Emergency Operations Center Has Been Deactivated

The City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), activated for this morning’s rush hour, is now closed. At this point in time, the City does not plan to activate the EOC for the remainder of the SEPTA service interruption.

For SEPTA’s full Service Interruption Guide and other related information please visit www.septa.org/sip. To reach SEPTA Customer Service call 215-580-7800 (TDD/TYY 215-580-7853.

MAYOR NUTTER TO CONGRATULATE SETH WILLIAMS ON HIS ELECTION AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
District Attorney-Elect Seth Williams
Deputy Commissioner for Public Safety Everett Gillison

WHAT: Mayor Nutter will congratulate District Attorney-Elect Williams on his victory and talk about the spirit of cooperation between the Mayor’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office.

WHERE: Dilworth Plaza, NW Corner of City Hall

WHEN: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 10:00 am

City Activates Emergency Operations Center for Morning Rush Hour, November 4

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The City of Philadelphia has activated the City’s Emergency Operations Center on Thursday, November 4 to monitor and coordinate the City’s planning and response efforts due to SEPTA service interruptions in Philadelphia during the morning rush hour.
Representatives from the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Fire Department, Fleet Management, Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, Philly 3-1-1, Philadelphia Parking Authority, Pennsylvania State Police, School District of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Health Council, Sheriff’s Office, and SEPTA are staffing the EOC.

SEPTA reports the following services are not running:

Broad Street Line and Broad-Ridge Spur
Market-Frankford Line
All City Transit bus, trolley and trackless trolley routes
Frontier Division bus routes

The following services are running:

Regional Rail
Train service will be the best choice for travel in and around Philadelphia
Suburban Transit
Bus Routes 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109-114, 115, 117-120, 123 & 125; the Route 101 & 102 Trolley; the Norristown High Speed Line; and contract routes 204, 205, 306, 310 and 314
Route service will change for those buses that normally travel into the City.
LUCY (Loop through University City)
Green and Gold Loop service will operate regular routing from 30th Street Station to selected University City destinations
CCT Connect
Regular service will operate for registered ADA and Shared Ride customers.

The School District of Philadelphia reports that all Philadelphia public schools and administrative offices will be open and all after school programs will operate as scheduled. Yellow school bus service will continue to be provided for those students who normally receive yellow bus service. Yellow school bus service cannot transport students who normally ride SEPTA. Parents, who have children that usually take SEPTA to school, should make alternate transportation arrangements for children to attend school. If a student cannot attend school due to the SEPTA service interruption, parents should contact the child’s teacher for assignments.

The Pennsylvania State Police report there are no major incidents or delays on State highways. The Philadelphia Police Department also reports there are no major incidents or delays on City roads.

The City of Philadelphia reminds travelers that there will be some relaxed parking restrictions during this transportation emergency. A list and map for the relaxed parking restrictions are available at www.phila.gov/ready. Normal parking regulations will be suspended in these locations only for the duration of the transportation emergency. All other regulations will be strictly enforced, except that vehicles will be permitted to stop briefly in bus zones to pick up or discharge passengers.
The Philadelphia Parking Authority has issued an order expanding the number of vehicles permitted to provide traditional taxicab service in Philadelphia. The order will permit “shared rides” in all such taxicabs, which is not typically permitted (different people going to different places). It will also permit all limousines, partial rights cabs and county cabs to provide service to customers in the city. Such Alternative Taxicab service should be provided with a special emphasis on serving the following sites: Philadelphia International Airport; Pennsylvania Convention Center; train and bus terminals; hotels; and areas designated for special events.
Alternative cabs operating during this weekend will charge $28.50 for trips between the Philadelphia International Airport and Center City. This current $28.50 flat rate between the Airport and Center City, may also be charged by meterless Alternative Taxicabs for the same trip. All fares charged by vehicles unequipped with a meter will be by mileage, calculated by the odometer being set at zero before each trip. This method of mileage calculation will be explained to all passengers before they begin their trip.
The mileage rate for all “alternative taxicabs” will be $2.50 for sedans and $3.00 for stretch limousines. The mileage rate for any trip may not fluctuate based on the number of passengers. No charge may be made for additional passengers.
The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia encourage bus, subway and trolley riders travelers to bike instead of drive during the duration of the transit strike. Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler urges bikers and drivers to show respect and consideration to each other and pedestrians. To facilitate bike commuting the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia have set up the temporary bicycle parking at the north end of Dilworth Plaza, in the shadow of City Hall. Free coffee, bike maps and safe bicycling handouts will be provided by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. For those who cannot bike to their destinations, the City encourages car pooling.

A shuttle bus service from several remote parking lots and pedestrian pickup points to the Municipal Services Building is available for City employees (with City identification), employees of various Authorities and jurors. The parking sites for City employees opened at 6:30 a.m. These sites include Delaware and Spring Garden, 8th and Poplar, and Belmont and South Concourse Drive. Passenger transport vehicles will start at 6:30 a.m. and stop at 9:30 a.m. Evening pick up will start at 3:00 p.m. and stop at 7:00 p.m. There will be 12 vehicles at Delaware and Spring Garden; six will go up Spring Garden and six will go up Broad Street. Eight vehicles will be at Memorial Hall or Belmont and South Concourse Drive. Five vehicles will be located at Poplar Street.
For SEPTA’s full Service Interruption Guide and other related information please visit www.septa.org/sip. To reach SEPTA Customer Service call 215-580-7800 (TDD/TYY 215-580-7853.

To get the latest information during the SEPTA service interruption, sign up for text alerts from ReadyNotifyPA at www.phila.gov/ready or following the Office of Emergency Management on its social media networking sites: Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Blogspot also at www.phila.gov/ready. In addition, the City’s
3-1-1 Center is offering extended hours from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND BICYCLE COALITION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA PARTNER FOR “BIKE THE STRIKE”PROGRAM

Philadelphia, November 3 – The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia encourage bus, subway and trolley riders travelers to bike instead of drive during the duration of the transit strike.

Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities, Rina Cutler noted that Philadelphia already has a higher percentage of bike commuters than any other large U.S. City.

“If you typically rely on transit and have a bike available, consider joining the thousands of other Philadelphians who bike to work every day.”

Cutler urges bikers and drivers to show respect and consideration to each other and pedestrians. “When drivers, bikers and pedestrians follow the rules of road everyone gets to their destination faster and safer”

To facilitate bike commuting the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia have set up the temporary bicycle parking at the north end of Dillworth Plaza, in the shadow of City Hall. Free coffee, bike maps and safe bicycling handouts will be provided by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

“Bike the Strike to save time, money and help shrink your waistline. Plus, I guarantee you will have more fun than anyone trying to drive during the strike,” said Alex Doty, Executive Director of Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR NUTTER ON POLLING PLACE HOURS

Philadelphia, November 3 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter has issued the following statement in support of the Democratic City Committee’s motion to extend the polling place hours for one hour past the 8 p.m. deadline:

“Not only is the SEPTA strike hugely inconvenient for Philadelphians trying to get to and from work, it could also make it difficult for them to exercise their democratic right and vote in today’s elections. I am in full support of the Democratic City Committee’s request that polling places stay open for an extra hour this evening and I urge my fellow citizens to do their best to vote today.”

MAYOR NUTTER APPOINTS PATRICIA ENRIGHT TO DIRECT CITY’S CENSUS EFFORT

Philly Counts Aims to Boost Awareness, Participation

Philadelphia, November 3, 2009 – Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the appointment of Patricia Enright to serve as Executive Director of Philly Counts, the City of Philadelphia’s campaign to raise awareness of and participation in the 2010 Census, particularly in the city’s hardest to count communities.
“The 2010 Census will have far reaching implications for Philadelphia and I am excited that Tricia has agreed to take on the enormous responsibility of spearheading our efforts,” Nutter said. “She brings the experience, energy and creativity necessary to ensure that every Philadelphian understands just how important it is to be counted.”
As Executive Director of Philly Counts, Enright will coordinate census outreach activities across City Government agencies and guide the outreach work to be performed by the campaign’s various Complete Count Committees. Through these committees, which will be led by elected, non-profit, religious, business, media and other community leaders, Enright will spearhead a comprehensive awareness and outreach campaign designed to encourage all Philadelphians to be counted. As private dollars are raised to support Philly Counts’s activities, the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania will act as its fiscal agent.

“Philadelphia has the finest network of trusted community leaders in the country,” Enright said. “Through our Philly Counts campaign structure, we will energize and arm trusted messengers with the tools they need to reach each and every resident in our City. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this extraordinarily important effort and for the confidence the Mayor has in my ability to get this job done.”

The Census is a constitutionally mandated headcount taken every ten years of everyone residing in the United States and its Territories. Population totals taken from the Census are used to determine representation in Congress and redistricting. Census data also determines how hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds are distributed to state and local governments each year.

Mayor Nutter will formally launch the City’s Philly Counts campaign on November 10th, announcing its Honorary Co-Chairs, partnership committees and committee chairs. Under the leadership of Izzy Colon, the Mayor’s Director for Multicultural Affairs, committees have already been formed in the LGBT, Interfaith and Latino communities.

Enright will bring years of governmental, campaign and communications experience at the national, state and local level to her new position. Before becoming Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for the Mayor, she served as Transition Director and Campaign Manager for Mayor Nutter’s general election, Campaign Manager for Governor Rendell’s re-election, Deputy Campaign Director in Pennsylvania for the Kerry campaign, Communications Director for Howard Dean’s Presidential campaign, Deputy Communications Director for the Gore campaign and Pennsylvania Press Secretary for Clinton-Gore’s re-election. She served as Director of the Office of Public Liaison for Governor Rendell and Communications Director for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. Enright also spent 8 years in the Clinton Administration, at the White House and HUD.

Emergency Operations Center Deactivated

Mayor Michael A. Nutter has announced that the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activated for this morning’s rush hour has been deactivated. The EOC will resume operations at 3:30 p.m. today to monitor and coordinate City services during the SEPTA Service Interruptions.

Streets Department Commissioner Clarena I. W. Tolson reports that any necessary emergency and scheduled road construction will occur between 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. during the SEPTA service interruption, while road construction scheduled for major arterial roads in Philadelphia will be pushed to night work.

The City of Philadelphia has relaxed some parking restrictions during this transportation emergency. See attached list and map for the relaxed parking restrictions. Residents can also download this information at www.phila.gov/ready.

Normal parking regulations will be suspended in these locations only for the duration of the transportation emergency. All other regulations will be strictly enforced, except that vehicles will be permitted to stop briefly in bus zones to pick up or discharge passengers.

Managing Director Camille Cates Barnett has indicated that shuttle bus service from several remote parking lots and pedestrian pickup points to the Municipal Services Building is available for City employees (with City identification), employees of various Authorities and jurors for the duration of the SEPTA service interruption. The parking sites for City employees will open at 6:30 a.m. These sites include Delaware and Spring Garden, 8th and Poplar, and Belmont and South Concourse Drive. Passenger transport vehicles will start at 6:30 a.m. and stop at 9:30 a.m. Evening pick up will start at 3:00 p.m. and stop at 7:00 p.m. There will be 12 vehicles at Delaware and Spring Garden; six will go up Spring Garden and six will go up Broad Street. Eight vehicles will be at Memorial Hall or Belmont and South Concourse Drive. Five vehicles will be located at Poplar Street.

Mayor Nutter encourages residents to be cautious and patient when traveling and asks them to leave early and get a head start when traveling. Residents should consider car pooling or bicycling to and from work. Mayor Nutter also reminds Philadelphians that today is Election Day and encourages them to go to polling sites early to vote.

To get the latest information during the SEPTA service interruption, sign up for text alerts from ReadyNotifyPA at www.phila.gov/ready or following the Office of Emergency Management on its social media networking sites: Twitter, MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn, or Blogspot also at www.phila.gov/ready.

City Activates Emergency Operations Center

PHILADELPHIA, PA – City of Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter activated the City’s Emergency Operations Center at 5:30 a.m. this morning to monitor and coordinate the City’s planning and response efforts due to SEPTA service interruptions in Philadelphia. Representatives from the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Fire Department, Streets Department, Licenses and Inspections, Fleet Management, Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, Philadelphia Parking Authority, Pennsylvania State Police, PennDOT, School District of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Health Council, Center City District and SEPTA are staffing the EOC.
The following important service information contains useful travel tips to assist riders as Bus, Subway, and Trolley service is discontinued.

SEPTA reports the following services will not run:
Broad Street Line and Broad-Ridge Spur
Market-Frankford Line
All City Transit bus, trolley and trackless trolley routes
Frontier Division bus routes

The following services will run:

Regional Rail
Train service will be the best choice for travel in and around Philadelphia
Suburban Transit
Bus Routes 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109-114, 115, 117-120, 123 & 125; the Route 101 & 102 Trolley; the Norristown High Speed Line; and contract routes 204, 205, 306, 310 and 314
Route service will change for those buses that normally travel into the City.
LUCY (Loop through University City)
Green and Gold Loop service will operate regular routing from 30th Street Station to selected University City destinations
CCT Connect
Regular service will operate for registered ADA and Shared Ride customers. There may be some delays due to increased demand and local street traffic

For SEPTA’s full Service Interruption Guide and other related information please visit www.septa.org/sip.

To reach SEPTA Customer Service call 215-580-7800 (TDD/TYY 215-580-7853. Extended hours will be in effect beginning at 6:00 a.m.

The City of Philadelphia has relaxed some parking restrictions during this transportation emergency. See attached list and map for the relaxed parking restrictions. Residents can also download this information at www.phila.gov/ready.

Normal parking regulations will be suspended in these locations only for the duration of the transportation emergency. All other regulations will be strictly enforced, except that vehicles will be permitted to stop briefly in bus zones to pick up or discharge passengers.

Managing Director Camille Cates Barnett has indicated that shuttle bus service from several remote parking lots and pedestrian pickup points to the Municipal Services Building is available for City employees (with City identification), employees of various Authorities and jurors. The parking sites for City employees opened at 6:30 a.m. These sites include Delaware and Spring Garden, 8th and Poplar, and Belmont and South Concourse Drive. Passenger transport vehicles will start at 6:30 a.m. and stop at 9:30 a.m. Evening pick up will start at 3:00 p.m. and stop at 7:00 p.m. There will be 12 vehicles at Delaware and Spring Garden; six will go up Spring Garden and six will Go Up Broad Street. Eight vehicles will be at Memorial Hall or Belmont and South Concourse Drive. Five vehicles will be located at Poplar Street.
Mayor Nutter encourages residents to be cautious and patient when traveling and asks them to leave early and get a head start when traveling. Residents should consider car pooling or bicycling to and from work. Mayor Nutter also reminds residents to vote early today as part of their civic duty.

Philadelphia public schools are closed today due to Election Day.

To get the latest information during the SEPTA service interruption, sign up for text alerts from ReadyNotifyPA at www.phila.gov/ready or following the Office of Emergency Management on its social media networking sites: Twitter, MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn, or Blogspot also at www.phila.gov/ready.

MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF WORLD SERIES TICKET RAFFLE

Philadelphia, October 30, 2009 – Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the six winners of World Series tickets. More than 57,000 people participated in the raffle. The winners were chosen by randomly generating six numbers, from 1 to 57,000, using a random number generator. Emails were then assigned a number, based on the order in which they were received. Emails with the randomly generated numbers were then selected as the winner.

Winners for Game Three:
Dennis Harney, Philadelphia, PA
Jerry Prospero, Philadelphia, PA

Winners for Game Four:
Betsy Ortiz, Philadelphia, PA
Tina Stewart, Philadelphia, PA

Winners for Game Five:
Ryan McNeil, Levittown, PA
Brian Kozlowski, Wilmington, DE

Mayor Nutter also announced the three winners of the City employee raffle. Over 1,000 workers applied for the tickets. The winners were chosen by randomly generating three numbers, from 1 to 1,000, using a random number generator. Employees were then assigned a number, based on the order in which they were received. Employees with the randomly generated numbers were then selected as the winner.

Tickets to Game Three
William Twardzik, Human Resources

Tickets to Game Four
Kendall Banks, Risk Management

Tickets to Game Five
Lee Franczyk, DHS

Get Ready Now: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks

Daylight savings time begins on November 1 and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) reminds the public to refresh emergency supplies when changing your clocks with its “Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks” campaign.

“Make sure you have all of the necessary emergency supplies in your kits, and that the food, water and batteries for radios and flashlights haven’t expired,” said Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management MaryAnn E. Tierney. “If you haven’t put together a family preparedness kit for your home or a Go Bag of emergency supplies if you need to evacuate, now is the time to get ready.”

Be sure that you have at least a three-day supply of bottled water and nonperishable foods. You should also include any essential medications for each member of your family. Remember to include supplies for your pets, as well. And as always, don’t forget to check the batteries in your smoke alarms! As we prepare for the arrival of winter, make sure you and your loved ones are prepared for emergencies.

To learn how to be prepared for any kind of an emergency and for a list of supplies for your family preparedness kit and Go Bag, visit www.phila.gov/ready. You can also stay informed about following PhilaOEM on Blogspot, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.