PAPAL VISIT 2015 CITIZEN ADVISORY LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP

WMOF - September 22-25, 2015 PAPAL VISIT – Saturday - Sunday, September , 2015

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 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 30 th 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. SEPTA - Cont.

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. SECURITY

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 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 Be Practical - Plan ahead –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 Follow Lower Providence Township on Facebook Follow Lower Providence Township on Twitter Sign up for ReadyMontco on the Montgomery County website

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

PAPAL VISIT 2015 CITIZEN ADVISORY LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP