HERE COMES FRANCIS: FROM DELCO TO PHILLY, TAKE SEPTA TO SEE THE POPE

UPPER DARBY >> With millions of pilgrims planning to converge on Philadelphia at the end of September for Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States, local authorities are putting together a logistical puzzle to figure out how to move tens of thousands of people through Delaware County on their way to see the Holy See.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will be responsible for facilitating much of that movement as security protocols will prohibit vehicular traffic in a large portion of Philadelphia during the papal visit. To that end, SEPTA has devised an online lottery system to sell special papal passes that will be required to board the regional rail system from the outlying suburbs that weekend. There are three regional rail lines running through Delaware County and all will have limited service to the city on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. Lines that normally handle about 24,000 riders on a Saturday will now be called to handle as many as 180,000, according to SEPTA’s Assistant General Manager of Public and Government Affairs Frank Kelly.

Click here to read more.