This week we will be taking an in-depth look at SEPTA's plans to get people from Delaware County in and out of Philadelphia for the two-day visit of Pope Francis in September.
I think I can safely sum it up in two words:
Brace yourself.
The Daily Times will be at ground zero for his massive project, because our plant literally sits next to the Media-Elwyn regional rail line, just a block from the Primos Station.
It also will be one of the few stops actually open on the line those two mornings.
SEPTA spokesman Frank Kelly says SEPTA expects as many as 10,000 people to board trains at the Primos stop. They envision 1,000 people getting on each train starting at 5 a.m.
SEPTA will be using lessons learned from the Phillies championship parade back in 2008, when many trains on the regional rail lines filled up very early at western stops and literally blew right past many stations where throngs of fans were waiting to board.
This time they will limit the number of stations being used. Primos will be one of them. There will be two sessions - early and late - for people to use to go into the city Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The Daily Times will become something of an island, with both Mildred Avenue, the street that goes back to our plant from Providence Road, and Cottonwood Lane, which gets you to us from Oak Avenue, being shut down.
In fact, our front parking lot could wind up as a command center for SEPTA and police overseeing the situation.
What SEPTA has in mind is something of a cattle chute for the huge crowds that will descend on the site. What they ideally would like is for people to be dropped off on Providence Road at Mildred. They would then walk up Mildred, past our plant, turn right on Cottonwood and board the trains there.
The prized parking spots along Cottonwood that are snapped up early each morning by commuters won't be available. SEPTA is urging people not to be dependent on parking here in Primos, but instead have someone drop you off.
There also could be road closures on Oak Avenue, likely at Providence and somewhere near St. Eugene's Church.
Then there's 69th Street Terminal, which will be a whole different challenge.
We'll have all the details this week.
I'll resist saying that I hope it goes better than the effort to sell those special rail passes for SEPTA. Those are expected to go back on sale again sometime this week.
Remember, you will not be able to board the trains those two days without the special passes.
Stay tuned.
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