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Friday, August 28, 2009

And exactly where is the PHL cell phone lot?

The story of stepped-up ticketing of drivers who park on the I-95 ramps to PHL sounds like deja vu all over again. Newspaper and TV reporters, starting as I recall with me and one or two others about four years ago, have been dutifully delivering the message from police and the airport that those idling on the ramps  should be waiting in the airport's official cell phone lot, or as the signs say, the park-and-ride lot, on Bartram Avenue. The problem is and has always been, as Linda Loyd's story in The Inquirer this morning and others note, most motorists still can't find Bartram, much less the lot itself.

So perhaps the tougher enforcement, and new signs, will teach some of those coming to the airport how to find the place and stay away from the dangerous practice of parking on the ramps where cars are flying off the interstate at 60 miles per hour.

But other airports with cell phone lots -- and that's at least half a dozen I've been to in this country -- have solved the problem by having the space for their lots precisely where PHL drivers now park. The lots are situated right off the main entrance roads, usually in places where the traffic has had to slow down to 25 mph or less. They're convenient, which our lot is not, and they're used.

Until PHL can solve that problem -- and it may be impossible to solve given the land-use constraints we have -- then PennDOT needs to use signage on I-95 and the Platt Bridge off ramps to help people find the lot. Otherwise, a few more drivers may find the lot with better signage. But I can mostly see more unhappy motorists either being ticketed or getting into disputes with police for slowing down at baggage claim.

Let's keep working on this problem folks, before anyone else is run down on the ramps.   
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 9:50 AM  Permalink | 12 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:29 AM, 08/28/2009
    It is worse than you describe. Take a look at the map on the PHL website: http://www.phl.org/parkridelot.html Where is that exactly?
    — pucca
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:32 PM, 08/28/2009
    I've used the cell phone lot many times. It is quite convenient. All it takes is looking at a map and trying something new. Unfortunately, many people don't want to try.
    — geosys
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:40 PM, 08/28/2009
    I don't know about 95 Southbound, but heading North on 95, the lot is actually very easy to reach. Take Cargo City exit, then at first light, make left onto 291 (Bartram Avenue) The lot is down about 1/4 mile on your right. You'll see cabs and rental car shuttles parked there. How hard is that?
    — akefer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:45 PM, 08/28/2009
    HOW THE HECK DO YOU GET TO IT GOING SOUTHBOUND ON 95???? WHERE ARE THE SIGNS????? NEVER SEEN ONE...NEVER!
    — PHAZED
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:58 PM, 08/28/2009
    the lot stinks......the cell phone lot at most other airports are 5 times the size and have a flight status board so you can see whats going on.....pick it up philly
    — CPTD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:47 PM, 08/28/2009
    Anyone who says the lot if fine should sit there in your car at night. People are getting killed in Philly waiting for the train, I can only imagine what would happen waiting for a plane to arrive. The lot is off the beaten track and not well lit.
    — jvseeu
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:39 AM, 08/29/2009
    To Phazed.... Exit 12B to the dead end and then turn left.. The cell-phone lot will be on your left....
    — STEVE5444
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:10 PM, 08/30/2009
    For the record, it's not PHL's fault there are no signs on I-95. The Federal Highway Administration has authority over all signage on 95 and has neglected to put up signs despite requests.
    — greengal
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:43 PM, 09/02/2009
    I agree that finding the cell phone lot is a pain because the signage is inadequate, but if you check Google maps before you go, its really not that hard to find. If you need a street address for your satilite navigation device, use the address of the Emassy Suites Hotel next door: 9000 Bartram Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19153. Personally, I don’t usually bother with the cell phone lot. I either get off of I-76 at Passyunk Ave, exit # 347-B and park over by the Auto Mall on Essington Ave or I get off of I-95 at Essington/Prospect Park, exit # 9-B (turn left at the end of the ramp) and park down near the McDonald’s on Gov. Printz Blvd (State Route 291) in Tinicum Twp. At either of these locations I’m beyond the official “airport security zone” and I’ve never been bothered by the police or anybody else.
    — ericlkaufmann


12 comments
About Tom Belden
Tom Belden has been reporting about Philadelphia International Airport and other air travel subjects for more than 20 years, writing columns for The Inquirer's Travel and Business sections. His reporting (with colleague Craig McCoy) on baggage handling problems in Philadelphia have been credited with helping to improve the system. His previous blog was called Road Warrior. He can reached at tbelden@phillynews.com.
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