Traffic restrictions, protests Thursday for Trump's visit to Philly

President Trump's visit to Center City on Thursday will be met with traffic, parking, and pedestrian restrictions as well as a large contingent of protesters.

From Wednesday through Friday, the entire Republican congressional delegation will spend its annual retreat at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel at 12th and Market Streets.

For Trump's visit Thursday, the streets around the hotel will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. until at least 6 p.m., city officials said Tuesday night.

Specifically, Market from 11th to Juniper Streets will be closed, as will 12th Street from Chestnut to Arch Streets, and 13th Street from Chestnut to Market.
Parking on those same streets will be restricted from 6 a.m. until whenever vehicle traffic is allowed tor resume.

The Secret Service will establish a security perimeter prohibiting public pedestrian access along the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Market, 12th Street from Chestnut to Filbert Streets, and 13th Street from Chestnut to Market.

Several changes to SEPTA service will also be in place Thursday: Trains on the Market-Frankford Line will not stop at the 13th Street Station. Trolleys on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will begin and end service at the 15th Street Station. Bus routes that normally run through the closed roads will be detoured. And Jefferson Station riders will need to enter or exit at 11th Street or Filbert Street; the Market Street doors will be closed.

The city has received an application for a demonstration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday that is expected to draw 3,000 people. Demonstrations without permits also are expected, city officials said.

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A group on Facebook was organizing a lunch-hour "die-in" on Thursday to protest Trump's proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The protesters will gather at Thomas Paine Plaza across the street from City Hall and then march to Loews, where they will fall to the ground.

A "Queer Rager" dance party to protest the proposed health care repeal was planned for outside the Loews on Wednesday night.

An immigrant-rights group from New York was planning to send protesters to Philadelphia on Thursday morning.

Staff writer Aubrey Whelan contributed to this article.