Eagles playoffs: Safety top priority as Philly prepares for NFC Championship game
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - We’re just a few days away from the big game, and with tens of thousands of fans descending on South Philadelphia, and across the city to cheer on the Birds, safety is a top priority.
After leading a successful Eagles chant and poking fun at her mishap last week, Mayor Cherelle Parker said the event will be all hands-on deck from all city departments, like most major events in the city.
What we know:
Managing Director Adam Thiel says they have been working around the clock to prepare.
"With our partners like SEPTA, with our partners from all the different transportation venues the airport, Amtrak, we have law enforcement from the surrounding counties coming in to help augment our police force," he says. "We’re ready, we know how to do this, so please though, help us help you."
Philadelphia Police are anticipating a traffic box around Lincoln Financial Field like in the past.
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City officials hope to prevent a similar situation from last weekend, in a video shared widely on social media, as a driver was arrested for DUI after slamming into a police officer’s car. The officer was treated and released from the hospital.
By the numbers:
Draft Kings is sponsoring free rides home on the SEPTA Broad Street Line. Last Sunday, they estimated that they moved about 20,000 passengers from the NRG Station after the game.
SEPTA Transit Police say in addition to proactive and reactive monitoring behind the scenes from the 30,000 cameras in their Virtual Patrol Center, they are canceling some officers’ days off and increasing patrols by 50 percent.
"We’re also extending shifts so at the height of sort of the incoming crowd, we’re going to have upwards of 100 officers on the line," says Chief Charles Lawson. "It’s not just cops either, we’re going to throw a lot of cleaners out there, engineer folks if we have a breakdown, folks that can handle a crisis quickly."
What's next:
The City of Philadelphia is expected to announce a comprehensive plan on Friday, including road closures.
As for post-game celebrations, FOX 29’s Kelly Rule asked Managing Director Thiel if they are greasing the patrols.
"Don’t climb the poles, greased or not greased, please don’t climb the poles, because you could break the poles and that’s expensive, and it’s money we could spend on other things."