SEPTA news release:
Make SEPTA Part of Your Game Plan for the NFL Draft, Penn Relays
SEPTA Urges Public to Make Plans Now for Events Happening April 27-29
April 06, 2017
PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 6, 2017) - The NFL season will kick-off April 27-29 when the league holds its 2017 Draft Experience on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia - all while runners from across the country and around the world will be taking to the track at Franklin Field in University City for the Penn Relays. With numerous street closures in effect and thousands of fans headed to the sports festivities, SEPTA will be the most convenient way for residents and visitors to travel throughout the city during the events.
"With so many fans heading to Philadelphia for these exciting events, we are anticipating heavy ridership on all of our modes on April 27-29," said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel. "We are urging those using SEPTA's trains, subways, buses and trolleys to purchase their tickets and passes in advance and to review their travel and parking options prior to the events. Remember, with regular weekday commutes on Thursday and Friday, many SEPTA parking lots will be full by early morning."
Parking tips for those heading to the events are listed below. Customers are urged to check SEPTA's website for any new developments with parking.
The 2017 NFL Draft Experience will be open to the public from noon-11 p.m. on April 27-28, and from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on April 29. The Penn Relays competitions begin April 27 at 10 a.m., April 28 at 9 a.m., and April 29 at 9 a.m. Additional Penn Relays events will be held on April 25, beginning at 11 a.m. and April 26 beginning at 10 a.m.
Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines:
SEPTA's Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines are always the best ways to get around Philadelphia, and offer convenient travel to and from Center City and University City. The Broad Street Line's Race-Vine and City Hall Stations and Market-Frankford Line's 15th Street Station are within walking distance to the NFL Draft event entrance gates on the Parkway. Extra trains will operate on the Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines to accommodate fans traveling to the draft on April 27 and 28. Local train service will operate on a regular weekend schedule April 29. All current construction projects will be postponed April 27-29.
Regional Rail:
Regular train service will operate on SEPTA's Regional Rail Lines during the Draft Experience and Penn Relays. Off-peak trains will be travelling with additional cars to accommodate increased ridership. Regional Rail schedules are available online at www.septa.org.
Trolley:
SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34 and 36 offer convenient service through Center City, with 19th and 22nd Street Stations providing easy walking access to Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 33rd, 36th and 37th Street Stations serving University City. Extra trolleys on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will operate on April 27 and 28 to accommodate the draft. Trolley Route 15 connects with the Broad Street Line at Broad Street and Girard Avenue and the Market Frankford Line at Front Street and Girard Avenue.
Bus:
Due to Draft event-related road closures, SEPTA Bus Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43 and 48 will be detoured through the Benjamin Franklin Parkway area for event set-up, during the three-day Draft Experience and breakdown following the festivities. Some detours on Routes 27, 38 and 43 begin on Monday, April 10. All detours and their effective dates will be posted in the System Status section of www.septa.org.
Norristown High Speed Line:
SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line can transport riders from Delaware and Montgomery Counties to 69th Street Transportation Center, where they can transfer to the Market-Frankford Line headed toward Center City and University City Philadelphia.
Parking Options:
Parking at all SEPTA stations will be limited, especially on Thursday and Friday. Free parking will be available at the Sports Complex in South Philadelphia, at the Wells Fargo Center and Citizens Bank Park lots, beginning at 3 p.m. on April 27. Event-goers can board SEPTA's Broad Street Line at AT&T Station at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue.
Free parking (approximately 300 spots) will also be available at the Festival Pier lot at Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street beginning on Wednesday, April 26. SEPTA's Route 43 bus and the Market-Frankford Line's Spring Garden Station can be accessed from that lot, which has approximately 300 spaces available.
In addition, lots and garages at several SEPTA stations have some open parking spots. On an average weekday:
- The parking garage at Norristown Transportation Center-located adjacent to the Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line and the Norristown High Speed Line-has approximately 270 open spaces.
- The SEPTA lot at Cornwells Heights Station on the Trenton Regional Rail Line, has approximately 600 open spaces.
- The garage at Frankford Transportation Center has approximately 115 open spaces.
The new Lansdale Station parking garage at Lansdale Regional Rail Station will open later this month. The garage has a total of 680 spots, which will be free of charge until June 18. Parking is also free at all SEPTA-owned Regional Rail lots on weekends. Parking lot location information is available online at www.septa.org/parking.
Fare Information:
SEPTA urges those using its trains, subways, buses and trolleys to purchase their tickets and passes in advance. SEPTA Key electronic fare card kiosks are now open at all Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line stations and SEPTA sales offices. SEPTA Key cards are accepted on the Broad Street, Market-Frankford and Norristown High Speed Lines, and on all SEPTA buses and trolleys. Additionally, customers taking SEPTA's Airport Regional Rail Line will be able to purchase "Quick Trip" tickets at fare kiosks located at each terminal stop for travel between Philadelphia International Airport and anywhere on the SEPTA rail system. For information on SEPTA Key, visit www.septa.key.org.
Passengers can also purchase one-day $8 Convenience Passes, $12 Individual and $29 Family Independence Passes. Details on all SEPTA fare options are available at www.septa.org/fares/.
SEPTA employee ambassadors wearing red shirts will be available at Center City stations to assist passengers heading to and from the events. For complete, up-to-the-minute service updates and detours, as well as schedules, station maps and fare information, visit www.septa.org, call 215-580-7800, or follow SEPTA on Twitter at @SEPTA and @SEPTA_Social.
