Transcript LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP PAPAL VISIT 2015 CITIZEN ADVISORY WMOF - September 22-25, 2015 PAPAL VISIT – Saturday - Sunday, September 2627, 2015

LOWER PROVIDENCE
TOWNSHIP
PAPAL VISIT 2015
CITIZEN ADVISORY
WMOF - September 22-25, 2015
PAPAL VISIT – Saturday - Sunday, September 2627, 2015
www.worldmeeting2015.org
Substantial crowds for the World Meeting of Families
Conference convening during the week.
An estimated 1.5 million to 2 million people are
expected for the Papal Visit on Saturday and Sunday.
Travelers, Businesses, Residents should keep in mind:
•Be prepared to walk to your destination after debarking transit - up to a
couple of miles on the weekend
•Private vehicles will not be a viable transportation option in Philadelphia
•Public transportation routes and schedules will be vastly altered for
efficiency and capacity
SEPTA
During the World Meeting of Families Conference, convening
September 22-25, 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.
The Pennbrook, Fort Washington and Norristown Regional
Rail stations and the Gulph Mills High Speed Line stations are
the only Montgomery County stations operating.
SEPTA - Cont.
SEPTA will reduce the number of stations that will be used from
the usual 282 to 31 on its combined lines.
The 31 stations are boarding locations only.
Event drop-off locations in Center City are restricted to 30th Street
Station, Jefferson Station and University City.
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.
SECURITY
The visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia is designated as a National
Special Security Event (NSSE).
The Secret Service assumes its mandated role as the lead agency for
the design and implementation of the operational security plan.
The Secret Service carries out its responsibilities by relying on a
strategy of forming partnerships with all participating law enforcement,
public safety officials and military agencies.
The goal is to develop and implement, with the numerous participating
agencies, a seamless security plan that will create a safe and secure
environment for all event participants, and the general public.
The preparation for any NSSE is a cooperative effort. No one federal,
state, or local agency alone can carry out the measures necessary to
secure the event. Only through intense planning, communication, and
training can an event of this magnitude be completed successfully.
While an event of this size has the potential to cause inconveniences
to the city and region, the Secret Service, working together with its law
enforcement and public safety partners, will make every effort to
anticipate and minimize disruptions.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Traffic congestion –
unprecedented – Largest
Public Event on East Coast
of U.S. ever!
• Planned road closures – I76,
I676, Ben Franklin Bridge
• Unplanned road closures –
due to accidents or result of
an incident
• Regular air traffic at PHL not
impacted
• Impact on workers
schedules and transportation
routes to work
• Rail and public
transportation schedule
changes – Substantial
adjustments anticipated –
use of other forms of
transportation – van and car
pools
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Tremendous strain on
resources - Increased needs
placed on service industries,
medical services, etc.
• Have a conversation about
how the event will affect your
daily operations
(adjustments/closures/
cancellation of services)
• Plan allocation of supplies /
deliveries for the week
• Language barriers due to
influx of people from other
countries
• Impact period from Thursday
through Monday – Most
significant Friday through
Monday morning.
• School schedule
adjustments / closures
• Spot Gas shortages
LOCAL IMPACT
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Road restrictions
Extremely heavy traffic due to
increased volume and the
regional impact of the closure
of I76
Ridge Pike and Germantown
Pike impacted due to
anticipated volumes on Route
422
Potential traffic impacts due to
volumes on PA Turnpike and
Northeast Extension
Schedule changes
– Weekend School Activities
– Businesses adjusting hours
– Sporting events being cancelled
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Be Practical - Plan ahead
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Grocery shopping
Gas family car
Check on planned appointments
Plan travel and accommodations
NOW! (Family or business)
Check with school about any
schedule adjustments
Township Board of Supervisors
adopted a Resolution of a
State of Emergency under Title
35 on August 20, 2015.
THINGS TO DO
• Sign up for BlackboardConnect notifications
from Lower Providence Township on the
Township website www.lowerprovidence.org
• Follow Lower Providence Township on
Facebook
• Follow Lower Providence Township on Twitter
• Sign up for ReadyMontco on the Montgomery
County website http://readymontcopa.org/
World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015
Mobile Apps
Go Philadelphia App
The “Go Philadelphia!” app helps city visitors find key events and activities taking place during the “World
Meeting of Families 2015″ event, which takes place in Philadelphia, PA from September 22 to 27. It
includes a map of museums, Philly landmarks, religious sites, and locations of the Papal visit. Plan your
trip to Philly!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING
ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE:
– Lower Merion Township Police Department
– Montgomery County Department of Public Safety
– 2015 World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia
LOWER PROVIDENCE
TOWNSHIP
PAPAL VISIT 2015
CITIZEN ADVISORY