'Philly Free Streets' closes Broad Street to traffic

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An 8-mile stretch of North Broad Street will be closed to traffic Saturday to allow bikers, walkers and runners to take over.

The 4th annual "Philly Free Streets" initiative goes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You can enjoy the freedom of moving about on North Broad Street between City Hall and Erie Avenue without the worry of any cars.

There will be plenty of music, vendors and events to take part in along the route.

For the first time, Temple University will host a one-day camp that features green-living, wellness and job resources.

Philly Free Streets is managed by the City of Philadelphia's Managing Director's Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability.

Road Closures & Impacts

The 2019 Philly Free Streets North Broad Street route will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday. North Broad Street will be closed from John F. Kennedy Boulevard to Butler Street.

Select east-west streets will be open to vehicular traffic to cross North Broad Street. These streets are:

John F. Kennedy Boulevard

Arch Street

Vine Street (Eastbound Only)

Spring Garden Street

Ridge Avenue

Girard Avenue

Diamond Street

Lehigh Avenue

Allegheny Avenue

Erie Avenue

Butler Street

One-way streets that feed into the Philly Free Streets route will be controlled by Philadelphia Police and designated local access only. Additional closures may be implemented if needed in the interest of public safety.

North Broad Street and adjacent closures will be opened post-event as they are serviced and cleaned. All event-related road closures will be lifted no later than 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019.

Traffic delays can be expected during the course of event setup and on the date of the event. Some cross streets may be closed and detoured prior to 6 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019 due to public safety considerations. Motorists should avoid the area by using alternate routes, allow for extra driving time in areas near the event, and refrain from double-parking-which creates congestion, limits traffic flow and is illegal.

Parking Restrictions

Parking restrictions on the Philly Free Streets route will begin at 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019. Parking will be prohibited on both sides of North Broad Street between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Butler Street. Additional parking restrictions include:

Arch Street from Juniper to Broad

Vine Street (Westbound) from 13th to 15th

Brandywine Street from 15th to Broad

Mount Vernon Street from Watts to Broad

Wallace Street from Watts to Broad

Fairmount Avenue from Broad to Ridge

Brown Street from Broad to Carlisle

Poplar Street from Watts to Carlisle

Stiles Street from Broad to Carlisle

Oxford Avenue from Park to Broad

Cecil B. Moore Avenue from Park to Broad

Montgomery Avenue from 13th to Broad

Susquehanna Avenue from Watts to Broad

Huntingdon Street from Broad to Carlisle

Glenwood Avenue from Cambria to Broad

Westmoreland Street from Park to Broad

Rising Sun Avenue from Watts to Broad

Germantown Avenue from Erie to Butler

Accommodations will be made for established loading and valet zones along the route.

All event-related parking restrictions will be lifted at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019.

Temporary No Parking Signs will be posted along the Philly Free Streets route beginning on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Vehicles parked in restricted locations after 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 3 will be towed. If you believe that your vehicle has been towed in connection with Philly Free Streets, please contact the local police district for confirmation.

Public Transportation

SEPTA's Broad Street and Market Frankford Line service will operate on a normal weekend schedule on Saturday, August 3, 2019.

Regional Rail parking lot location information is available online at: www.septa.org/parking.

SEPTA can be reached at 215-580-7800 and on Twitter @septa_social. For more information on SEPTA and NJ Transit routes and schedules, visit www.septa.org and www.njtransit.com.

Venue Details & Public Safety Information

The following items and activities are not permitted on the Philly Free Streets route:

Motorized transportation (excluding motorized wheelchairs or similar equipment)

Unauthorized solicitation

Alcoholic beverages

Narcotics or illegal drugs

Bathing in pools or fountains

Damage to property

Feeding animals

Firecrackers or explosives

Firearms

Open flame

Littering (including pet waste)

Public intoxication

Unauthorized driving or parking

Unauthorized vending

Unleashed animals

Weapons of any kind

ONLINE: http://www.phillyfreestreets.com/