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Getting around during the NFL draft in Philly: What you need to know

The NFL draft is coming to Philadelphia this month, bringing scores of fans and weeks of traffic disruptions around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with it.

The NFL draft is coming to Philadelphia this month, bringing scores of fans and weeks of traffic disruptions around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with it.

TRAFFIC

The first parking restriction began April 5, while road closures started April 10 and last through May 7.

The lane and road closures come in phases leading up to the draft, and motorists should expect delays around the Parkway and Art Museum throughout.

From April 10 at 12:01 a.m. to May 7 at 11:59 p.m.:

  1. Spring Garden Street westbound closed at Pennsylvania Avenue

  2. Westbound center of Parkway will maintain two lanes from 20th Street to Eakins Oval; left lane closed from Eakins Oval to Spring Garden Street; three travel lanes open at Kelly Drive

  3. Right two lanes of Eakins Oval in front of Art Museum closed

  4. Lane drop on southbound Kelly Drive from 25th Street to the Parkway

From April 19 at 12:01 a.m. to May 2 at 11:59 p.m.:

  1. Inner lanes of Parkway closed from Eakins Oval to 20th Street

From April 24 at 7 p.m. to May 1 at 5 a.m.:

  1. Parkway closed from 20th Street to Art Museum

  2. Kelly Drive closed at Fairmount Avenue

  3. Traffic heading into Center City from Spring Garden Street Bridge or Martin Luther King Jr. Drive must exit Eakins Oval on the 24th Street ramp

  4. Traffic heading inbound on Kelly Drive must exit the drive at Fairmount Avenue

From April 25 at 12:01 a.m. to May 1 at 5 a.m.:

  1. 21st Street closed from Winter to Spring Garden Streets (local access to Pennsylvania Avenue; all traffic must turn left)

  2. 22nd Street closed from Race to Spring Garden Streets (local access to Park Towne Place only)

  3. 23rd Street closed from Fairmount Avenue to Parkway (local access only)

  4. 24th Street closed from Parkway to Park Towne Place (local access only)

  5. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed at Sweet Briar Drive (will be open April 27 and 28 from 5 to 10 a.m. for access to Interstate 676 via 24th Street)

  6. Kelly Drive closed from Parkway to Fairmount Avenue

  7. Spring Garden Street Bridge closed at 31st Street (will be open April 27 and 28 from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.)

  8. Spring Garden Street closed from 22nd Street to Parkway (local access after morning rush)

  9. Pennsylvania Avenue closed from Hamilton Street to Fairmount Avenue (local access after morning rush)

  10. Pennsylvania Avenue and Callowhill Street closed from 20th to 21st Streets (local access to Barnes Foundation driveway)

  11. Park Town Place closed from 22nd to 24th Streets (local access only)

  12. I-676 westbound off-ramp at 22nd Street closed

  13. Local access only west of 22nd Street: Wallace, Mount Vernon, Green, Judson and Brandywine Streets

PARKING

Parking restrictions: Start April 25 and affect both sides of the street unless otherwise noted

  1. 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue (starts April 5, south side only)

  2. Pennsylvania Avenue from 22nd Street to Fairmount Avenue (south side only)

  3. Winter Street from 20th to 22nd Streets

  4. 20th Street from Vine to Callowhill Streets (east side only)

  5. 21st Street from Parkway to Race Street

  6. 22nd Street from Winter to Spring Garden Streets

  7. Park Towne Place from 22nd to 24th Streets

Free parking: NFL Draft Experience attendees can park for free at the stadium complex in South Philadelphia and take the Broad Street Line into Center City.

Paid parking: Street parking in the area is typically tight, but there are several garages within walking distance to the festivities.

SEPTA: Multiple routes on the public transportation system have stops near the draft. The closest stations on each line are: 15th Street (Market Frankford Line); 15th, 19th or 22nd Streets (Trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36); and City Hall or Race-Vine (Broad Street Line). Suburban Station is the closest Regional Rail stop.

Extra evening subway and trolley service is planned to accommodate the expected crowds. Regional Rail trains will have extra cars.

A number of bus routes also run near the Parkway, but some lines will face detours and delays due to the road closures.

A one-way fare on the subway, buses and trolleys is $2.25 if paying with cash or a "quick trip" ticket, or $1.80 if paying by token or smart card. SEPTA is in the process of rolling out its SEPTA Key smart-fare system, so you have a few payment options:

  1. You can pay in cash; you need exact change.

  2. You can buy tokens at some stations and other locations.

  3. For the Market-Frankford and Broad Street subway lines, you can buy a disposable, single-use "quick trip" ticket at station kiosks using a credit or debit card.

  4. You can get a SEPTA Key card and load money onto its "travel wallet" at a station or bus loop fare kiosk.

  5. Regional Rail trips cannot be purchased with the SEPTA Key card. Fares vary by zone. You can pay at stations with a debit or credit card, or with cash on the train.

BIKES: The city says some bicycle lanes in the area will be closed. Cyclists should follow detour signs.

Indego, the city's bike-share system, has a number of stations in the vicinity of the Parkway, including at the Art Museum, the Rodin Museum, 21st and Winter Streets, 19th and Vine Streets, 18th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, 19th and Market Streets, and City Hall.

Bicycles are not permitted in the draft venue.

PEDESTRIANS: Some sidewalks and pathways in the area will also be closed. Pedestrians should follow detour signs. The primary north-south pedestrian detours will be 22nd Street and Anne d'Harnoncourt Drive.

>> Click here for more coverage of the 2017 NFL draft in Philadelphia