Pres. Obama To Campaign For Boxer Today In Los Angeles
With some motorists still stewing over traffic delays prompted by President Barack Obama’s last visit to Los Angeles, police and city officials said they hope today’s presidential visit will be much more commuter-friendly.
Many Westside and Hancock Park streets were severely congested during Obama’s visit in August, prompting traffic nightmares as motorists crept along major streets and found themselves facing blocked streets and searching for alternate routes already filled with frustrated drivers.
City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, chairman of the council’s Transportation Committee, summoned Los Angeles Police Department and Department of Transportation officials the August nightmare to review procedures for rerouting traffic to accommodate dignitaries.
In anticipation of today’s visit, Rosendahl said he talked to a White House official and “suggested that the transportation could be simple and cause no congestion.”
“I’m very excited about the president coming,” Rosendahl said. “It’s his fifth visit to (Southern) California and if he wants to win votes for his candidates — Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown — traffic congestion is an issue for us, so we’re very hopeful that the president has it under consideration and that his route, though his security is number one, will be less impactful than his last visit.”
White House Deputy Communications Director Jen Psaki said this week officials work to minimize traffic impacts when the president travels.
“Presidential travel is more complicated with more pieces than most people are aware of,” Psaki told reporters. “We certainly do everything we can to minimize any negative impact it could have to any community. Our hope is always we can keep any disruption to a minimum.”
The LAPD on Wednesday released a list of planned street restrictions so motorists could be prepared.
The closures, to vehicle and some pedestrian traffic, are expected to be in effect in the late morning into mid-afternoon hours, according to Officer Bruce Borihanh.
— Martin Luther King Boulevard will be closed between Figueroa Street and Vermont Avenue to through vehicle traffic from 9:30 a.m. until 11:25 a.m. and to all traffic from 11:25 a.m. until 2:50 p.m.
— Vermont Avenue will be closed between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Exposition Boulevard to through vehicle traffic from 9:30 a.m. until 11:25 a.m. and all traffic from 11:25 a.m. until 2:50 p.m.
— Figueroa Street will be closed between Martin Luther King Boulevard and 39th Street to through vehicle traffic from 9:30 a.m. until 11:25 a.m. and all traffic from 11:25 a.m. until 2:50 p.m.
— Exposition Boulevard will be closed to all traffic between Vermont Avenue and Figueroa from 11:25 a.m. until 2:50 p.m.
“We are working with the California Highway Patrol, Department of Transportation and the United States Secret Service to minimize the impact to the motoring public,” Borihanh said.
But Borihanh said some motorists will still be affected.
“Even with the best of plans, there will be congestion beyond what is normal for any given Friday,” Borihanh said. “We would like all motorists who anticipate having to travel in and around the USC campus to expect delays and plan another route if possible.”
Metro officials said some bus lines in the USC-Coliseum area also will be affected. Detours are anticipated on lines 40, 42 and 740 on Martin Luther King Boulevard; 102 and 550 on Exposition Boulevard; 204 and 754 on Vermont Avenue; and 81 on Figueroa Street.
Councilwoman Jan Perry said that despite the expected traffic jams, she was excited about Obama’s visit.
“I think it’s tremendous that he’s chosen to go directly to the young people at the University of Southern California and tap into their energy,” Perry said.
