SEPTA & The DNC
July 20, 2016
As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) nears, SEPTA prepares. Delegates, guests, and volunteers are expected to arrive Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Expected attendance includes:
6,000 Delegates
1,000 VIPs
15,000 Media/Press
15,000 Volunteers
The Airport Line is prepared for Saturday and Sunday arrivals and [next] Friday departures to/from Philadelphia International Airport. Because we anticipate heavier ridership on the Airport Line on Saturday, July 23, Sunday, July 24 and Friday, July 29, there will be a minimum of four (4) car consists on all Airport Line trains.
The majority of DNC Events will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Wells Fargo Center. SEPTA is primarily responsible for transporting attendees to and from Center City hotels and hotels located near/at Philadelphia International Airport. For this purpose, the DNC has leased 125 SEPTA Buses - thirty (30) 60’ hybrid articulated buses and ninety-five (95) 40’ hybrid buses - to serve these 30 hotels. On Sunday, July 24 approximately 100 of these SEPTA Buses will be used for the Delegation Party between 4:00pm and 11:00pm serving two event sites, the Kimmel Center and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. The buses will be equipped with a DNC Tracker Unit. Delegates can see where the bus is via an app developed by the DNC.
All 125 buses will be delivered to the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, July 23. This is a National Special Security Event (NSSE). An NSSE is an event of national or international significance deemed by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be a potential target for terrorism or other criminal activity. These events have included summits of world leaders, meetings of international organizations, presidential nominating conventions - like the DNC - and presidential inaugurations. NSSE designation requires federal agencies to provide full cooperation and support to ensure the safety and security of those participating in or otherwise attending the event, and the community within which the event takes place, and is typically limited to specific event sites for a specified time frame. An NSSE puts the United States Secret Service (USSS) in charge of event security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in charge of intelligence, counter terrorism, hostage rescue and investigation of incidents of terrorism or other major criminal activities associated with the NSSE, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in charge of recovery management in the aftermath of terrorist or other major criminal incidents, natural disasters or other catastrophic events. The Wells Fargo Center will be a secured and clean area. Approximately 600 SEPTA employees have been credentialed. All 125 SEPTA buses will be scanned and swept by the USSS. AT&T Station Headhouses #1 and #2 will be closed. Vehicles over 5 tons will be prohibited to travel on I-95.
On the Broad Street Line, we will extend scheduled express train service beginning at 4:00pm through 6:00pm based on ridership observations. After 6:00pm, additional trains will be placed into service from Race-Vine to AT&T. After the events at the Wells Fargo Center, northbound express service will operate from AT&T to Race-Vine making stops at Walnut-Locust, City Hall and Race-Vine. One interesting fact - lower level AT&T will be utilized for this event.
As of today, we are aware of organized protest marches on Sunday, July 24 from City Hall to Independence Mall and on Monday, July 25 from City Hall to FDR Park. Exact times are TBD. During the Democratic National Convention, many SEPTA Bus Routes will operate on temporary detours due to various events and scheduled demonstrations throughout the City. SEPTA has put together projected detour routing for select Bus Routes. This routing will be used in the event of a demonstration or other event. In some instances we will need to further alter the routing of a bus at the direction of police and security officials. In these cases, customers should refer to the @SEPTA_Bus Twitter feed for the most up-to-date service information. We’ve posted a page on septa.org to communicate bus routing information during events in and around Center City related to the DNC. This page includes a live Twitter feed. We will monitor all social media activity, so if you see something, please let us know.
Over 500 SEPTA Ambassadors will be out in force Friday, July 22 through Thursday, July 28. Assigned locations are Philadelphia International Airport, 30th Street Station, Suburban Station, Jefferson Station, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Kimmel Center as well as Valley Forge, Airport and Center City hotels. You'll also see "blue shirt" SEPTA Ambassadors along the Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines.
And like always, we ask, if you SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Alert a SEPTA Transit Police Office, Supervisor, Ambassador or call 911.
Happy DNC ISEPTAPHILLYers!
