SEPTA announces final papal plans

IF YOU PLAN on seeing the pope this weekend, plan well: SEPTA has already started to scale back its services.

Last night, the transit authority shut down Suburban Station as well as entrances at City Hall, 15th and 5th streets. They'll remain shuttered through the weekend, and will back to business as usual Monday morning, SEPTA said yesterday.

Today the Regional Rail will switch to a Saturday schedule, with a few exceptions on the Cynwyd and Wilmington/Newark lines. Subways, buses and trolleys remain unaffected and will operate on normal schedules.

During the pope's visit, Regional Rail riders who bought passes will enter the city at one of three stations: Jefferson, University City or 30th Street, according to SEPTA.

Those stations will provide return service to points outside the city, and SEPTA is stressing that riders must "get on where you got off."

Trains will be running into the city in two waves, 5:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to noon, SEPTA said. Service back to the suburbs starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 12:30 a.m.

Subway service also will be limited this weekend, but no special passes are needed: Riders still can use tokens or TransPasses.

People wanting to board the Market-Frankford El in Center City can use the 8th Street station this weekend, but it will close at 7 p.m. each day. Pilgrims leaving the papal events will have to hoof it to the 2nd Street station for points farther east.

This is obviously a lot of information to take in, and SEPTA recognizes that. So, starting tonight at 10 o'clock, the transit authority's website will switch to full papal mode, providing specific information to locals and visitors on how to navigate Francis' jaunt through Philly.

Come Monday, when all is said and done, Regional Rail lines will operate on a Saturday schedule, but the subway and trolleys will be back to normal, with all stations open.

There may be some lingering bus detours, however, especially near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, according to SEPTA.

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