Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Philadelphia the last weekend of September. While this is an exciting visit for many, traffic is going to be monumentally difficult to navigate. As traffic descends upon the city, individuals in the transportation industry should be extra alert and aware of the hazards they face on the road in order to reduce their New Jersey and PA Transportation Liability risks.
New Jersey Transportation officials warned that more than one third of the two million people expected to attend the World Meeting of Families will be traveling through New Jersey. In turn, major traffic delays are predicted especially since the Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed during the weekend of the 26th and 27th. As a consequence, congestion in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties is expected to ensue.
As the majority of the commuters will be arriving via trains and vehicles, New Jersey Transit is developing a plan to accommodate the 250,000 expected vehicles. What’s more, it is estimated that 10,000 buses will be escorting people to the event, as well. However, special passes need to be purchased to use public transit such as the Atlantic City Rail line and RiverLINE during this eventful weekend, according to Philadelphia Business Journal. Officials remind you that tickets will not be available for purchase on September 26 and 27 and must be preordered.
City officials recommend planning on walking the mile and a half long bridge to get to the event in order to avoid traffic, if possible. NJ Transit Executive Director Ronnie Hakim stated “This will not be your average travel week. I cannot stress enough that the system will be pushed to capacity. We have a finite cadre of assets at our disposal well as a constrained system.”
The pope’s tour is going to cover historic hot spots, as well. According to PIX 11, the pope is scheduled to tour Ground Zero, deliver Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, address the UN’s General Assembly, and even visit Our Lady Queen of Angels school in East Harlem. Traffic and congestion should be taken into account at these locations, as well.
At Provident Protection Plus Insurance Agency, we specialize in the transportation field and offer a variety of unique coverages to safeguard your business against the scope of risks associated with the industry. To learn more about how to properly protect your business against potential exposures, contact us today at (888) 990-0526.