Obama's visit to Tarrytown may delay commuters

TARRYTOWN – Residents should prepare for possible travel delays Wednesday, when President Barack Obama makes his first visit to Westchester.

With the Tappan Zee Bridge as a backdrop, Obama is scheduled to speak at Sunset Cove, the restaurant at the Washington Irving Boat Club, to call on Congress to support his $302 billion transportation plan. He is expected to be in the village for the invitation-only event between 3 and 4 p.m., but some security restrictions will take effect before then.

"It won't be a normal commute on Wednesday," Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell said.

Obama's helicopter is expected to land near the former General Motors plant site, and the president will be brought by motorcade for the half-mile trip to Sunset Cove at the end of Green Street, said Jim Hart, deputy village administrator for Tarrytown.

The village is working with the White House and Secret Service to finalize plans for expected midday street closures, said Fixell. Roads should be open in time for the evening rush.

Some of the 400 parking spaces in the nonresident lots west of the Metro-North Railroad tracks will be off-limits starting Tuesday. At least some Metro-North parking permit holders received an email Monday alerting them of parking restrictions due to a "special event" on Wednesday. Commuters have been told to use street parking along West Main Street, the temporary permit lot, and areas near Pierson Park, the senior center, and the northeast section of the Walgreens parking lot.

Officials are also encouraging people to get dropped off at the train station or take the Tappan ZEExpress instead of driving.

Kevin Roy, who drives to the Tarrytown train station, said he is bracing for traffic jams. His wife also drives to the station and may wind up taking the train from White Plains to avoid problems.

Metro-North Railroad will hold trains outside of the area if the Secret Service tells them the presidential motorcade is getting ready to move, agency spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. The railroad will wait for the go-ahead before resuming service.

Contrary to earlier reports, Anders said trains will not skip the Tarrytown station while Obama is in the village. Anders said the railroad is anticipating minor delays, if any.

Obama will use his visit in front of the Tappan Zee to highlight the urgency of replenishing the Highway Trust Fund. The administration predicts the fund will become insolvent by the end of the summer and that some projects could be halted or delayed in the coming months.

Construction is in full swing to replace the 58-year-old Tappan Zee, a $3.9 billion project that has become a signature project for Cuomo during his first term. The Tappan Zee project recently approved for a $1.6 billion federal loan, the largest loan ever awarded under the Transportation Infrastructure and Innovation Act (TIFIA).

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's presumed Republican challenger in November's election, said "it's great he is here to talk about adding money for infrastructure repair in this country, especially in New York. We have the highest taxes in New York and we have third-world infrastructure."

But Astorino has yet to receive an invitation to Wednesday's event in Tarrytown.

"I'm not sure if this is a political event or a governmental event," Astorino said. "If he is coming to our county the protocol would be for the chief elected official to, at the very least, greet him, but it's totally up to him."

It's unclear whether Cuomo will join Obama in Tarrytown on Wednesday; a spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

Gannett's Washington Bureau reporter Brian Tumulty contributed to this report.

Presidential visit details

Wednesday

Air Force One touches down in New York

Obama to speak at Washington Irving Boat Club in afternoon and call on Congress to increase infrastructure spending

President to attend two Democratic fundraisers

Thursday

President and First Lady Michelle Obama to tour National September 11th Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan

Obama to make speech at dedication ceremony before returning to Washington D.C.