ABOVE PHOTO: Pope Francis (softdelusion66 / Shutterstock.com)
The City of Philadelphia released updated details about 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. Below is a partial listing of the Papal visit itinerary and traveling logistics. For complete information, you can go to https://cityofphiladelphia.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/city-of-philadelphia-releases-information-in-preparation-for-world-meeting-of-families-and-papal-visit/#story1.
“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.
A detailed itinerary for Pope Francis’ September 2015 Apostolic Journey to the United States of America is available online athttp://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/papal-visit-2015/2015-papal-visit-schedule.cfm.
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
Free Library closure information during Papal visit
“The entire Free Library of Philadelphia system will be closed on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 for the Papal Visit. Additionally, the Parkway Central Library, located at 1901 Vine Street, will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, and will remain closed through Monday, September 28. Parkway Central Library will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29. Leading up to and following this landmark event, don’t forget to visit Sacred Stories: The World’s Religious Traditions, a special exhibition of historic religious texts in Parkway Central’s Rare Book Department. As always, freelibrary.org is open 24/7, offering access to author podcasts, ebooks, movies, music, and more!”
Leave a Comment