The pope is also holding an invitation-only event at New York’s Madison Square Garden on September 25th that is expected to pose a much smaller challenge, though the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York that week and the New York Giants and New York Jets have games at MetLife Stadium in northern New Jersey on Thursday and Sunday.
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“It’s also important to note for people new to our system and especially our regular customers that this will not be a typical weekend travel experience, and we urge everyone to plan accordingly”, Hakim said in a statement.
People should be prepared to walk least five miles or more and that includes the 135 foot climb across the Ben Franklin bridge. But for those hoping to park cars in Camden and walk from there to Philadelphia, officials had one word: Don’t.
– Because of the bridge closure, NJDOT will close I-676 westbound from Exit 3 to the Bridge, as well as Route 30 westbound from Airport Circle (Route 38/Route 130) to the Bridge. NJ Transit says bikes won’t be allowed on the Atlantic City Rail Line for the weekend.
-Traffic heading toward Philadelphia will be diverted onto northbound and southbound Route 130 to access other crossings into Philly.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, officials discussed their plans for the pontiff’s visit, including special rail passes for NJ Transit’s Atlantic City to Philadelphia rail line and the River Line light rail. There are a limited number of tickets available for both of these days, and they will go on sale at www.njtransit.com beginning August 15 at noon. For each say, 7,500 tickets will be available on the RiverLINE. These are advance purchase tickets only.
Taxis will be allowed in and out of a designated traffic box up until 2 a.m. Saturday morning – hours before the pope’s arrival in the city.
Screening, including passing through metal detectors, will begin at 6 a.m. Friday, September 25, the mayor said Thursday. The AC Line special tickets will cost $30.
– Trains will depart Philadelphia for Atlantic City on a “load and go” basis following the event. “Those who do not have to be on our system between Thursday and Sunday should consider staying put”, Hakim said.
– Once events in Philadelphia are underway, the RiverLINE will shift to a 30 minute schedule. Monthly pass and regular ticket holders must also purchase the special tickets. Bus service will replace the stops the RiverLine doesn’t make. Bus service will not operate at the Beverly and Delanco light rail stations.
The parking spots along the Camden waterfront will hold 1,100 charter buses registered with Go Ground. Attendees will be required to walk several miles from Camden over the Ben Franklin Bridge and to the site of Sunday’s Mass on Ben Franklin Parkway.
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– Bus service will be enhanced on the majority of our bus routes throughout the weekend particularly in South and North Jersey. There will be no River Line service in downtown Camden between Walter Rand and Entertainment Center.
