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South Jersey ramping up for Pope Francis' Philly visit

One thousand tour buses parked along the Camden waterfront. Huge crowds at PATCO stations. A mass of pedestrians making the 1.7-mile trek across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Camden County Director of Public Safety Rob Blaker says it’s a “myth” that the effects won’t be big in South Jersey. (DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer)
Camden County Director of Public Safety Rob Blaker says it’s a “myth” that the effects won’t be big in South Jersey. (DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer)Read more

One thousand tour buses parked along the Camden waterfront. Huge crowds at PATCO stations. A mass of pedestrians making the 1.7-mile trek across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

That is a potential glimpse of South Jersey during Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia in September. And transportation and law enforcement officials in Camden County, who provided initial details Wednesday, had a message: Don't think South Jersey won't be affected just because it's across the river from the papal festivities.

"It's up to us to get by that myth," said Rob Blaker, Camden County's public safety director, who said some people think of the Delaware River as a "force field" between Philadelphia and New Jersey. "Because we have to be prepared."

Blaker and others who spoke at the county's emergency operations center Wednesday said that many plans were still evolving and that they could not provide full details.

Significant questions remain, including whether the Ben Franklin Bridge will close to cars - and open to pedestrians - during Francis' Sept. 26-27 visit.

"I think it would be reckless to speculate about that," said John Hanson, CEO of the Delaware River Port Authority. The Secret Service, DRPA, and other agencies have, however, discussed potentially restricting motor vehicles from the bridge. Hanson described it as "certainly a possibility."

Adjacent to the bridge, tour buses are expected to pack Camden's waterfront parking lots, which can hold up to 1,100 buses. Authorities in Camden are coordinating with the World Meeting of Families to determine how many spaces will be needed.

The buses are expected to come from across the country, and may take people from South Jersey hotels to the waterfront.

Then the real challenge - getting to Philadelphia - begins.

For that, two options exist: Walk across the bridge. Or take PATCO, which is expecting as many as 100,000 riders a day on Sept. 26-27 - or more than double the normal volume.

Hanson said to anticipate "unprecedented" crowds moving by train and other means.

"People's expectations should be realistic," he said. "Long lines, big crowds."

He said about 1,000 one-day and two-day passes for the pope's visit had been sold as of Wednesday.

Service is expected to run throughout the day both Sept. 26 and 27 - though PATCO is considering halting it at certain times, much the way SEPTA will.

"If we do, it will be for a shorter time than SEPTA's planning to suspend service, perhaps two hours in late afternoon on Saturday and Sunday," DRPA spokesman Kyle Anderson said. "But this is still being reviewed."

Trains will depart into Philadelphia from the Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Ferry Avenue, and Broadway stations. A total of 7,900 parking spaces will be available across the stations, minus Broadway, where there is no parking. Expect spaces to fill quickly, Hanson said.

At Camden County's emergency operations center, used for hurricanes and other major events, workers in more than 30 booths will be busy on phones and computers to ensure a smooth transition, county officials said.

"Every agency has been affected for this event," said Fred Lang, a detective at the Camden County Prosecutor's Office who is serving as the county's incident commander during the pope's visit.

No leave will be approved for Camden County police, who will help coordinate traffic in the city of Camden. The county sheriff's department will help out as well.

As for traffic closures on the Ben Franklin Bridge, Hanson said it depended on whether roads connecting to the bridge are shut. A spokesman for the Secret Service, which is coordinating security and has met with state, local, and other agencies, said a decision on the bridge may be made in the next month.

Between now and then, hotel rooms in South Jersey may still be available.

At the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, where a one-bed room is going for about $359 during the pope's visit, nearly 60 rooms remained open Wednesday.

Kristin Stahl, director of sales and marketing for the Crowne Plaza, said she expected a big push for rooms in the two weeks prior to the pope's arrival. That's when visitors, mostly those within driving distance of the region, will try to get last-minute bargains, she said.

"I'm anticipating," Stahl said, "that we are going to sell out."