White House uses Marine One to lessen Obama traffic congestion in L.A.

The White House appears to be going to great lengths to prevent traffic tie-ups from President Obama's visit to Southern California on Friday by transporting him to two events on the Marine One helicopter rather than on local roads.

Obama touched down at LAX on Friday and was whisked by the helicopter to USC for a speech and rally. The chopper was set to land at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. After his USC event, he was to take Marine One to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, then shuttle by motorcade to the Univision studios in Glendale. The motorcade is expected to jam traffic on the 134 Freeway and Glendale surface streets.

But local law enforcement officials said the use of Marine One will significantly reduce street and freeway congestion. Some law enforcement officials said they cannot recall a time when the helicopter was used as much to get a president around L.A.

Thousands of people started lining up Friday morning at USC for Obama's rally for Sen. Barbara Boxer. The visit prompted local street closures.

Anyone traveling "in and around the USC campus" should expect delays and are encouraged to "plan another route if possible," LAPD officials said in a statement.

Sandy McKenna, a 42-year-old graduate student in social work, said she normally drives from her home in Orange.

On Friday, though, she and a classmate took a train to Union Station and a shuttle bus to the campus.

"We didn't want to get stuck in any traffic," she said, adding she'd figure out later how to get home.

Phebe Jackson, a retired sanitation technician who attended Obama’s inauguration in Washington, said relatives drove her to USC from her home in Diamond Bar. They found no extra problems on the road, she said.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, no more than a normal weekday commute," she said. 

After the USC rally, the president is scheduled to visit Glendale to tape an interview with Spanish-language radio host Eddie Piolin, according to the White House.

Glendale police said Friday morning that they anticipate a temporary road closure along Central Avenue near the 134 Freeway, where the Univision facility is located, but CHP said no freeway would be shut for more than a couple of minutes as the presidential motorcade moves through.

Obama is scheduled to arrive in Glendale at 3:25 p.m., leave at 4:05 p.m. and then depart directly for LAX to leave the Los Angeles area.

Early Friday morning, Los Angeles police said there were no major traffic problems other than slowing because of the rain. But they were bracing for snarls.

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

According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, several bus lines will be affected.

The most likely to be detoured will be the 40, 42 and 740 on Martin Luther King, the 102 and 550 on Exposition, the 204 and 754 on Vermont and the 81 on Figueroa, the MTA said.

White House Deputy Communications Director Jen Psaki was quoted by City News Service as saying officials there were trying to reduce the effect on traffic during Obama's visits after much criticism over traffic jams when he last visited L.A.

"Presidential travel is more complicated with more pieces than most people are aware of,'' she said. "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.''

-- Larry Gordon at USC and Andrew Blankstein in Los Angeles

Photo: President Obama boards Marine One at Los Angeles International Airport. Earlier, he offered a wave after touching down aboard Air Force One. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[TheBigPicture]

You have to hand it to him...1st Pres to use a common sense approach for getting from point A to B...While in LA...

I still won't vote for him in 2012...

[AB]

I was definitely irritated with his last few visits, but kudos are in order for using Marine One. Smart move.

[Elli]

I won't for Boxer no matter what.
Boxer needs to explain it to us why she helped CODE-PINK to send one million to terririst,the ones were killing our young men in millitary.

[Elli]

Boxer needs to go,we need change,we need someone who can work for us,not against us.

[Homer]

Duh!

[J]

Okay is he going back to the Coliseum from Glendale to get on Marine One to fly back to LAX? 101.9 FM will broadcast the entire interview until Monday Morning. Immigration Reform now and forever!

[jonathan lane]

kudos for the president using the power of his office to raise funds for his political party to try to work on his re-election bid.

how much kerosine (fossil fuel) did he actually burn to fly out to the west coast to try to get out the vote to the mail in voters in washington state?

kudos also for him repealing the repeal of don't ask don't tell and in the same week doing a heartfelt video to gay teens.

[Mitchell Young]

Yes, the man is a geeeenius. No doubt the first American president to use a helicopter to avoid traffic.

[Susan]

Don't give him too much credit.

Think about the cost in taxpayer dollars.

This is not official business. It's srictly political campaigning paid for by the tax payer.

That makes me sick.

[Fernando]

Perhaps his smartest move since taking office. Still, vote him out.

[Gary H.]

Ya, instead of blocking the roads, lets shut down the busiest airport in the world...way to tackle the issues that our nation faces; go back to D.C. and do the job you were elected for!

[Ed Sterbenz]

What did it cost a get Marine One to LA?

[Freddie]

Where was all these people with their mouths open and palms faced up when george bush was in office? America you have been fed nothing but fear. I will vote to put this President back in office to continue his job of moving forward.

[O_o]

Man... what a bunch of Sour Grapes.... Darned if he does, darned if he doesn't.
Presidential protocol has been going on for decades, and "now" you complain... Gget over it!

[Robert]

Busiest airport in the world? Try Atlanta. We should be honored that a president of the US comes to visit California.

[Rob]

Odd that the method for leaving Glendale/Burbank and returning to LAX is absent. If he goes by motorcade, he will most likely tie up the Ventura and San Diego Freeways between 4:00 and 5:00 PM on a Friday afternoon. Yeah, no traffic congestion gonna happen then, huh?

[Scott]

Out campaigning? I'm not a big fan of him but I've never really had any animosity toward him; he doesn't have an easy job and to trying to make huge changes with other branches of government right there can't be easy. BUT this item of business, this campaigning for Barbra Boxer! This is not justifiable. Lending support is one thing. These trips and appearances are another. It would be different if he flew out here to convince the American people to support his POLICIES, but that's not what he's doing. I think he would find people much more agreeable to the candidates he supports if he were to do that. That's just me though. Oh, and yes: smart move using the helicopter.

[ZeeZee]

OR... Univision could have conducted the interview at USC (I'll bet they have studios) avoiding extra Marine One flights and traffic...

[fred]

Everyone will complain regardless of how he does it - endless whiners

[InGodWeTrust]

Oh please, enough of the “atta boys,” the last time he was here he ticked off a lot off a lot of the people that voted for him. Moreover, since his popularity has greatly diminished, he is trying his hardest not to step on the toes of the legs that hold him up!!! He is playing us all and we are allowing it!!!

[sayNO2Boxer]

Boxer = FRAUD

[mark cole]

You guys are just hating! he's doing a great job, just got home from the rally and excited for more change!

[David in Los Angeles]

President Bush, Clinton, Reagan all used Air Force I to campaign while in office. Big deal, get over it. Glad President Obama is using his head on this one.

But there's absolutely NO WAY I'll be voting for him in 2012.

[Malby4]

About time they figured this out.

[Kay]

No matter what you guys are going to complain about our president. You may not like him but he is our president and we should support him.
If he drove all around you would complain about that. Think of how much that would cost us all for all that time we sat in cars. Then he takes a chopper and there is complaints about that. No matter what he would be able to satisfy all you complaining people.
This is what presidents do, he isn't the first one to go places to campaign, this is his job.