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Pope visit security update: 5 things to know from city briefing

Towing map. (Daily News graphic)
Towing map. (Daily News graphic)Read more

Mayor Michael Nutter held a briefing Thursday afternoon to provide an update on security measures for Pope Francis' Philadelphia visit the weekend of Sept. 26-27. Here are some highlights:

1. Parking: Residents who typically park their cars in the "Red" or "Black" perimeters must relocate or risk having their cars towed. Towing operations will begin on Sunday, Sept 20, and will be completed by Wednesday, Sept 23. The Philadelphia Parking Authority will pre-sell parking garage spaces for a $20 fee. There are six parking garages and 2,000 spaces available. Residents who purchase a parking space in a garage will be issued a placard that must be displayed in the front windshield. The placard will exempt the car from being towed until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, to give motorists time to move their cars into the garage. Once the car enters the garage, it will not be permitted to exit until Monday morning. Visit http://philapark.org for information. A free option is the Naval Hospital lot at 1600 Pattison Avenue, which will have 1,500 open spaces available at the beginning of that week.

2. Commercial trash and commercial delivery: All delivery and commercial trash vehicles will be allowed into all Center City areas between midnight and 4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Delivery and trash trucks must be screened by Secret Service. Owners with questions should call City's Business Services Center at 215-683-2100. Residential trash collection is canceled city-wide on Friday Sept. 25th and Monday Sept. 28th.

3. Bikeshare: Indego bikes will provide staffed corral service at select locations, including Rittenhouse Square Station; Foglietta Plaza Station; 30th Street Station dock; and Broad and Spring Garden. The following 15 stations will be closed: Art Museum, Rodin Museum, 21st and Winter streets, Free Library of Philadelphia, Municipal Services Building Plaza, Independence Mall, 6th and Race streets, 18th and JFK Blvd., 19th and Market streets, 23rd and Market streets, Convention Center, 8th and Market streets, 4th and Walnut streets, 2nd and Market streets, and 12th and Filbert streets. The remaining stations will continue 24-7 operation.

4. Papal Playbook: The playbook continues to be updated online at the World Meeting of Families website: http://www.worldmeeting2015.org/papal-visit-playbook-fun-to-be-had/. The Philadelphia Inquirer will include a special eight-page edition of the Papal Playbook in this Sunday's newspaper.

5. Nutter reiterated that public transportation is the best way to get into the city over the papal weekend.