Airport cell phone lot difficult to find

    The State Police have started begun issuing expensive tickets to people who park on the shoulder of the off-ramp near the airport. It’s causing motorists to flee to the cell phone parking lot to wait for arriving flights. The designated lot is three miles from the airport, and many feel it is difficult to find.

    The State Police have started begun issuing expensive tickets to people who park on the shoulder of the off-ramp near the airport. It’s causing motorists to flee to the cell phone parking lot to wait for arriving flights. The designated lot is three miles from the airport, and many feel it is difficult to find.

    When maneuvering through the story about the airport cell phone lot, you have to use your mirrors and keep alert. There are many things to watch out for. First of all, the cell phone lot is not a cell phone lot.

    Exit 12b is not marked as being a cell phone parking lot. 12B is Cargo City, I see a sign for a Park&Ride.

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    It’s officially a Park&Ride lot. It was created 5 years ago with federal funds for car pooling. Another thing to be aware of is the the lot – whatever you want to call it – is not owned by the airport. It’s Pennsylvania Department of Transportation property.

    Robinson: We’re allowing it to double as a cell phone lot.

    PennDOT spokesperson Jenny Robinson.

    Robinson: That’s its informal use and we’re happy to cooperate with the airport, and a portion of it is fenced off because it is used for state police to do truck safety inspections.

    Federal law restricts the kinds of signs that can be posted along highways. That’s why you won’t see a Park&Ride sign along 95. After you pull off you will not see any signs for anything called a cell phone lot, because, in the eyes of PennDOT, there is no cell phone lot.

    Did I miss it? I missed it already. That was quick.

    After looping around again, I did find the lot, and Rick Wetzel of Hatfield, who is waiting for his wife to return from Florida. He says its par for the course.

    Wetzel: Philadelphia – the signage is terrible. Anywhere! Unless you know where you’re going, you can’t get there. If you’re not in the right lane, forget it.

    Wetzel found the lot by printed driving directions from the internet. To pick up his wife, the direction say he must turn right, and go in the opposite direction of the airport. Diane Whitley of Doylestown thinks she should go left.

    Wetzel: You can exit here but you have to go right, but I don’t know what to do if I go right. So I’m going down there.

    There are no signs pointing to the airport. Bob Watters of Avalon, New Jersey relies on intuition.

    Watters: If I get a phone call to pick somebody up, how do I get out of here to get to the airport? I’m going to take a left because I see the airport bus going left.

    Watters says of the dozens of airports he has been to, parking around Philadelphia International is the worst. AAA spokesperson Cathy Rossi says the cell phone lot is not befitting a world-class airport.

    Rossi: Some areas have cell phone lots that put in porta-potties and electric signage describing arriving flights. Most airports have cell phone lots that are located very close, very accessible, and very well signed.

    AAA has offered to help pay for better signs to direct drivers to the lot. So far neither the airport nor PennDOT has responded. Watters says it is absurd to ticket drivers for parking on the shoulder but not give them options.

    Watters: I think Daniel Boone – he was a great explorer – he is looking for this cell phone lot still.

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