Obama's holding a rally Friday at USC -- expect street closures and traffic gridlock

President Obama will return to Los Angeles this week, and the city is bracing for a repeat performance of extreme gridlock across the city.

President Obama felt the sting of Angeleno road rage in August when street closures for his motorcade from Beverly Hills to Hancock Park extended Westside commutes from the normal 45 minutes into the duration of a one-way flight from L.A. to Chicago.

Commuters may be even more road-weary than usual after an obscure Orange County band earlier this month stopped traffic on the 101 Freeway for an impromptu concert.

Will traffic conditions be smoother this time around when the president comes to town? Los Angeles police say don't count on it. Even in places where streets aren't closed, traffic could be affected well into the evening rush hour, they said.

Doors are scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Friday on the USC campus for Obama's "Move America Forward" rally scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in support of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer's reelection bid.

Several South Los Angeles thoroughfares, including portions of Martin Luther King Boulevard, Figueroa Street, Vermont Avenue and Exposition Boulevard, will be closed for more than six hours in the afternoon and during rush hour.

They also will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 11:25 a.m., although some cars and pedestrians will be screened and allowed in, LAPD officials said.

After that, the roads will be shut down to all vehicles and pedestrians until 2:50 p.m.

"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," LAPD officials said in a statement.

The closures will affect Martin Luther King Boulevard between Figueroa Street and Vermont Avenue; Vermont Avenue between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Exposition Boulevard; Figueroa Street between Martin Luther King Boulevard and 39th Street; and Exposition Boulevard between Vermont Avenue and Figueroa Street.

-- Andrew Blankstein

 

Media Parking/ Viewing Areas/ Pool Camera Locations:

Martin Luther King Boulevard at Menlo Avenue

• Designated media parking will be located at Vermont Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. Viewing will be available to media/pedestrians along Martin Luther King Boulevard at Lot 6. This is subject to the hard/soft street closures designated by the Secret Service.

USC CAMPUS Senator Boxer Luncheon/Alumni Park

• Designated staging/parking for media satellite vehicles shall be on Childs Way. Only White House-credentialed media may gather along the sidewalk area adjacent to Childs Way at Trusdale Way and will be allowed to enter the designated safe zone by the Secret Service. A pool camera will be available. 

Photo: Obama with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2008 L.A. trip. Times file

Comments

[Working Woman]

How arrogant. And foolish. Have Boxer and the White House forgotten the problems inflicted on ordinary people trying to get to work, pick up their kids, etc. when the President visited LA in August? Now school is back in session, summer vacations are over and it gets dark earlier. Can you spell stupid, selfish, and entitled? No, wait, Barbara Boxer CARES about the little guy/gal.

[Lorrie]

There are a lot of us that are happy he will be here. The traffic is a minor inconvenience.

[kjs]

Why can't they use a helicopter for him and his entourage?

[Darren]

Does he actually work, or just campaign?

[bill]

see how sensitive he is to the public outcry regarding traffic? he and others are a class above regular citizens - totally dropping the veneer of being a regular person but instead truthfully reflecting a sense of entitlement and privledge. and people STILL have those 08 campain stickers on their vehicles - reason being is that conservative people respect other's property, if it were the other way around with republican stickers - such arrogance would be met with house keys going into the paint.

[LAofAnaheim]

Go Metro!

[agreeable]

@Working Woman I couldn't have said it better myself. Why is he in LA anyway? He should be in Washington working on fixing this mess of an economy not on the campaign trail looking for admiration from Angelinos for his and Boxer's horrendously ineffective agenda.

[wtfkma]

No one should be allowed to shut down traffic so that they may attend a rally, fundraiser or campaign. It is an abuse of power! Official business only! I hope those stuck in traffic remember who and why at the polls!

[Azumaguy]

Hey Lorrie, "a minor inconvenience?" Last time the Pres was here people were trapped in their cars and offices for hours! He's not God and neither is Boxer. Go away! What a loser!

[Joe]

Why does he even have to come to LA? All he is going to say is that the people living on the westside should give more of their money to the people living in South-Central.

[Reality Chick]

Go METRO? Are you kidding? L.A. has a horrible transportation system for a city of it's size. The new EXPO rail isn't even finished and the existing light rails take riders so far out of the way of anything that they're pretty much useless. Regular buses are just as bad with overcrowding, irregular schedules and out of the way service. Good luck to anyone within a 5 mile radius of all this. I will be adding an addition hour to my already hour long commute that day (for sure). Why couldn't they have done this at UCLA? I'm sure the Beverly Hills residents wouldn't mind the inconvenience.

[Azumaguy]

What a pair of clowns!

[JOE]

everyone in LA should have a bike just in case :D

[LueZuve]

Really? Everybody is selfish enough to worry about traffic? Come on. Stumping and rallying is as old as politics. Having it in LA is no different than having it anywhere else. Its one day. You wouldn't vote for somebody because they caused a traffic jam?

[Ryan]

Its funny that when the President visits we have all this rage against shutting down streets, but when the city holds a parade for the LA Lakers and shuts down the same streets, we all come out and cheer (and trash the entire area around USC - including the campus).

I work at USC. I am delighted the President of the United States is coming to my campus and is leaving Washington. He is not the President of Washington DC - he is the President of the UNITED STATES. Glad he comes to the states. And those of you who think he needs to be in DC governing - give me a break. The President of the US does not have to be in DC or the White House to govern.

I will take a visit by the President (a true honor) with some minor headaches to traffic over the stupid self-promoting parade of a bunch of NBA players anyday.

[sbpewsaw]

Does the title President of the United States mean nothing to some of you. President Obama deserves your respect at the very least. You may not agree with his policies, or the policies of the Democratic party but you do realize that a President can't be stuck in traffic like the rest of us? It's a matter of security! Try not to be so ideological and actually be sensible! Traffic sucks, get over it! Why don't you stop complaining about traffic, and do something to help. Take public transit, it'll be good for you!

[Hollywood Kev]

I get the opportunity to see President Obama tomorrow. I don't care how much traffic he will hold up, also then again you can use a bike to get around!

[InGodWeTrust]

Move America Forward and Obama and Boxer OUT!!!

[Rekobeko]

Other traffic disruptive events that actually are meaningless, annoying and worse:

LA Marathon.

Hipster bicyclist critical-mass rides.

Lakers championship parades.

Ambiguous, unclear, nebulously abandoned and seemingly unnecessary street and freeway CalTrans closures.

Pretentious street farmer markets.

Any insignificant yet fancy event around Staples and Nokia.

Celebrations that take up city streets/blocks.

Parades of any kind. A dated and tired idea.

[Southside]

Well, this should cost Boxer and Brown a few votes. Thank you Mr. President!!

[frank]

why no helicopter?

[Hp Frenchy]

I totally agree with Ryan, The president of one country should visit any city he wishes...He's doing a great job considering the mess he inherited from you know who!

[jaleh]

I wish I could be there. I love our President.

[Azumaguy]

Trust me, Ryan, most people don't want the Lakers hoo-haa or any other non-essential interference in their lives with the stress level being what it is today. The Lakers and sports in general have ZERO importance to the vast majority of working folks just trying to get home or to work.

[Tricia]

OMG, people campaign... Deal with it, we live in a major metropolitan city. The presidents coming, figure it out. The sky isn't falling... SO dramatic-