Pope Parking: City Begins Towing Cars Inside Papal Zone

Tow trucks are now enforcing strict parking restrictions in designated security zones for Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia.

So far the Philadelphia Parking Authority towed 216 vehicles out of the first two no-parking zones that went into effect Sunday evening and Monday morning. That included areas stretching from the Art Museum southeast past City Hall as well as swaths of Southwest Center City and Fairmount.

Towing has already begun in preparation for the World Meeting of Families.

Officials will begin towing vehicles parked in a large area stretching east from City Hall and surrounding Independence Mall at 6 p.m. Tuesday. By Wednesday, swaths of West Philadelphia, Spring Garden and Fairmount will also be no-parking zones.

The no-parking zones will be coupled with road closures — including the shutdown of the Schuylkill Expressway and Vine Street Expressway starting Friday night.

The parking restrictions for the Pope’s visit have gone into effect. Anyone still parked in restricted areas will be towed. NBC10’s Monique Braxton reports how residents and businesses feel about these restrictions.

Here's the towing breakdown:

SUNDAY 9/20 at 6PM — Area around Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Logan Square and City Hall
MONDAY 9/21 at 9AM — Fairmount adjacent to the Parkway and western Center City near Schuylkill Banks
TUESDAY 9/22 at 6PM — Old City, Independence Mall and Market East
WEDNESDAY 9/23 at 9AM — Routes designated as access roads and walking lanes

Here's a map for the full breakdown. Click to enlarge.

Pope Parking Map - Sharper Image — Cars parked in Pope security zones will need to begin moving on Sept. 20 -- unless residents purchase a $20 placard that will extend their street parking time and grant them access to a garage.

Residents in the affected neighborhoods have the option of purchasing a $20 parking placard that will allow their cars to legally stay parked on the street until Thursday, Sept. 24, and also give them access to a parking garage for when their cars do have to move. The PPA says 700 temporary permits have been purchased.

Luxe, a private valet service, is also available — for $20 a day, valets will move your car for you.

If your car is towed, it will cost you $76.

SEPTA also released an interactive map showing each of the 18 Regional Rail Stations that will operate during the weekend of the Papal visit. The maps show basic station information, parking locations, customer drop off/pickup points, customer staging zones and road closures.