President Obama's visit expected to cause traffic delays
UPDATE 2:42 pm - Air Force One has landed at LAX, bringing President Obama to the Southland for fundraising events in West Los Angeles.
President Obama’s visit to the Southland Thursday is expected to create heavy traffic delays in West Los Angeles and Culver City.
The president is expected to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport at 2:30 p.m. He will then travel to Culver City at 4:30 p.m. to speak at a fundraiser at Sony Picture Studios.
Obama will finish the night by dining at the Tavern, a restaurant in Brentwood.
Obama’s lodging for the night has not been announced, but the president is scheduled to leave from LAX at 9 a.m. on Friday.
On his visit to USC in October, Obama mainly traveled by helicopter, keeping LA’s highways clear.
That decision came after a fundraising visit to Hancock Park last August, which backed up traffic for hours in West LA. Councilman Bill Rosendahl, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for an investigation into avoiding similar traffic jams after the incident.
Metro is asking passengers to use its Nextrip program for real-time bus schedule information.
Alexander English a server at a West L.A. restaurant said most of the people he spoke to where excited about the presidents visit. He opted to take the metro to work today to avoid traffic.
“I purposefully took the bus,” English said. “From what I understand the parking lots behind the restaurant, as it gets closer to the presidents arrival will be shut down, no one will be able to go in or out.