Pope visit security update: 7 things to know from city briefing

Mayor Michael Nutter held a briefing Thursday afternoon to provide an update on security measures for Pope Francis' Philadelphia visit the weekend of Sept. 26-27. The city had initially scheduled the press conference to discuss the impact of the papal visit on area businesses but later broadened its scope. Here are some highlights:

1. The previously announced traffic box (green) will go up in Center City at 6 p.m. and in West Philadelphia at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. Vehicles will be able to leave the box but not enter. Authorized vehicle access roads (yellow) will be closed to traffic starting at 8 a.m. Friday.

2. The city is working on a plan to allow some taxis to move in and out of the traffic box until 2 a.m. Saturday to help transport those arriving by train or plane.

3. Additional layers of security will include two innermost secure perimeters (red) ringed by a secure vehicle perimeter (black), where no vehicular traffic will be permitted. The secure perimeters will consist of fences with entry points where visitors will be screened with magnetometers.

4. The secure perimeter and secure vehicle perimeter around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be constructed at 10 p.m. Thursday. Access points for pedestrian screening will open at 6 a.m. Friday. Around the Independence Hall area, the secure and secure vehicle perimeters will go up at 10 p.m. Friday, with pedestrian access points opening at 6 a.m. Saturday. Pedestrians will not need to undergo screening in order to access the Independence Hall area after Pope Francis speaks on Saturday, but all other perimeters will remain in place until at least Sunday.

5. Philadelphia schools and administrative offices will now be closed Wednesday, Sept. 23 through Friday, Sept. 25, with a makeup day Friday, Oct. 9. The first day of kindergarten will be Thursday, Sept. 17. City of Philadelphia offices will be operating on an essential services-only basis from Thursday, Sept. 24 through Monday, Sept. 28. The City Council session scheduled for Sept. 24 has been canceled.

6. The city's Commerce Department will on Monday launch a papal visit business resource center in an attempt to address some business owners' questions. That will be available on the City of Philadelphia's website.

7. The city is working on a plan to allow some businesses to receive limited deliveries overnight Saturday into Sunday morning and will provide more information at a later date. Businesses are still advised to stock up as much as possible before Friday, Sept. 25.