#PopeInPhilly Transportation Details for World Meeting of Families and Papal Visit
June 16, 2015
by HughE Dillon
MAYOR NUTTER AND CITY OFFICIALS RELEASE TRANSPORTATION DETAILS FOR WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES & PAPAL VISIT
PS I was surprised they didn’t mention that Center City streets would be closed to vehicular traffic during that period, I heard from more than a half dozen sources. So if you’re getting out of dodge and you want car service to take you to airport, or you want to drive yourself, leave Tuesday, Wednesday or the latest early Thursday. Here’s what the City did release, with hint of this news I just gave you.
Philadelphia, June 16, 2015
– Mayor Michael A. Nutter, City and agency officials announced
preliminary information about public transportation options during the
World Meeting of Families convening, September 22-25, 2015, and the
weekend of the Papal Visit, September 26-27, 2015.
– Mayor Michael A. Nutter, City and agency officials announced
preliminary information about public transportation options during the
World Meeting of Families convening, September 22-25, 2015, and the
weekend of the Papal Visit, September 26-27, 2015.
“At this point, we are
about three months away from hosting the largest event in this City’s
history,” said Mayor Nutter. “We wanted to begin sharing information
with residents and business owners as soon as
possible so that they can begin making arrangements for this week,
whether they plan to attend any of the World Meeting of Families events
or just need to go about their daily routines. Make no mistake, the
City of Philadelphia will have the world’s attention,
and we are doing our part to be as prepared and coordinated as
possible.”
about three months away from hosting the largest event in this City’s
history,” said Mayor Nutter. “We wanted to begin sharing information
with residents and business owners as soon as
possible so that they can begin making arrangements for this week,
whether they plan to attend any of the World Meeting of Families events
or just need to go about their daily routines. Make no mistake, the
City of Philadelphia will have the world’s attention,
and we are doing our part to be as prepared and coordinated as
possible.”
With more than 1.5
million people expected for the Papal Visit on Saturday and Sunday, and
substantial crowds for the World Meeting of Families convening during
the week, it is critical for visitors and residents
to understand the logistics involved in getting into Center City
Philadelphia. Travelers should keep in mind:
million people expected for the Papal Visit on Saturday and Sunday, and
substantial crowds for the World Meeting of Families convening during
the week, it is critical for visitors and residents
to understand the logistics involved in getting into Center City
Philadelphia. Travelers should keep in mind:
·
Be prepared to walk to your destination after debarking transit—up to a couple of miles
Be prepared to walk to your destination after debarking transit—up to a couple of miles
·
Private vehicles will not be a viable transportation option
Private vehicles will not be a viable transportation option
·
Public transportation routes and schedules will be vastly altered for efficiency and capacity
Public transportation routes and schedules will be vastly altered for efficiency and capacity
·
Continue to
check WorldMeeting2015.org for transportation updates and sign up to
receive the Papal Visit Playbook, a guide for residents and visitors to
navigate Center City neighborhoods during
the event.
Continue to
check WorldMeeting2015.org for transportation updates and sign up to
receive the Papal Visit Playbook, a guide for residents and visitors to
navigate Center City neighborhoods during
the event.
SEPTA
During the World Meeting
of Families convening, September 22-25, the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will operate all services on normal
weekday schedules. During the Papal Visit on
Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, service will be
truncated drastically throughout the rail network to accommodate the
events and maximize operational efficiency.
of Families convening, September 22-25, the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will operate all services on normal
weekday schedules. During the Papal Visit on
Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, service will be
truncated drastically throughout the rail network to accommodate the
events and maximize operational efficiency.
SEPTA will reduce the
number of stations that will be used from the usual 282 to 31 on its
Regional Rail, Market-Frankford Line subway/elevated, Broad Street Line
subway, trolley lines and Norristown High Speed
Line. (The 31 stations are boarding locations only and are
shown as blue dots on the SEPTA system map attached.) Event drop-off
locations in Center City will be announced at a later date.
number of stations that will be used from the usual 282 to 31 on its
Regional Rail, Market-Frankford Line subway/elevated, Broad Street Line
subway, trolley lines and Norristown High Speed
Line. (The 31 stations are boarding locations only and are
shown as blue dots on the SEPTA system map attached.) Event drop-off
locations in Center City will be announced at a later date.
City officials urge
those who will take SEPTA to plan ahead. Regular riders who rely on
SEPTA for daily commuting will likely be severely impacted by the
adjustments made to accommodate event attendees and should
plan accordingly.
those who will take SEPTA to plan ahead. Regular riders who rely on
SEPTA for daily commuting will likely be severely impacted by the
adjustments made to accommodate event attendees and should
plan accordingly.
A special $10, three-day
SEPTA transit pass, valid from Saturday, September 26 through Monday,
September 28, will be sold for travel on subways, buses and trolleys.
Standard SEPTA passes and tokens can also be
used on these transit modes. For Regional Rail, a one-day special
event pass valid for Saturday, and another valid for Sunday, will be
sold for $10 each in advance.
Only those riders with the pre-purchased special event passes will be permitted to ride Regional Rail.
Quantities for sale will be limited to the number of riders SEPTA can
carry on the vehicles in operation. No passes will be sold on the day of
the
event.
SEPTA transit pass, valid from Saturday, September 26 through Monday,
September 28, will be sold for travel on subways, buses and trolleys.
Standard SEPTA passes and tokens can also be
used on these transit modes. For Regional Rail, a one-day special
event pass valid for Saturday, and another valid for Sunday, will be
sold for $10 each in advance.
Only those riders with the pre-purchased special event passes will be permitted to ride Regional Rail.
Quantities for sale will be limited to the number of riders SEPTA can
carry on the vehicles in operation. No passes will be sold on the day of
the
event.
The following is a summary of the major service
adjustments SEPTA is planning to make for the weekend of the Papal
Visit, September 26-27:
adjustments SEPTA is planning to make for the weekend of the Papal
Visit, September 26-27:
Regional Rail: SEPTA will maximize service
capabilities by shrinking the railroad. The number of stations served
will be significantly reduced and trains will operate express-type,
pick-up only service to the event from 18 select
outlying stations. Similarly, post-event service will express from
Center City Philadelphia to the selected outlying stations.
capabilities by shrinking the railroad. The number of stations served
will be significantly reduced and trains will operate express-type,
pick-up only service to the event from 18 select
outlying stations. Similarly, post-event service will express from
Center City Philadelphia to the selected outlying stations.
At this time, SEPTA plans to operate pick-up only service at these specific stations:
·
Paoli/Thorndale Line – Paoli and Radnor Stations
Paoli/Thorndale Line – Paoli and Radnor Stations
·
Norristown/Manayunk Line – Norristown Transportation Center
Norristown/Manayunk Line – Norristown Transportation Center
·
Chesnut Hill West Line – Chestnut Hill West Station
Chesnut Hill West Line – Chestnut Hill West Station
·
Lansdale/Doylestown Line – Lansdale and Fort Washington Stations
Lansdale/Doylestown Line – Lansdale and Fort Washington Stations
·
Warminster Line – Warminster Station
Warminster Line – Warminster Station
·
West Trenton Line – Woodbourne Station
West Trenton Line – Woodbourne Station
·
Fox Chase Line – Fox Chase Station
Fox Chase Line – Fox Chase Station
·
Trenton Line – Croydon and Cornwells Heights Stations
Trenton Line – Croydon and Cornwells Heights Stations
·
Media/Elywn Line – Media and Primos Stations
Media/Elywn Line – Media and Primos Stations
·
Wilmington/Newark Line – Wilmington and Marcus Hook Stations
Wilmington/Newark Line – Wilmington and Marcus Hook Stations
·
Airport Line – Terminals C & D, Terminal B and Eastwick Station
Airport Line – Terminals C & D, Terminal B and Eastwick Station
Market-Frankford Line:
Similar to Regional Rail, pick-up only service will be available
westbound from Frankford Transportation Center and the Girard Avenue
Station; eastbound pick-up only service will
operate from 69th Street Transportation Center and 52nd
Street Station, with drop-offs at yet-to-be-determined Center City
stations. After the event, service will express back to the outlying
stations. Riders will not be able to board
or exit the Market-Frankford Line from any other stations.
Similar to Regional Rail, pick-up only service will be available
westbound from Frankford Transportation Center and the Girard Avenue
Station; eastbound pick-up only service will
operate from 69th Street Transportation Center and 52nd
Street Station, with drop-offs at yet-to-be-determined Center City
stations. After the event, service will express back to the outlying
stations. Riders will not be able to board
or exit the Market-Frankford Line from any other stations.
Broad Street Line:
Pick-up service will operate northbound from AT&T Station only;
southbound pick-up service will be available at Fern Rock Transportation
Center and the Cecil B. Moore Station, with drop-offs
at yet-to-be-determined Center City stations. Riders will not be able
to board or exit the Board Street Line from any of the other stations.
Pick-up service will operate northbound from AT&T Station only;
southbound pick-up service will be available at Fern Rock Transportation
Center and the Cecil B. Moore Station, with drop-offs
at yet-to-be-determined Center City stations. Riders will not be able
to board or exit the Board Street Line from any of the other stations.
Trolley: Operating normal service: Route 15 Service from 63rd & Girard; Route 11 and 13 service from Darby Transportation Center; Route 34 Trolley service from 61st
& Baltimore; Route 36 Service from 60th & Eastwick.
There will also be service from a limited number of stations on the
Norristown High Speed Line and Route 101 Media and Route 102 Sharon Hill
Trolley Lines.
& Baltimore; Route 36 Service from 60th & Eastwick.
There will also be service from a limited number of stations on the
Norristown High Speed Line and Route 101 Media and Route 102 Sharon Hill
Trolley Lines.
Bus: At least 26
buses in the Center City and surrounding areas will be on detours due to
street closures. Select bus routes will operate on weekday schedules
throughout the weekend to accommodate ridership
increases.
buses in the Center City and surrounding areas will be on detours due to
street closures. Select bus routes will operate on weekday schedules
throughout the weekend to accommodate ridership
increases.
SEPTA will provide complete service information and updates on its website,
www.septa.org.
www.septa.org.
Amtrak
Amtrak is prepared to move significant
numbers of people into and out of Philadelphia for the World Meeting of
Families convening. Amtrak officials are working closely with partners
at SEPTA and New Jersey Transit (NJ TRANSIT)
to optimize schedules and accommodate as many people as possible.
Amtrak will monitor and adjust seat inventory as needed as the World
Meeting of Families approaches. Officials encourage passengers to book
tickets as far in advance as possible, and based
on those bookings Amtrak will add coaches – and possibly even operate
extra trains – as necessary.
All Amtrak trains will require reservations the weekend of the Papal visit. Passengers will not be permitted to purchase tickets on board trains.
numbers of people into and out of Philadelphia for the World Meeting of
Families convening. Amtrak officials are working closely with partners
at SEPTA and New Jersey Transit (NJ TRANSIT)
to optimize schedules and accommodate as many people as possible.
Amtrak will monitor and adjust seat inventory as needed as the World
Meeting of Families approaches. Officials encourage passengers to book
tickets as far in advance as possible, and based
on those bookings Amtrak will add coaches – and possibly even operate
extra trains – as necessary.
All Amtrak trains will require reservations the weekend of the Papal visit. Passengers will not be permitted to purchase tickets on board trains.
Amtrak will provide complete service information and updates on its website,
www.amtrak.com.
www.amtrak.com.
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia
International Airport (PHL) officials are looking forward to welcoming
visitors from around the world for the World Meeting of
Families convening and the Papal Visit. PHL expects a significant
increase in the number of national and international travelers arriving
in the days and weeks leading up to the event. PHL officials are
working closely with partners at SEPTA to ensure that
passengers and employees are able to travel to and from the Airport.
International Airport (PHL) officials are looking forward to welcoming
visitors from around the world for the World Meeting of
Families convening and the Papal Visit. PHL expects a significant
increase in the number of national and international travelers arriving
in the days and weeks leading up to the event. PHL officials are
working closely with partners at SEPTA to ensure that
passengers and employees are able to travel to and from the Airport.
PHL will provide complete service information and updates on its website,
www.phl.org.
www.phl.org.
NJ TRANSIT
NJ
TRANSIT officials are developing a transportation plan for the World
Meeting of Families convening and Papal Visit that will accommodate as
many customers as possible, recognizing the physical
constraints of the system. However, there are key pieces of information
that customers planning to use NJT need to know as it will not be a
typical weekend travel experience.
TRANSIT officials are developing a transportation plan for the World
Meeting of Families convening and Papal Visit that will accommodate as
many customers as possible, recognizing the physical
constraints of the system. However, there are key pieces of information
that customers planning to use NJT need to know as it will not be a
typical weekend travel experience.
NJ
TRANSIT’s regular weekend service on the Atlantic City Rail Line and
River Line will NOT operate on September 26-27. NJ TRANSIT will offer
special tickets targeted specifically for the
different service options that will be available. Those tickets will go
on sale later this summer. No one will be allowed to board without a special ticket – passengers will not be permitted to purchase tickets on board trains.
TRANSIT’s regular weekend service on the Atlantic City Rail Line and
River Line will NOT operate on September 26-27. NJ TRANSIT will offer
special tickets targeted specifically for the
different service options that will be available. Those tickets will go
on sale later this summer. No one will be allowed to board without a special ticket – passengers will not be permitted to purchase tickets on board trains.
NJ TRANSIT will provide complete service information and updates on its website,
www.njtransit.com.
www.njtransit.com.
PATCO
The
Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) will provide express,
non-stop service westbound to Center City Philadelphia on September
26-27
between each of the following four New Jersey stations and 9th/10th & Locust Streets station:
Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) will provide express,
non-stop service westbound to Center City Philadelphia on September
26-27
between each of the following four New Jersey stations and 9th/10th & Locust Streets station:
·
Lindenwold
Lindenwold
·
Woodcrest
Woodcrest
·
Ferry Avenue
Ferry Avenue
·
Broadway/Camden/ Walter Rand Transportation Center
Broadway/Camden/ Walter Rand Transportation Center
Passengers can board only at these four stations and all passengers will disembark at 9th/10th & Locust Streets station
in Philadelphia. There will be no PATCO service or operations at any station other than those above.
in Philadelphia. There will be no PATCO service or operations at any station other than those above.
For the return trip eastbound to New Jersey, trains will depart 9th/10th & Locust Streets station and stop only at the
stations listed above.
stations listed above.
Special
fares will be in effect on September 26-27. A one-day pass will cost
$5.00 and a two-day pass will cost $10.00. Customers who have
FREEDOM cards will be able to pay $2.50 for a one-way single ride.
FREEDOM card one-day and two-day passes can be purchased prior to the
dates of travel, beginning in mid-July.
fares will be in effect on September 26-27. A one-day pass will cost
$5.00 and a two-day pass will cost $10.00. Customers who have
FREEDOM cards will be able to pay $2.50 for a one-way single ride.
FREEDOM card one-day and two-day passes can be purchased prior to the
dates of travel, beginning in mid-July.
There
are spaces for approximately 3,300 cars at the PATCO Lindenwold
station, 1,900 spaces at PATCO Ferry Avenue station and 2,700 spaces at
PATCO Woodcrest station. PATCO does not offer parking spaces at the
PATCO Broadway station in Camden. Passengers should expect parking
spaces to fill quickly. Broadway-Camden serves as the transfer point
for New Jersey Transit buses and the RiverLINE at
Walter Rand Transportation Center.
are spaces for approximately 3,300 cars at the PATCO Lindenwold
station, 1,900 spaces at PATCO Ferry Avenue station and 2,700 spaces at
PATCO Woodcrest station. PATCO does not offer parking spaces at the
PATCO Broadway station in Camden. Passengers should expect parking
spaces to fill quickly. Broadway-Camden serves as the transfer point
for New Jersey Transit buses and the RiverLINE at
Walter Rand Transportation Center.
PATCO will provide complete service information and updates on its website,
www.ridepatco.org.
