we often talk about: people shop, cars don’t. This isn’t a case against cars in Center City — it’s a recognition that streets can serve far more people than vehicles, and that when more people are present, sales and foot traffic follow.
To measure this, we surveyed businesses shortly after each Open Streets event, allowing enough time for their internal metrics to settle, then asked them to estimate changes compared to a typical Sunday. The results were striking: on average, businesses reported 38% higher sales and 26% higher in-store foot traffic.
Businesses that extended their footprints into the street said it was an effective way to attract more shoppers into their stores. Businesses on the upper floors also shared that Open Streets was an invaluable opportunity to bring their presence to street level, reaching new eyes and creating interactions they may never have had otherwise.
“Open Streets has been an incredible way to build awareness for YogaSix Rittenhouse as a small, locally owned business. The CCD hosts are always kind, supportive, and engaged throughout the weekends. This program is a lifeline for visibility to us as we are located on the 5th floor of the Allman Building.”
—YogaSix
Looking ahead
Center City District is planning 20 Open Streets days throughout the year, with events on Sundays along West Walnut Street and a return to Midtown Village on Tuesdays in June. As Philadelphia prepares to welcome thousands of visitors from around the world this summer, Open Streets provides a strong opportunity to showcase Center City at its best and offer a glimpse of what it can be, especially for those familiar with and appreciative of pedestrianized streets globally.
