LIFE

3 travel tips to see Pope Francis in Philly

Mike Davis
@byMikeDavis
Pope Francis waves to schoolchildren as he walks towards them after arriving at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, on Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA Pope Francis will visit Philadelphia Saturday and Sunday to attend the World Meeting of Families, an event two years in the making.

More than 1.5 million people are expected to attend the event to get a glimpse of the Pope, with about 150,000 additional vehicles on New Jersey roadways traveling there.

Here are three tips for Philadelphia-bound travelers to make the trip as quick and painless as possible.

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1. Use mass transit. 

The closure of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge -- the largest and most direct way to the World Meeting of Families -- will jam the other ways into Philadelphia. Nearby roadways are also subject to intermittent closures, particularly entrance and exit ramps along Interstate 295.

The best way to get to the World Meeting of Families is by using mass transit, especially if the 30th Street Station in Center City is an available destination.

"There aren't too many events of this magnitude that include this amount of road closures. It's not often a good chunk of a city is closed to vehicular traffic," New Jersey Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Schapiro said last week.

Friday, Sept. 25, is the last day to purchase "excursion service" passes on one of two NJ Transit lines heading to the World Meeting of Families. The Atlantic City line provides express service to Philadelphia while the River Line brings riders to Camden. Tickets for both lines must be purchased in advance, available at NJTransit.com.

In Camden, riders can transfer to the PATCO -- which also requires a special pass -- towards the 9th/10th-Locust Street station, about three miles from the World Meeting of Families.

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Amtrak is also providing papal visit service, with New Jersey stops at Newark Penn Station, Metropark and in Trenton.

The PopeBus -- which would transport riders from park-and-rides to the nearest SEPTA station -- is no longer accepting reservations. Travelers can still cross the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pa., near the Levittown, Pa., SEPTA station.

2. Plan ahead

If you're planning on attending the papal visit in Philadelphia, you should have a plan in place by now.

Most mass transit options require pre-purchased fares. The only public parking available are the 8,500 daily spots in Camden, all of which require a pre-purchased $40 parking pass.

“Travelers coming to papal events, as well as those who live and work in the surrounding areas, must plan, prepare and be patient," said Jana Tidwell, a public and government affairs manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "This is not the time to ‘just wing it.’ It is a time to plan ahead and prepare accordingly, similar to planning ahead of a snow storm.”

Papal visit: How to get to Philly

Before leaving for Philadelphia, travelers should have an exact plan laid out -- whether it's driving, mass transit or a combination. Expect delays along the way, both on the road and at public transit stops.

3. Wear comfortable shoes

Even the best-case scenario for traveling to Philadelphia requires a whole lot of standing and waiting. The papal mass won't start until 4 p.m. and most of the crowd is expected to arrive much earlier.

Many travelers will be subject to a lot of walking throughout the weekend. It's about one mile from 30th Street Station to the World Meeting of Families and three miles from the 9th/10th-Locust Street SEPTA station.

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Motorists parking in Camden? Expect a four to five-mile walk, which is anticipated to take up to three hours. Those parking even farther can expect to walk up to 10 miles or nine hours.

The Red Cross will be stationed throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey walking routes, providing water and first aid for travelers. Additionally, families or groups that are separated can go to the Red Cross to help reunite.

Red Cross stations will be located at:

  • Cooper Street and Federal Street, Camden
  • Broadway and Federal Street, Camden
  • EZ Pass toll plaza at the base of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Camden

Bound and determined to see the pope

Mike Davis: (732) 643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com