Parade befitting champs planned
PHILADELPHIA » An estimated 2 million people celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ longawaited first Super Bowl win will descend on the city Thursday as the Vince Lombardi trophy is paraded through five miles of jubilant fans.
Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney called on them to celebrate with passion and pride and warned the small “knucklehead contingent” that caused trouble after Sunday’s 41-33 win over the New England Patriots to stay away.
Officials revealed plans for the parade on Tuesday, saying fans should expect some dramatic surprises, jumbotrons, free subway rides and 850 portable toilets.
Here’s a look at some of the parade details:
THE ROUTE
The team will leave the stadium where the Eagles play in south Philadelphia around 11 a.m., head up Broad Street to City Hall, and along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before ending up at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s famous “Rocky” steps.
Fourteen jumbotron screens will dot the route to ensure that revelers don’t miss any of the fes-
tivities. Revelers will be entitled to one free Bud Light at about two dozen bars as the beer maker comes through on a promise made to Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson before the season.
TRANSPORTATION
SEPTA is offering free service on its two major subway lines, while its commuter lines from the suburbs will run only inbound service in the morning.
Kenney warned people not to drive into the city as dozens of streets will be closed and heavy traffic delays are expected. The city will also enforce a long list of temporary parking restrictions and bicycle routes around the parade will also be inaccessible.
Getting down and back home from Philadelphia Thursday for the Eagles Super Bowl parade got a little easier, but it’s still going to be crowded.
SEPTA announced rides on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines will be free all day, thanks to Independence Blue Cross. Trains will be running every 5-7 minutes along the route.
SEPTA is also going to add more trains along the Regional Rail Lines, but will only stop at selected stations. Here is the list:
Airport Line: Eastwick, Terminals A, B, C/D and E/F. Hourly service throughout the day.
Chestnut Hill East Line: Chestnut Hill East and Wyndmoor.
Chestnut Hill West Line: No train service. Customers can use Chestnut Hill East.
Cynwyd Line: No train service.
Fox Chase Line: Fox Chase Station.
Lansdale/Doylestown Line: Doylestown, Lansdale, Pennbrook, Ambler, Fort Washington and
Jenkintown-Wyncote.
Manayunk/Norristown Line: Elm Street, Norristown Transportation Center, Conshohocken.
Media/Elwyn Line: Elwyn, Media and Primos.
Paoli/Thorndale Line: Thorndale, Whitford, Exton, Paoli and Ardmore.
Trenton Line: Trenton, Croydon and Cornwells Heights.
Warminster Line: Warminster and Jenkintown-Wyncote.
West Trenton Line: West Trenton, Woodbourne, Langhorne, Philmont and Jenkintown-Wyncote.
Wilmington/Newark Line: Wilmington, Marcus Hook and Ridley Park.
Players and team officials will parade up Broad Street from near the team’s stadium to City Hall and on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The ceremony on the steps is expected to begin around 1 p.m. and end by 3 p.m.
ROAD CLOSURES
Expect travel in the city to be hectic Thursday. Road Closures will create significant travel delays. Motorists are advised to avoid the area by using alternate routes, and allow for extra driving time when traveling in the vicinity. Please refrain from double-parking, which creates congestion, limits traffic flow and is illegal. Road closures are are scheduled to be implemented by 10 a.m. Thursday and likely be in effect through 6 p.m. All roads are expected to be reopened in time for the a.m. rush hour Friday.
To prepare for the parade, the city announded the inner lanes of Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from Eakins Oval to 20th Street will be closed from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Wednesday. The lanes will be open during morning and afternoon rush.
Roads along the parade route will be designated No Parking Thursday and most will be closed entirely.
The city will also be setting up Jumbotrons along the route.
They are suggesting attendees should plan on leaving early to avoid the number of people expected.
The following roads will be closed Thursday.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th Street and 20th Street (including Logan Circle)
17th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
18th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
19th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
Race Street between 20th Street and Logan Circle
20th Street between Race Street and Callowhill Street
Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th Street and Eakins Oval (all lanes)
21st Street between Spring Garden Street and Winter Street
Local access to Pennsylvania Avenue only (all traffic must turn left)
22nd Street between Spring Garden Street and Race Street
Local access to Park Towne Place only (residents)
23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Local access only as conditions allow
24th Street between Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Park Towne Place
Park Towne Place between 22nd Street and 24th Street
Bike riders will also have to look out for closings. During the parade, several bicycle lanes along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Broad Street, and streets in the vicinity will be inaccessible. Cyclists are advised to use caution when traveling in the area.
There will be no access to the Schuylkill River Trail from the rear of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Thursday. Westbound travel on the Schuylkill Travel will terminate at Paine Skate Park.
FOOD, FACILITIES
The city will allow 40 food trucks to set up shop, with 20 near 21st Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, and the other 20 food trucks at 20th and Winter streets by the Franklin Institute. The city estimates they will have 850 portable toilets set up along the parade route.
EMERGENCIES
The Philadelphia Fire Department will have two medical tents along the parade route, at 4th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the south side; and 21st Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the north side.
SUGGESTIONS
City officials are urging those planning to attend the parade to have a plan regarding how they will get there, where they will park and in particular supervision of children. Those attending will likely have to walk from transit stations to the parade and celebrate route. Wear comfortable attire.
Leave no bags or items unattended. Report any suspicious activity or unattended item to police or call 911.
‘KNUCKLEHEAD CONTINGENT’
Kenney said he expects Thursday morning’s parade crowd to be calmer than the one that included some people who shattered storefront windows, overturned a car, ate horse feces, collapsed a hotel’s awning, hit the city’s police commissioner in the head with a beer bottle, toppled light poles and set off fireworks after the Eagles’ win on Sunday night.
He called that small group of troublemakers “the knucklehead contingent” and told them to stay home. He said alcoholic beverages would be confiscated, but officials didn’t release any details on how they would limit open containers when faced with such a massive crowd.
“I think it will be a different tenor, a different element,” Kenney said without noting the city’s Wing Bowl and Mummers Parade, where it is common for heavy drinking to start before sunrise.