Wednesday, September 16, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA RELEASES INFORMATION IN PREPARATION FOR WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES AND PAPAL VISIT
Philadelphia, September 16, 2015 –
The City of
Philadelphia released details about its preparations for the World
Meeting of Families – 2015 Philadelphia from Tuesday, September 22nd until Friday, September 25th,
and the Papal Visit during the weekend of Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th.
“The
neighborhoods in Center City Philadelphia will be most impacted by the
World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and the Papal Visit, but
the entire city has the opportunity to participate
in this historic event,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “I am asking
Philadelphians who are not already joyously anticipating the arrival of
Pope Francis to get excited and get involved. This is an incredible
moment for our City and the Nation.”
Papal Visit Itinerary
Pope Francis’ schedule for Philadelphia is as follows:
Saturday, September 26:
·
9:30 a.m. – Arrival at Atlantic Aviation
·
10:30 a.m. – Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul
·
4:45 p.m. – Independence Mall Address (This event is open to the public.)
·
7:30 p.m. – Festival of Families on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (This event is open to the public.)
Sunday, September 27:
·
9:15 a.m. – Meeting with Bishops at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
·
11:00 a.m. – Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility Visit
·
4:00 p.m. – Papal Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (This event is open to the public.)
·
8:00 p.m. – Departure from Atlantic Aviation.
Travel Restrictions
Road
closures, parking restrictions and changes to public transportation
routes and public works services will be necessary during the Papal
Visit. The public’s cooperation and patience in abiding by these
restrictions is appreciated.
Parking
restricted areas will be posted with “Emergency No Parking” signage.
Fencing, other physical barriers and uniformed law enforcement officers
will also be
utilized to enforce vehicle restricted zones. A map of the restricted
areas in Center City is available on
www.phila.gov.
The following streets describe the U.S. Secret Service secure vehicle perimeter or “no vehicle zone”. Only the streets that
outline the secure vehicle perimeter are described below and these streets
will be open to vehicular traffic. Every street inside of the below described perimeter will be closed to vehicular traffic.
City of Philadelphia restrictions:
Beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, the following secure vehicle perimeter will go into effect:
-
Fairmount Drive from the intersection of Kelly Drive to N 24th Street
-
24th Street between Fairmount Drive and Wallace Street
-
Wallace Street between N 24th Street and N 23rd Street
-
N 23rd Street between Wallace Street and Mount Vernon Street
-
Mount Vernon Street between N 23rd Street and N 22nd Street
-
N 22nd Street between Mount Vernon Street and Green Street
-
Green Street between N 22nd Street and N 21st Street
-
N 21st Street between Green Street and Brandywine Street
-
Brandywine Street between N 21st Street and N 20th Street
-
N 20th Street between Brandywine Street and Hamilton Street
-
Hamilton Street between N 20th Street and N 19th Street
-
Through the north side of the park between N 19th Street and N 18th Street
-
The Community College of Philadelphia will serve as the perimeter between N 18th Street and N 17th Street
-
N 17th Street south of Spring Garden Street to Callowhill Street
-
Callowhill Street between N 17th Street and N 16th Street
-
N 16th Street from Callowhill Street, over I-676 (Vine Street Expressway) to the East Bound Lanes of Vine Street
-
Along the sidewalk that parallels East Bound Vine Street and runs
perpendicular to the Hahnemann Hospital – Drexel University College of
Medicine
-
Vine Street between N 15th and N Broad Street
-
N Broad Street between N 15th Street and Race Street
-
Race Street between N Broad Street and N 12th Street
-
* N 12th Street continuing S to S 12th Street between Race Street and Sansom Street*
(This will change beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25)
-
Sansom Street between S 12th Street and S 17th Street
-
S 17th Street between Sansom Street and Chestnut Street
-
Chestnut Street between S 17th Street and S 18th Street
-
S 18th Street continuing N to N 18th Street between Chestnut Street and Cuthbert Street
-
Cuthbert Street between N 18th Street and N 21st Street
-
N 21st Street between Cuthbert Street and Cherry Street
-
Cherry Street between N 21st Street, past N 23rd Street to the River
Beginning at 10:00 p.m. Friday, September 25, the following secure vehicle perimeter will go into effect:
-
* N 12th Street between Race Street and Filbert Street* (The secure vehicle perimeter map that was released on August 13 showed the secure border from N 12th Street between Race Street and Arch Street. As an update, the secure border
now runs from N 12th Street between Race Street and Filbert Street)
-
Filbert Street between N 12th Street and N 9th Street
-
N 9th between Filbert Street and Cherry Street
-
Cherry Street between N 9th Street and N 8th Street
-
N 8th Street from Cherry Street continuing N across the
eastbound lanes of Vine Street, under I-676 (Vine Street Expressway) and
across the westbound lanes of Vine Street
-
The perimeter will run parallel to I-676 through a grassy area to N 6th street
-
N 6th Street just south of Callowhill Street to the structure
supporting I-676 and over to the area of Randolph Street, Vine Street
and across N 5th Street
-
New Street/Marginal Road between N 5th Street and N 4th Street
-
N 4th Street between New Street/Marginal Road and Arch Street
-
Arch Street between N 4th Street and N 3rd Street
-
N 3rd Street continuing S to S 3rd Street between Arch Street and Willings Alley near St. James Place
-
Through Willings Alley to S 4th Street
-
S 4th Street between Willings Alley and Locust Street
-
Locust Street between S 4th Street and S 6th Street
-
S 6th Street between Locust Street and S. Washington Square
-
S. Washington Square between S 6th Street and S 7th Street
-
S 7th Street between S. Washington Square and Manning Street
-
Manning Street between S 7th Street and S 8th Street
-
S 8th Street to Spruce Street
-
Spruce Street between S 8th Street and S 9th Street
-
S 9th street from between Spruce Street and Cherry Street
-
Cherry Street between S 9th Street and S 12th Street
State of Pennsylvania restrictions:
All vehicular
road restrictions will be coordinated
between the Pennsylvania
State Police, the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation
and local jurisdictions.
The below
road
closures will begin on
Friday, September
25 at 10 p.m., until
Monday
morning, September
28:
·
I-76
eastbound
from I-476 to
I-95
and
I-76
westbound
from
I-95 to U.S. Route 1
(Roosevelt Extension)
·
I-676 in both directions
from
I-76 to
I-95
·
I-95 northbound and southbound
exit
ramps to Callowhill
Street
·
I-95 northbound and southbound
exit
ramps to
I-676
·
I-95 northbound and southbound
exit
ramps to
Washington Avenue (Open
to registered buses
only)
·
I-95 northbound and southbound
exit
ramps to
Broad Street (Open
to registered buses only)
The following exit
ramp closures will begin Thursday,
September
24 at 10:00 p.m., until Monday morning,
September 28:
·
I-676 East exit
at 23rd
Street/Ben
Franklin
Parkway
·
I-676 East exit
at
Broad
Street (PA 611)
·
I-676 East exit
at 8th
Street
·
I-676
West exit
at
Broad
Street (PA 611)
·
I-676
West exit
at
Ben
Franklin Parkway
The below
road
closure
will begin
Saturday, September
26 at 10:00
a.m.,
until late Sunday
afternoon, September
27:
·
U.S. Route 1 in both directions from U.S. 30 to Belmont
Avenue
Security Checkpoint Locations:
Below
are the Ben Franklin Parkway event security entry points for ticket
holders on Saturday, September 26 (Festival of Families) and Sunday,
September 27 (Papal Mass), beginning at
6:00 a.m. each day.
-
Pennsylvania Avenue at the intersection of N 23rd Street and Spring Garden Street
-
N 22nd Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Hamilton Street
-
Hamilton Street between N 21st and N 22nd Streets
-
21st Street between Hamilton Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
-
N 20th Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Callowhill Street
-
N 20th Street at Race Street
-
N 21st Street at Winter Street
Below
are the Ben Franklin Parkway event security entry points for non-ticket
holders on Saturday, September 26, 2015 (Festival of Families),
beginning at 6:00 a.m.
-
N 15th Street at Cherry Street
-
N Broad Street at Cherry Street
-
S Broad Street at Chestnut Street
-
S 15th Street at Chestnut Street
-
S17th Street at Market Street
-
S 17th Street at John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Below
are the Ben Franklin Parkway event security entry points for non-ticket
holders on Sunday, September 27, 2015 (Papal Mass), beginning at 6:00
a.m.
-
N 19th Street at Wood Street
-
N 18th Street at Cherry Street
-
N 19th Street at Cherry Street
Below
are the Independence Mall event security entry points for ticket
holders on Saturday, September 26 ONLY (Meeting for Religious Freedom),
beginning at 6:00 a.m.
-
N 6th Street at Race Street
-
N 5th Street at Race Street
-
N 5th Street at Arch Street
-
N 4th Street at Market Street
-
S 4th Street at Chestnut Street
Tow Schedule/Placard Exemptions/Garage Parking:
To
accommodate the construction of the secure perimeters and event
infrastructure, towing in the Center City area will begin Saturday,
September 20 and will be completed by Wednesday,
September 23.
All no-parking areas will receive notice (signs posted by September 16th).
To
assist residents in these no-parking areas, the City and Philadelphia
Parking Authority are offering the following parking options:
–
Residential Parking Permit zones (other than the one to which they are assigned) anywhere in the city from Sunday, September 20th until 8:00 am on Tuesday, September 29th.
–
Naval Hospital Lot, 1600 Pattison Ave. – 1,500 parking spots available beginning September 21st (free);
–
Gateway Parking Garage, 16th and Vine Streets ($20 flat rate parking Thursday, September 24 – Monday, September 28; free with a residential parking permit);
–
Family Courthouse Garage, 15th and Arch Streets ($20 flat rate parking Thursday, September 24 – Monday, September 28; free with a residential parking
permit);
–
Old City AutoPark, 2nd
and Sansom Streets ($20 flat rate parking Thursday, September 24 –
Monday, September 28; free with a residential parking permit);
–
Jefferson AutoPark, 10th
and Ludlow Streets ($20 flat rate parking Thursday, September 24 –
Monday, September 28; free with a residential parking permit);
–
The Gallery Mall AutoPark, 9th and Filbert Streets ($20 flat rate parking Thursday, September 24 – Monday, September 28; free with a residential parking
permit); and
–
Chestnut Street Surface Lot, 8th and Chestnut Streets ($20 flat rate parking Thursday, September 24 – Monday, September 28; free with a residential parking
permit).
Residents
can purchase parking spots at all aforementioned locations, except the
Naval Hospital Lot, in advance. Once purchased, residents will be
issued a placard which will exempt
their vehicles from towing until Thursday, September 24 at 10:00 p.m.
Placards must be displayed in the front windshield of the car. In order
to purchase a garage space, proof of residency is required.
Residents can park their cars in their purchased garage spaces beginning Thursday, September 24
at 6:00 p.m.
For more information on purchasing garage parking and getting a towing exemption placard, log on to
www.philapark.org or call
215-683-9600 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
If your vehicle has been towed, please call
1-888-591-3636 and
press
2 after hearing the language options.
Additionally,
Luxe, a private valet service that will pick up your car and move it
out of the no parking zones for you, is available for $20/per day.
Residents can email
Philly@luxe.com for more information or can register for pick up on
www.luxe.com/Philadelphia.
Public Transportation
Papal event attendees are encouraged to use public transportation as
many streets in and around Center City Philadelphia will be closed to
private vehicles.
SEPTA
On Saturday, September 26 and Sunday,
September 27, SEPTA will double capacity by modifying Regional Rail
operations in an effort to accommodate travel demand. Center City
drop-off and boarding locations are listed
below and riders will have to board at the same Center City Station they
were dropped off for return service to their outlying station. Service
will operate express-type inbound service every half-hour from the
outlying stations to Center City from 5:30 a.m.
to noon both days. Below are the Regional Rail lines and outlying
stations that will be in operation, listed by their Center City
drop-off/boarding station. All Center City drop-off/boarding stations
are located within the Francis Festival Grounds:
Jefferson Station
·
Norristown/Manayunk Line – Norristown Transportation Center
·
Lansdale/Doylestown Line – Pennbrook and Fort Washington Stations
·
Warminster Line – Warminster Station
·
West Trenton Line – Woodbourne Station
·
Fox Chase Line – Fox Chase Station
·
*Airport Line – Terminal A/B, Terminal C/D
30th Street Station
·
Paoli/Thorndale Line – Paoli and Radnor Stations
·
Chesnut Hill West Line – Chestnut Hill West Station
·
Trenton Line – Levittown and Croydon/Cornwells Heights Stations
·
Wilmington/Newark Line – Wilmington and Marcus Hook Stations
University City Station
·
Media/Elwyn Line – Media and Primos Stations
·
*Airport Line – Eastwick Station
·
*Airport Line – Terminal A/B, Terminal C/D
SEPTA is urging
customers planning to use rail service for Papal Visit travel to arrange
to be dropped off at or near one of the open outlying stations. Parking
will be limited at SEPTA stations and surrounding
locations, and spots are expected to fill up quickly both days. However,
SEPTA is working with local officials, businesses and other
organizations to offer additional parking at or near these stations. The
Papal Visit section of
www.septa.org/papalvisitphilly features
an interactive matrix with customized maps showing available parking
and suburban road closures surrounding the 18 outlying Regional Rail
Stations opened during the Papal Visit weekend.
*The Airport Line is the only Regional
Rail line that will operate inbound and outbound both days and these
trains will operate every 30 minutes. As noted above, Airport Line
trains will stop in Center City at Jefferson
and University City Stations. Local residents and other visitors
traveling to Center City to see the Pope can pay to park in an airport
lot and those with pre-purchased One Day Papal Passes will get priority
boarding between 5:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. After 8:00
a.m., pre-purchased tickets and weekly and month passes that are
normally valid for the Airport Line will be accepted. Airport employees
commuting to work, as well as those with a flight reservation, will be
able to board at the Jefferson and University City
Stations as noted above. These airport bound trains will not stop at the
Eastwick, 30th Street or Suburban stations.
Subway Service
SEPTA has doubled the number of stations
scheduled to be open for the Papal Visit along the Market-Frankford and
Broad Street Lines – among them, 8th Street and 34th Street on the
Market-Frankford Line, which provide
close access to the Francis Festival Grounds. The service plan has been
adjusted in response to requests from riders and businesses regarding
transit service for weekend commuting needs, and to provide additional
travel options for those going to see the Pope.
Trains on the Market-Frankford and Broad
Street Lines will operate in both directions the weekend of September 26
to September 27 from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. each day. There will be no
overnight weekend service
on these lines during the Papal Visit.
The updated service map of open stations is included with this press release. Here is a summary of the updated service plan:
·
Market-Frankford Line Eastbound Express Service:
Will run from 69th Street Transportation Center directly to 30th Street
Station. These same trains will then continue with Local service,
stopping at 8th Street Station,
2nd Street Station; Girard Station; Huntingdon Station; Allegheny
Station; Erie-Torresdale Station; Arrott Transportation Center; and
Frankford Transportation Center.
·
Market-Frankford Line Eastbound Local Service:
Trains will originate at 60th Street Station, with stops at 52nd Street
Station; 34th Street Station; 30th Street; 8th Street; 2nd Street;
Girard; Huntingdon; Allegheny; Erie-Torresdale;
Arrott Transportation Center; and Frankford Transportation Center.
·
Market-Frankford Line Westbound Express Service:
Trips will operate from Frankford Transportation Center directly to
2nd Street, then continue with Local service to 8th Street; 30th Street;
34th Street; 52nd Street; 60th Street; and 69th Street Transportation
Center.
·
Market-Frankford Line Westbound Local Service:
Trips will originate at Arrott Transportation Center, with stops at
Erie-Torresdale; Allegheny; Huntingdon; Girard; 2nd Street; 8th Street;
30th Street; 34th Street; 52nd Street; 60th Street; and 69th Street
Transportation Center.
·
Broad Street Line Northbound Express Service:
Trains will run from AT&T Station directly to Walnut-Locust
Station. These trains will continue with Local service to Spring Garden
Station; Cecil B. Moore Station; North Philadelphia
Station; Erie Station; Olney Transportation Center; and Fern Rock
Transportation Center.
·
Broad Street Line Northbound Local Service:
Trains will operate from Snyder Station to Walnut-Locust; Spring
Garden; Cecil B. Moore; North Philadelphia; Erie; Olney Transportation
Center; and Fern Rock Transportation Center.
·
Broad Street Line Southbound Express Service:
Trains will run from Fern Rock Transportation Center directly to Spring
Garden; these trains will continue with Local service to Walnut-Locust;
Snyder; and AT&T Station.
·
Broad Street Line Southbound Local Service:
Trains will originate at Olney Transportation Center, with stops at
Erie; North Philadelphia; Cecil B. Moore; Spring Garden; Walnut-Locust;
Snyder; and AT&T Station.
Customers using the Market-Frankford and
Broad Street Lines can ride using their existing fare instruments, such
as weekly and monthly passes and tokens. In addition, SEPTA now has a
special $10 Three-Day Papal
Transit Pass – or $5 for those who qualify for reduced fare – on sale
now that will be valid for travel on the Market-Frankford and Broad
Street Lines, as well as buses and trolleys, between Saturday, September
26 and Monday, September 28. These passes are
on sale at SEPTA sales locations; for a list of sales offices, visit the
Papal Visit section of SEPTA’s website at
http://www.septa.org/papalvisitphilly. Weekly, monthly and Three-Day Papal Transit Passes, as well as tokens and cash, can be used for travel on buses and trolleys.
For ease of travel, riders are urged to purchase passes or tokens ahead of the Papal Visit.
Bus Service
Many SEPTA bus routes will be adjusted
during the weekend of the Papal Visit to complement increased capacity
on the rail network and to maximize operations while traffic
restrictions are in place. Service will
run on weekday schedules providing more frequent service than normal
Saturday and Sunday operations. By utilizing weekday service, a number
of major City Transit routes will allow attendees to get close to the
events. Additionally, this weekday service will
facilitate getting attendees to connecting services such as the
Market-Frankford Line subway/elevated and the Broad Street Line subway.
City Transit Buses operating with this
weekday-level service will include routes 3, 5, 6, 14, 16, 20, 21, 22,
23, 27, 31, 33, 42, 47, 50, 52, 55, 58, 66, 70 and R. City Trolley
Routes 11, 13, 34 and 36 will make
all regular stops from the start of each line in Philadelphia and
Delaware Counties to the 40th Street Portal. From 40th Street, the next
and last stop will be 30th Street. Similarly, a number of key Suburban
Transit Bus routes, including those that provide
access to Regional Rail service and destinations such as the
Philadelphia International Airport, will also remain on weekday
schedules through the weekend. This includes Routes 99, 103, 104, 107,
108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 123, 124, 125, 201 and 206.
In addition, dozens of other routes in the
city and the suburbs will maintain regular weekend service levels. Some
of these routes will be subject to detours due to road closures.
Traffic restrictions will also
result in the suspension of 28 city and suburban bus routes. The Route
10 trolley will also be suspended.
NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT’s Atlantic City Rail Line
will operate reservation-only hourly trips from the Atlantic City
Rail Terminal which will express to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia
beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September
27. The trains will NOT stop at Absecon, Egg
Harbor City, Hammonton, Atco, Lindenwold, Cherry Hill, and Pennsauken.
The last train to leave Atlantic City bound for Philadelphia will be at
3:00 p.m. Travel time will be about one hour and 25 minutes. A total of
690 seats will be available on each train,
with a total of 4,140 available seats for the eight-hour service to 30th
Street Station. Following the Papal events, trains will leave 30th
Street Station expressing to Atlantic City at 10:00 p.m. and operate on
the half-hour. Please note, no bicycles will
be allowed on the Atlantic City Rail Line during the weekend of the Papal Visit.
Special round trip tickets will be needed to travel on the
Atlantic City Rail Line on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday,
September 27. No other tickets, including monthly passes, Family Super
Saver or cash, will be accepted on the
Atlantic City Rail Line. The limited tickets are on sale now at
njtransit.com/papal. The last day to purchase tickets will be Friday, September 25.
To accommodate customers traveling to
stations not being served by rail, an enhanced Bus Route No. 554 service
will supplement the
Atlantic City Rail Line and stop at stations between Atlantic
City and Lindenwold. This bus will continue express service to Walter
Rand Transportation Center in Camden. The No. 554 bus route does not
serve Cherry Hill or Pennsauken.
Bus Route No. 419 service will accommodate
customers departing from Pennsauken Transit Center for travel to
Camden, and Bus Route No. 450 will serve customers who want to travel
from Cherry Hill station to Camden.
Additionally, Bus Route No. 406 service will accommodate customers
traveling from Route 70 in Cherry Hill to Camden.
NJ TRANSIT’s River Line will offer
limited service and operate on a 15-minute schedule starting at 6:00
a.m. on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 from Trenton,
making stops at Bordentown, Florence,
Burlington South, Route 73, Pennsauken Transit Center and the Walter
Rand Transportation Center. Trains will NOT stop at Hamilton Avenue,
Cass Street, Robeling, Burlington Towne Center, Beverly/Edgewater Park,
Delanco, Riverside, Cinnaminson, Riverton, Palmyra,
and 36th Street. Once events in Philadelphia have begun, the River Line will shift to a 30-minute schedule.
Trains will not operate beyond the Walter
Rand Transportation Center in downtown Camden due to expected crowded
road conditions. Following the Papal events,
River Line trains will leave the Walter Rand Transportation
Center on a load-and-go basis. In an attempt to increase overall seating
capacity, no bicycles will be allowed on
River Line trains that weekend.
Special round trip tickets will be needed to ride the
River Line. No other tickets, including monthly passes or cash, will be accepted on the
River Line. The limited tickets are on sale now at
njtransit.com/papal, or at all
River Line stations. The last day to purchase tickets will be Friday, September 25.
To accommodate customers wanting to go to stations on the
River Line not being served by train service on Saturday and Sunday, bus service that parallels the
River Line will operate additional service and stop at those stations.
Bus Service
Once the Ben Franklin
Bridge is closed to vehicular traffic, all bus routes that normally
travel to Center City Philadelphia will terminate at the Walter Rand
Transportation Center in Camden
but will remain on schedule for trips outbound from the Camden area
·
Limited additional bus service will operate
on Route 419 which runs along the River Line between Burlington Town
Center and Camden
·
Limited additional service will be provided on Route 554
·
No special ticketing is needed for regular bus route service
Access Link
Access Link, NJ TRANSIT’s ADA-paratransit
service to and from Philadelphia, will be suspended on Friday, September
25 following the closure of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Regular
reservation service will resume on
Tuesday, September 29. On Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September
27, all service in and out of Camden County will be suspended.
For complete train schedule and ticketing information for both the
Atlantic City Rail Line and the
River Line, please visit
www.njtransit.com/papal.
PATCO/DRPA
As mentioned above, in an effort to
facilitate pedestrian travel into Center City Philadelphia, the Ben
Franklin Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning on Friday,
September 25 at 10:00 p.m. The Ben
Franklin Bridge will re-open for vehicular traffic on Monday, September
28 at or around 12:00 noon. During this period, PATCO will operate
express trains providing non-stop, one-way service westbound into Center
City Philadelphia on Saturday, September 26
and Sunday, September 27. This express service will operate every 16
minutes to the 9/10th and Locust Street Stations in Center City from the
Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Ferry Avenue and Broadway stations in New
Jersey. 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 the 9/10th and Locust Street Stations in
Center City and stop only at the stations listed above. This express
return service will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday,
September 26 and Sunday, September 27 and will operate until for several
hours. Riders should expect long lines departing Philadelphia to return
to New Jersey.
AMTRAK
With some minor exceptions, operations in
and around New York and Washington will be normal, although passengers
should expect large crowds during the Pope’s scheduled events. Amtrak
service will operate on a normal
weekday schedule Monday, September 21, 2015 through Friday, September
25, 2015 with extra coaches added to some trains to accommodate
additional demand.
Starting Friday, September 25 through Monday, September 28 reservations will be required on all
Acela Express, Northeast Regional and Keystone Service trains.
Amtrak will operate Philadelphia-centric “Event Extra” service on
Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 in some cases utilizing
equipment from Amtrak commuter partners.
To better ensure efficient train movements
for all users of the NEC, Amtrak will suspend maintenance activities,
pre-position rescue equipment to quickly respond to any disabled train
and continuously share real-time
dispatching information with our regional transit agency partners.
30th Street Station
To ensure public safety and aid in crowd
control, some special procedures will be implemented at the Philadelphia
30th Street Station during the weekend of the Papal Visit. In addition
to Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains,
SEPTA service to/from Levittown, Marcus Hook, Wilmington, Croydon and
Cornwells Heights, will operate from the lower-level/main concourse.
Specific boarding procedures and recommended points of entry will be
announced at a later date. Additional station personnel
and ambassadors will be on hand to assist, but passengers should expect
long lines and crowded conditions.
Taxi service and rental cars will not be
available to/from 30th Street Station. Station restrooms will be closed
to the public but facilities will be available outside. Food court
eateries will be open and accessible
from the Market Street entrance.
Tickets for all Amtrak trains are
available now at Amtrak.com. Passengers are advised to book as early as
possible to ensure availability. Additional announcements with more
detailed information will be made in
the weeks to come and posted to
www.amtrak.com/papalvisit, which will be updated regularly.
Taxis/Rideshare Services
Taxis and legal Uber
vehicles will be able to access the Francis Festival Grounds until
Saturday, September 26, at 2:00 a.m. Service in the Francis Festival
Grounds will resume on Monday, September 28, at 3:00
a.m.
WAV (wheelchair
accessible vehicles), SEPTA CCT and UberWAV (PUC-licensed paratransit
partners) will have no restrictions entering the Francis Festival
grounds.
Bicycles/Indego
Bicycle use is permitted anywhere in Center City, except within
the Secure Perimeter (bicycles cannot go through the mag lines), during
the Papal Visit.
Additionally, Indego, the City’s bike share program, will offer special service during the Papal Visit from Friday, Sept. 25th – Sunday, Sept. 27th.
Indego will provide staffed, corral service at several stations to
guarantee bike and dock availability, and to answer customer questions.
The following locations will provide this service:
·
Rittenhouse Square station (Walnut & 19th streets);
·
Foglietta Plaza station (Front & Dock streets);
·
30th Street station (30th & Market streets); and
·
Broad & Spring Garden station.
Most other Center City stations will be closed to accommodate this
service. A complete list of open and closed stations is available on
www.rideindego,com/stations, or for real-time station and bike availability during the Papal Visit, download the ‘BCycle Now’ app.
Business Accommodations
Deliveries and Commercial Trash
The
window for deliveries and commercial trash collection that need to enter
the Traffic Box (Francis Festival grounds) will be 12:00am – 4:00am on
Saturday and Sunday, and will be limited
to vehicles 28ft or smaller.
Delivery
and trash collection trucks that will service businesses located within
the Secure Perimeter and Secure Vehicle Perimeter must be screened by
the USSS. Additional information about
screenings and entry points will be provided directly to businesses and
commercial trash haulers over the next week. Businesses with questions
should contact the Business Service Resource Center by calling
215-683-2100.
Businesses
can also walk deliveries into the Secure Perimeter and Secure Vehicle
Perimeter, therefore negating the need for vehicle screenings.
Business Services Center
Businesses with questions should contact the City’s Business Resource Center by calling
215-683-2100 or by e-mail at
business@phila.gov.
In the lead up to the Papal Visit, the Business Resource Center will be
open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Center will operate
from 9 a.m. Friday, September
25, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 27.
Venue Details and Public Safety Information
The
vicinity of the festival on the Parkway and Independence Hall will be
firmly secured and protected for maximum public safety.
Throughout the
Papal Visit weekend, the City will provide a strong presence of law
enforcement and emergency medical services. The City, the United States
Secret Service and WMOF officials will utilize
a network of prevention and response services, which will be integrated,
mobile and in constant communication.
EMS personnel will
respond within each zone by foot, bike, Segway, Gator, or ambulance, and
provide services at each first aid tent and medical station.
First aid tent
capabilities include triaging, treatment of minor injuries (such as
insect bites, rehydration, sunburns, and heat exposure), CPR with AED,
and diagnostics for diabetic concerns. Each tent can accommodate
up to 20 patients.
First aid tents will be placed in the following locations:
|
Name
|
Location
|
|
FA2: Ben Franklin HS Lot 2
|
1314-1332 Green Street
|
|
FA6: Public Health Building Lot
|
500 S Broad Street
|
|
FA5: Market Lot
|
Market Street (Between 8th and 9th)
|
|
FA1: Moore College of Art and Design
|
Race Street (20th street to Logan Circle)
|
|
FA4: Rittenhouse Square
|
Rittenhouse Square Park
|
|
FA3: PECO Surface Lot
|
Market St. and 22nd Street
|
Medical station
capabilities include advanced life support, minor trauma treatment
(wound repair, splinting, suturing), triaging, cardiac resuscitation,
obstetrical assessments and emergency childbirth management,
and pediatric services. Each medical station can accommodate up to 50
patients.
Medical stations will be placed in the following locations:
|
Name
|
Location
|
|
MS4: Francisville Playground
|
Wylie Street (N 19th to Cameron)
|
|
MS2: City Hall Courtyard
|
Market and Broad Street
|
|
MS1: Roman Field
|
N 24th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
|
|
MS3: American College of Physicians
|
Race Street (Between 6th and 7th)
|
Water Stations will be positioned along walking routes at the following places:
1.
South Broad Street and Locust Street
2.
Rittenhouse House
3.
Spring Garden Street between 17th and 18th
Streets
4.
Franklin Square
Prohibited Items
The following list pertains to events held
during Papal Visit Weekend. The following items will not be permitted
past the security entry points. Please note: the Secret Service also may
prohibit any item determined to be a potential
safety hazard.
• Aerosols
• Ammunition
• Animals, except for service animals
• Backpacks and bags exceeding 18″ x 13″ x 7″ (Clear bags are recommended to speed the MAG line process.)
• Balloons
• Bicycles
• Drones
• Explosives, firearms, or weapons
• Glass, thermal, or metal containers
• Hard-sided coolers (soft-sided thermal coolers are allowed)
• Laser pointers
• Mace or pepper spray
• Packages
• Selfie sticks
• Signs exceeding 5′ x 3′ x 1/4″ made of any material except cardboard, poster board, or cloth
• Structures
• Supports for signs and placards
• Toy guns
Missing Persons/Items
American Red Cross and
PPD personnel will staff lost children posts at all first aid tents and
medical stations. Additional posts will be located at 30th
Street Station and in the vicinity of the Sports
Complex. Reunifications will be coordinated through a Multi-Agency
Reunification Center staffed by the ARC. Each reunification site will
utilize the web-based Safe and Well program (
https://safeandwell.org/) to coordinate
reunifications.
Closures
Courts
City Courts will close Wednesday, September 23 and will reopen Tuesday, September 29.
Schools
The
Philadelphia School District Administrative Offices and Schools will be
closed on Thursday, September 24, and Friday, September 25. (Please
note: The School District of Philadelphia
will also be closed Wednesday, September 23 for Yom Kippur.) School
closings for Monday, September 26, will be decided early that morning,
in accordance with inclement weather procedures.
Archdiocesan
Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 23, through Friday,
September 25. Philadelphia Archdiocesan Schools (city and region) will
also be closed Monday, September 28.
Parents should confirm closure dates with their child’s school.
Colleges and Universities
The
closing or schedule changes for local colleges and universities were
made by university leadership. Local college students should check with
their schools about possible cancellations
or schedule changes for Friday, September 25, and Monday, September 28.
Any information about cancellations or delays will be posted on each
school’s website.
City of Philadelphia Government
City
government will operate on an “essential services only” status
beginning Thursday, September 24 through Monday, September 28. City
employees should contact their immediate supervisors
to determine if they are essential services personnel.
City
libraries, recreation centers, parks and health centers outside of the
‘Francis Festival Grounds’ (formerly known as the Traffic Box) will
operate normally with a few exceptions:
Health Department:
·
Health Center 1 (500 S. Broad Street), STD testing and treatment, will be closed Friday for patient care.
·
Health Center 2 (1930 S. Broad Street) will not be offering clinic hours on Saturday.
Office of Supportive Housing:
·
Emergency housing intake for families and single women will operate from 2532 N Broad Street on Friday and Monday.
Department of Human Services:
·
Hotline and walk-in services staff will be
relocated to 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue from Monday, September 21
through Monday, September 28.
Ben Franklin Parkway Institutions
The institutions along the Benjamin Franklin
Parkway cultural corridor and the vicinity will operate the following
dates and times during the World Meeting of Families and the Papal
Visit:
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University:
·
Open Mon. 9/21, 10 am – 4:30 pm
·
Open Tues. & Wed., 9/22 and 9/23 extended hours until 9 pm.
·
Open Thurs. 9/24, 10 am – 4:30 pm
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Mon., 9/28
Barnes Foundation:
·
Open Mon. 9/21 – Fri. 9/25 extended hours, 10 am – 8 pm
·
Closed Sat. 9/26 and Sun. 9/27
·
Open Mon. 9/28 and Tues. 9/29, 10 am – 5pm
Cathedral Basilica Saints Peter & Paul:
·
Open (main Cathedral) Mon. 9/21 thru Thurs. 9/24, 9 am – 9 pm
·
Open (Chapel) Mon. 9/21, 6:30 pm continuously thru Thurs. 9/24, 8:30 pm for Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
·
Mon. 9/21 thru Thurs. 9/24 Mass 7:15 am, 12:05 pm, 5:30 pm
·
Closed Fri., 9/25 following 7:15 am Mass
·
Closed Sat. 9/26 am for private Papal Mass
·
Sat. 9/26 4:15 Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation in Confessionals and 5:15 pm Mass, then closed
·
Sun. 9/27 Mass 8 am, 9:30 am and 11am, then closed
Eastern State Penitentiary:
·
Open Sun. 9/20 – Thurs. 9/24 extended hours, 10 am – 8 pm
·
Open Fri. 9/25 10 am – 3 pm
·
Closed Sat. 9/26 thru Mon. 9/28
Fairmount Water Works:
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Mon., 9/28
Franklin Institute:
·
Open Mon. 9/21 – Thurs. 9/24, Museum 9:30 am – 5 pm; Special Exhibits, until 9 pm
·
Open Fri., 9/25, 9:30 am – 5 pm
·
Closed Sat. 9/26 and Sun. 9/27
Free Library/Parkway Central:
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Mon. 9/28
Friends Select School:
·
Closed Thurs. 9/24 thru Mon. 9/28
Moore College of Art & Design:
·
Closing offices Thurs. 9/24 at 1 pm (students on Fall Break Thurs. & Fri.)
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Mon. 9/28
Mutter Museum:
·
Open Mon. 9/21 thru Thurs., 9/24 extended hours 10 am – 8 pm
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Sun. 9/27
·
Undecided re Mon. 9/28
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society:
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Mon. 9/28
Philadelphia Museum of Art:
·
Closed Mon., 9/21
·
Open Tues. 9/22, 10 am – 5 pm
·
Open Wed., 9/23, 10 am – 8:45 pm
·
Open Thurs. 9/24, 10 am – 5 pm
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Mon. 9/28
Rodin Museum:
·
Open Mon. 9/21, 10 am – 5 pm
·
Closed Tues., 9/22
·
Open Wed. 9/23 and Thurs. 9/24, 10 am – 5 pm
·
Closed Fri. 9/25 thru Sun. 9/27
Emergency Weather Alerts & Heat-related Precautions Information
Events
during the Papal Visit are rain or shine events. In the case of severe
weather, listen for announcements and sign up ahead of time to receive
emergency texts or e-mail alerts at
ReadyPhiladelphia:
www.phila.gov/ready. Plan for a safe, informed, joyous event.
In
the event of high temperatures, be aware of the risk of heat-related
health issues. EMS personnel will be on duty all day at an accessible
First Aid Station and will be on patrol to
monitor activities. Many heat stress or heat exhaustion issues can be
avoided by taking simple precautions.
§
Stay hydrated by
drinking lots of water; avoid over-indulging in alcoholic liquids,
caffeine and avoid wearing excessive layers of clothing.
§
Consider the Three L’s Rule: light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting. Wear garments made of natural fibers like cotton.
