In Final News Conference as Philly Mayor, Michael Nutter Says He Wants to Bury 95

As Mayor Michael Nutter's mayoral term comes to a close, the outgoing city leader announced a $10 million study on capping Interstate 95 before admitting he is more prone to tears following his eight years in office.

"I think everybody has recognized, in the whole scheme of things, replacement of I-95 and the damage that it's done to this city and a number of others is pretty clear," Nutter said at his final news conference Thursday.

With an unbuttoned collar and no tie, a casual Nutter said the study will be funded by state and federal dollars, although the city may end up contributing funds to the project in future budgets. The Federal Transportation Improvement Program has made a commitment to fund the first phase of the study.

The study, which will be done in conjunction with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, will focus on capping the area around Penn's Landing, including Columbus Boulevard, located near the Irish Memorial that sits just south of Front and Chestnut streets, the outgoing mayor said before he took a look back on his two terms. [[363794181, C]]

Looking forward to a new chapter starting on January 4th! pic.twitter.com/3KwJqjmTE4
— Jim Kenney (@JimFKenney) December 30, 2015

"The fact is Philadelphia is safer today than before it was the day I became into office. The fact is there is more educational funding for schools than there has been at any other time," Nutter said. "The fact is unemployment has continued to go down and we are in a boom of economic revitalization. ... We’ve helped to change some of the culture around this government as far as corruption."

"Those are the facts," he said.

Read more on the proposal at PBJ.com.