Papal Visit Parking and Traffic Plan

Click Here For A Printable PDF Of The Plan

The City Of Philadelphia is hosting the World Meeting of Families during the week of September 21st, 2015. The highlight of this event will be the visit of Pope Francis to the region on September 26th and 27th, 2015.  Though the Pope is not coming to Bucks County, his visit will impact our region. More importantly, this visit will directly impact Bristol Township. SEPTA has designated the Croydon Rail Station as one of its 18 Rail Stations that will be operating to transport visitors to and from Philadelphia on both dates.  Additionally, The Levittown Rail Station in Tullytown Borough, and the Cornwells Rail Station in Bensalem Township were also designated as stations to be used for the transport of visitors to Philadelphia. As a result, the township is expecting a large number of commuters to transit through the Croydon area on both dates. The area surrounding the Croydon Rail Station is overwhelmingly residential. As a result, several measures will be put into place to limit the impact to both residents, commuters, and those simply traveling through the area. These measures will include, but will not be limited to, increased police presence, parking restrictions, road closures, and traffic control. This report focuses on the police department and our plans for this event. This plan is broken down into sections that show the specific restrictions, traffic posts etc. for both days.


PARKING RESTRICTIONS

Township Ordinance 191-3 allows for the Police Department to enact temporary parking and traffic regulations during times of emergency or public events that are limited in scope. These temporary regulations are not to exceed 72 hours in length. A copy of the ordinance is attached to the end of this report.

The Police Department is therefore enacting the following parking restrictions that will be in effect from midnight September 26th, 2015 until midnight September 28th, 2015. For clarification purposes, this is from midnight Friday into Saturday until midnight Sunday into Monday.

NO PARKING

The following streets will be designated as NO PARKING, with exception of residents that live there. This restriction will be in force for the duration of the event.

Cedar Avenue             Between State Road and Sycamore Avenue
Newportville Road     Between Bristol Pike and Dixon Avenue
Coventry Lane            Entire Length

LIMITED PARKING

The following streets will allow for parking ONLY on the even side of the street during the duration of the event.
 

ROAD CLOSURE

Cedar Avenue will be closed between Bristol Pike and Sycamore Avenue during the loading and unloading of passengers. The road closure permit is being handled by SEPTA. At this time the plan is to close Cedar Avenue between 6A.M. and Noon, and 6 P.M. to Midnight both days. If the loading and unloading is completed quicker the road will be opened sooner.

PARKING

Parking is limited in the Croydon area of Bristol Township. Visitors will have to park where parking is legally allowed. In addition, weather permitting, parking will be authorized in the Croydon Park on Dolores Avenue. Officers will not direct or authorize parking on any private property, to include shopping centers, businesses, or apartment complexes. If there is any unauthorized parking in these areas officers will instruct the property owners of proper legal recourse.

NOTIFICATIONS

The streets impacted by the closures and restrictions will have temporary signs placed in highly visible areas for residents and visitors to see. Signs can be placed in the area beginning on the morning of Friday Sept 25th by the Traffic Safety Unit.


BRISTOL TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE 191-3

§ 191-3. Temporary and emergency regulations.
A. The Bristol Township Police Department shall have the following powers to regulate traffic and parking temporarily and in time of emergency:
(1) In the case of fire, flood, storm or other emergency, to establish temporary traffic and/or parking regulations.
(2) In the case of emergency public works or public events of limited scope or duration, to restrict or prohibit traffic and/or parking in limited areas for periods of not more than 72 hours.

B. These temporary and emergency regulations shall be enforced by the Bristol Township Police Department in the same manner as permanent regulations. Any person who drives or parks a vehicle in violation of any such regulation or who shall move, remove, destroy, injure or deface any sign or marking erected, posted or made to give notice of any such regulation shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere in this chapter for a violation of such nature.