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President Obama's Visit Expected To Cause Delays For Westchester Travelers

This story has been updated.

Helicopters made several visits and landings in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown Sunday, May 11 in preparation for President Barack Obama's visit.

Helicopters made several visits and landings in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown Sunday, May 11 in preparation for President Barack Obama's visit.

Photo Credit: Contributed/JoAnne Murray

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- The villages of Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow and the surrounding communities are bracing for a visit from President Barack Obama Wednesday afternoon between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

President Obama will speak at the site of the New NY Bridge construction (Tappan Zee Bridge area) to highlight the issue of funding infrastructure projects.

The President's helicopter is expected to land near the now-closed General Motors plant site and a motorcade will take Obama for the half-mile distance to the Sunset Cove restaurant at the end of Green Street at the Washington Irving Boat Club.

According to Tarrytown officials and Metro-North, the President's arrival and departure may cause some commuter delays as Metro-North train service and parking in and around the Tarrytown train station will be disrupted sometime between 2-4 p.m. when Obama lands bear the old General Motors property.

The village is working with the White House and Secret Service on mid-day street closures according to Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell. The evening rush hour is not expected to be disrupted.

Metro-North-Hudson Line trains will be held outside of the Tarrytown station, which is nearby the venue, as dictated by the Secret Service, then resume service, according to Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders.

The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns will have early dismissals. For the schedule by school, click here.

Parking spaces in the non-resident parking lots west of the Metro-North Railroad tracks will be off-limits beginning late Tuesday.

Steve Gosset of Tarrytown was concerned about how and where to park for the commute.

"If they're going to close the parking lots closest to the river, they should have some alternate arrangements like a shuttle to get people who would otherwise drive to the station, or waive street parking restrictions that day," Gosset said. "I don't mind a little inconvenience for such an important visit, just don't make it impossible for people to get to work."

The Village sent the following to parking permit holders with options on where to park:

"Please be advised that on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, numerous areas of non-resident parking will be closed due to a special event. Parking Permit holders are advised to seek street parking along West Main Street (four-hour restriction will not be enforced), the temporary permit lot, the recreation lot, and the senior citizen center lot. Additional parking will be available in the Walgreens parking lot, northeast section only. Any other areas of this lot will be subject to being towed."

The construction of the $3.9 billion New NY Bridge to replace the Tappan Zee-Malcolm Wilson Bridge is Governor Andrew Cuomo's major accomplishment during his first term. The project was recently approved for a $1.6 billion federal loan, which is the largest ever awarded under the Transportation Infrastructure and Innovation Act.

 

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