Street closures and restrictions in Philadelphia for the Pope’s visit next weekend are beginning this Sunday — get ready for maps on maps on maps.
We’ve broken down the traffic restrictions, towing information, security boundaries, SEPTA timing and road closures by day. Towing begins in some select areas as early as Sunday, and some driving lanes on the Parkway have already closed. Here’s a Google Calendar of when the closures and secure perimeters begin, starting Sunday:
(Update Monday, Sept. 21: Apparently the PPA is towing ahead of schedule, at least in Old City. Park with caution.)
Below is a schedule of when those closures and secure perimeters begin, complete with maps and other details:
Sunday, Sept. 20
Parking
8 AM: Residents in these parking districts may park on any block in any Residential Permit Parking district:
- Permit Parking District 1 (Rittenhouse Square)
- Permit Parking District 4 (Washington Square West)
- Permit Parking District 5 (Society Hill)
- Permit Parking District (Logan Square)
- Permit Parking District 10 (Chinatown)
Towing
6 PM: Areas around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the Art Museum extending east to 12th Street will be towed in accordance with this towing schedule:
Monday, Sept. 21
Towing
9 AM: Parked cars in the areas north and south of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be towed (shown in indigo on the above map.)
Tuesday, Sept. 22
Towing
6 PM: Parked cars in the areas east of 12th Street to 3rd Street will be towed (shown in light blue in the above map.)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
Towing
9 AM: Designated emergency routes will be cleared of parked cars. Those emergency routes are the streets on the above maps that have red arrows pointing toward them.
What’s closed
- City Courts closed
- Archdiocesan schools closed
- School District of Philadelphia closed
Thursday, Sept. 24
Parking
6 PM: You can begin to park in a PPA garage if you secured a $20 pass in advance. Once you enter to park there, you can’t leave until traffic restrictions are lifted Monday.
Roads
10 PM: The secure perimeter around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and secure vehicle perimeter will go into effect. The secure vehicle perimeter is seen here, outlined in black:
Vehicles parked on the street within both zones must be moved, and only residents, business owners and authorized personnel are permitted within the red perimeter.
10 PM: The following exit ramp closures will begin:
- 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
SEPTA
10 PM: Some major stations will close.
Beginning at 10PM on Thursday, September 24, the following stations will close. #ISEPTAPHILLY pic.twitter.com/XA0vTEBvuT
— ISEPTAPHILLY (@SEPTAPHILLY) September 21, 2015
What’s closed
- The Philadelphia School District Administrative Offices and Schools closed
- Archdiocesan schools closed
- City government will operate on an “essential services only” status
Friday, Sept. 25
Roads
6 AM: The secure perimeter from 12th Street west to 20th Street will be open to screened pedestrians only and no vehicles will be allowed in the secure vehicle perimeter. The secure perimeter can be seen above in red, and is essentially the Parkway and the area around Independence Hall where setup will take place.
8 AM: The Authorized Vehicle Access Roads will go into effect, and that is shown in the above map in a yellow border. This means you can’t drive on these streets unless you’re authorized to.
6 PM: Traffic Box goes into effect in Center City, meaning full traffic restrictions go into place in the area east of the Schuylkill that’s outlined in green on the above map. The boundaries are:
- Northern Boundary: Spring Garden to Ridge, Ridge to Girard, Girard to Schuylkill River
- Southern Boundary: South Street river to river
- East Boundary: Delaware Avenue from South Street to Spring Garden Street
- West Boundary: runs along the edge of the Schuylkill River and cuts up Kelly Drive stopping below the Girard Street Bridge
10 PM: Traffic Box goes into effect in West Philly, meaning full traffic restrictions go into place in the entire area outlined in green on the above map. The boundaries are:
- Northern Boundary: Powelton Avenue from 32nd to 38th
- Southern Boundary: University Avenue to Grays Ferry
- East Boundary: Runs along the edge of the Schuylkill River and train tracks
- West Boundary: 38th Street from Powelton Avenue to University Avenue
10 PM: Secure perimeter and secure vehicle perimeter from 12th Street east to 3rd Street begins, so vehicles parked on the street within those areas must be moved. That area — east of 12th Street — can be seen outlined in black on the map above.
Highways
10 PM: The following highways close:
- 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)
10 PM: The Ben Franklin Bridge closes to vehicular traffic.
What’s closed
- The Philadelphia School District Administrative Offices and Schools closed
- Archdiocesan Schools closed
- City government will operate on an “essential services only” status
Saturday, Sept. 26
Transportation
2 AM: No taxis and Ubers allowed in and out of the Francis Festival grounds.
Roads
10 AM: U.S. Route 1 in both directions from U.S. 30 to Belmont Avenue closes
SEPTA
Regional Rail: SEPTA will double capacity by modifying Regional Rail operations. Center City drop-off and boarding locations can be found here and riders will have to board at the same Center City Station they were dropped off for return service to their outlying station.
MFL and BSL: Trains on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines will operate in both directions, but there will be no overnight weekend service.
The Pope
6 AM: The secure perimeter for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street west to the Art Museum will open to ticketed and screened pedestrians. Metal detectors open.
9:30 AM: Pope arrives at Atlantic Aviation
10:30 AM: Pope holds a Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul (not open to the public.)
4:45 PM: Pope holds his Independence Mall Address
7:30 PM: Pope holds the Festival of Families on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Pedestrians
6 PM: Secure perimeter at Independence Mall ends and visitors will not have to pass through metal detectors to get through.
Sunday, Sept. 27
SEPTA
Regional Rail: SEPTA will double capacity by modifying Regional Rail operations. Center City drop-off and boarding locations can be found here and riders will have to board at the same Center City Station they were dropped off for return service to their outlying station.
MFL and BSL: Trains on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines will operate in both directions, but there will be no overnight weekend service.
The Pope
9:15 AM: Pope will hold a meeting with Bishops at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
11 AM: Pope will visit the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
4 PM: Papal Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
8 PM: The Pope departs from Atlantic Aviation
Roads
Late afternoon: U.S. Route 1 in both directions from U.S. 30 to Belmont Avenue will re-open
Monday, Sept. 28
Transportation
3 AM: Taxis and Ubers can begin moving in and out of Francis Festival zone
Roads
Morning: These following exits will re-open:
- 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
Noon: The Benjamin Franklin Bridge re-opens
Restrictions on the roads in Center City and University City will be lifted at some point Monday, but officials have indicated they’ll play it by ear to decide at what time the roads will actually re-open.
What’s closed
- Archdiocesan Schools will be closed
- City government will operate on an “essential services only” status
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Drink.
