Philadelphia, Pa. Airport's New Signs Will Point Drivers to Waiting Lot

Philadelphia International Airport has begun installing road signs to direct people to the short-term cell-phone waiting lot.

Late last year, a 3.3-acre lot on Bartram Avenue near the airport was designated the place a motorist can park free until receiving a cell-phone call from a passenger whose flight has landed and who needs a lift.

Few people have used the lot.

"People we spoke with didn't know exactly where it was," said Catherine L. Rossi, a spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Motorists have instead continued the dangerous practice of parking on the shoulders along the ramps leading from Interstate 95 and Route 291 to the airport, where they run the risk of being hit by passing vehicles.

That should now change.

"We're excited that now we don't have a parking lot that's hidden from the public," said Councilman Frank Rizzo, who last year led the effort to get the lot designated.

There is a big blue sign on the front of the lot emblazoned with the words Cell Phone Lot and PennDOT Park & Ride. Signs also are being installed on the roadways near the lot, which is owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Mark Pesce, an airport spokesman, said the airport paid $400 for the sign at the lot, which PennDot installed. Pesce said the airport was also paying $16,200 to have 128 green directional signs installed on roadways and around the airport.

"The Streets Department started the installation of the signs last weekend," Pesce said.

To get to the cell-phone lot, drivers headed south on I-95 toward the airport should take the 12A airport exit, then take the 12B Cargo City exit, then make a left on Bartram Avenue. The lot will be on the left.

From I-95 north, motorists should take the Route 291 exit, then make a left on Bartram Avenue. The lot will be on the right.