Pope Week 2015: Travel Restrictions In Place For the Weekend

The time is upon us, Philadelphia. The pope arrives tomorrow, and all around Center City and its surrounding areas you are seeing proof that things are different. Travel restrictions have begun to be implemented all throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Visitors and residents alike will now have to cope with closed roads, metal detectors, and limited train service. Getting from place to place will be, in short, complicated.

As the security zone map shows, it’s going to be a complicated weekend for travel in downtown Philly. (Photo: Philly.com)

There is a vehicle ban in areas around where major pope-related events will take place. This means no cars on the road or parked in the streets. As of this morning, several thoroughfares are being restricted to emergency vehicles only. These streets include Vine, 22nd, Lombard, and Market, east of City Hall.

SEPTA’s regional rail is running on a Saturday schedule all weekend. Its Suburban Station will be closed. Additionally, subway service is impacted as well. According to the Star Tribune, “the Market-Frankford line stations at 5th and 15th streets and the Broad Street line’s City Hall station will be closed. The 15th Street trolley station will also be closed.”

There is now a secure perimeter around both City Hall and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Those wanting to enter the areas will need to pass through metal detectors. And these are just the restrictions currently in place.

After 6 p.m. tonight, cars won’t be allowed to enter a 5-square-mile section of downtown. Cars currently within the area will be permitted to drive around, but if they leave they won’t be allowed to re-enter. At 10 p.m. the Benjamin Franklin Bridge will be shut down. An additional 25 miles of highway will be closed. At this time, a security zone around Independence Mall will also go into effect.

All restrictions will remain in place until Monday morning.