THE PHILLY PHLASH EXTENDS HOURS OF OPERATION ON JULY  2 AND 3
Trolley Provides Easy, Affordable Access To All Of The City’s Fourth of July Action

Philadelphia, June 25, 2004 — Philadelphia’s purple trolley, the Phlash Downtown Loop, will extend its hours on Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3 to accommodate the large crowds expected in town for the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration. Operating on both days from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the Phlash will shuttle visitors to activities taking place at and between Penn’s Landing and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Phlash will resume its normal hours of operation (daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on July 4, with a shortened route due to the closure of Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Southwest Airlines Fourth of July Parade and the Sunoco Sweet Sounds of Liberty Concert and Fireworks.

More than 14,000 people have boarded the distinctive purple trolleys since service resumed on May 1. The Philadelphia Trolley Works, responsible for operating the vehicles, is expecting ridership to increase during the upcoming holiday weekend. On Memorial Day weekend alone, 2,100 people rode the Phlash, resulting in the addition of one more trolley to the usual fleet of five.

Approximately 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 40 places of interest are located on or near the Phlash route, one of the city’s most affordable options for getting around town. A one-way ride on the trolley is just $1 and free for children under five and senior citizens. Riders can also choose a $4 all-day pass or $10 all-day family pass. Phlash continues service through November and will return in spring 2005. 

Those driving into town can park at one of three Center City AutoPark locations and receive discounted parking as part of the new Park ‘N’ Ride program. AutoPark has lots at 5^th and Market Streets in the heart of Independence Mall, 2^nd and Sansom Streets and 10^th and Filbert Streets.

Tickets can be purchased on any Phlash trolley, at the Independence Visitor Center, the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel (1201 Market Street) or any of the Philadelphia Trolley Works locations. For more information, visit www.gophila.com.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), Philadelphia’s regional tourism marketing agency, is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to building the region’s economy and positive image through tourism and destination marketing. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676, or visit www.gophila.com. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, click on the CultureFiles’™ link.

# # #

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit the photo gallery of www.gophila.com/pressroom

June 2004

Back to News Release List