Local officials working with Secret Service on logistical challenge of Obama's visit to Ann Arbor
Expect chaos in Ann Arbor on Saturday.
Expect streets to be closed, either partially or entirely. Expect traffic jams. Expect areas where parking is normally available to be blocked off.
And expect security to be tight - really tight.
Barack Obama
"For us here in Ann Arbor who aren't used to it, this will be an unprecedented amount of security," said Mayor John Hieftje. "We haven't had a sitting president in town for some time."
Barack Obama will be the first sitting president in Ann Arbor since George H.W. Bush was here in 1991. Obama arrives Saturday to deliver a commencement address to a crowd of 80,000 at Michigan Stadium.
And with a presidential visit comes a unique set of logistical challenges.
The U.S. Secret Service has been in town this week, talking with Police Chief Barnett Jones and other law enforcement officials from the University of Michigan and Michigan State Police to work out a game plan. Naturally, the details remain confidential.
Hieftje has some advice, though.
"If you're going, get there early, and don't expect to be able to drive through that section of town any more quickly than you would on football Saturday," he said.
Michigan Stadium gates will open at 6:30 a.m. Guests are urged to arrive no later than 9 a.m. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
The university has made efforts to put almost all of the information anyone needs to know about commencement day on its website. The site includes detailed maps of commencement activity locations, parking, shuttles and more.
University officials say the enhanced security means several roads and parking lots near the stadium won't be available for use. In addition, the number of graduates participating this year has increased dramatically, so there will be even more congestion than normal.
Jim Kosteva, a U-M spokesman, said the university is establishing a secure area around Michigan Stadium - bordered by Stadium Boulevard to the south, Hoover Avenue to the north, Main Street to the west and the railroad tracks to the east.
"We're certainly used to being able to conduct the major events in and around the Big House and we're certainly used to accommodating large crowds," he said. "This sort of combines all those unique elements into one. So I would say there's a very good, well-organized team in place that's working with the federal officials and working through our staff and working in cooperation with city police as it relates to security."
The City Council last week approved a plan to close streets and placed limitations on activities during commencement. Existing peddler/solicitor permits and sidewalk occupancy permits will not be valid in areas around the stadium.
University Planner Susan Gott said the following street closures will be in effect from midnight Friday to 2 p.m. Saturday:
• Kipke Drive — closed to all vehicles and pedestrians. • South Main Street — closed to all vehicles (between Pauline Boulevard and East Stadium Boulevard), open for pedestrians. • Keech Avenue — restricted vehicle access (between South Main Street and Greene Street) for shuttle bus traffic, open for pedestrians. • Greene Street — restricted vehicle access (between Hoover Avenue and Keech Avenue) for shuttle bus traffic, open for pedestrians. • East Stadium Boulevard — restricted vehicle access on one lane of westbound East Stadium Boulevard (from Stadium Way to South Main Street) for shuttle bus traffic, open for pedestrians.
Traffic will be detoured around the South Main Street section closure onto Pauline Boulevard, South Seventh Street and Scio Church Road. Signage will be posted directing drivers.
Due to increased security, some lots that are closer to the stadium are closed or are for restricted parking only. These include: SC2, SC3, SC4, SC5, SC6, SC7, SC11, SC32, SC35, SC38 and SC41.
All vehicles must be removed from those lots by Friday at midnight or they will be towed. Most other parking lots and structures will be open to serve commencement guests on Saturday.
Normal U-M bus service will be limited to the spring/summer Northwood route.
This map shows parking areas that will be restricted on Saturday.
Drivers are urged to plan routes with alternatives in mind. If traffic is re-routed to accommodate the arrival of the president’s motorcade —Â which likely will happen sometime after 9 a.m. — police will instruct drivers on alternative routes.
Residents living in the vicinity of the stadium will be afforded game-day parking privileges on Saturday, meaning vehicles can park in any legally marked on-street space as well as private lawns and driveways. However, there may be pedestrian or parking restrictions imposed near the stadium.
"There's going to be a real shortage of parking in and around the stadium," Kosteva said. "But we are planning to implement a very aggressive set of shuttles coordinating and working from most all the area hotels as well as a number of different locations and parking structures on the Central Campus."
University officials expect a crowd of about 80,000 inside the Big House. Nearly 60,000 of those seats are reserved for graduates and their families.
Leftover tickets will be available to other U-M students, faculty and staff starting today. Anyone with a university ID can request up to two tickets. If there are additional tickets, they will be available to the general public starting at 9 a.m. Friday at the ticket office in the basement of the Michigan Union.
The commencement address will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and streamed live on the web starting at 10:30 a.m.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
upfromthebighouse
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.
Ann Arbor born, raised and reside (in the city limits). I love all the events we are afforded by the University. For the life of me, I cannot figure why people complain about them or fret over them. If it were not for the University, Ann Arbor would be just like Tecumseh or Milan or Clinton. If you dont care for the events that are offered in Ann Arbor, perhaps you might prefer some of the other nearby pleasant communities to live, they are charming, quiet communities. I also live within 1000 ft of the Stadium and love every second of it. The president at the Stadium down the street from my home, just awesome.
sellers
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.
Thanks @Steve Pepple for explaining the midnight dilemma.
Snarf Oscar Boondoggle
Fri, Apr 30, 2010 : 12:57 a.m.
now... NOW! you -know-.. withour equivocatoin... without eror,... without whining... in your face/reality, exactly why predisent george bush did NOT-NOT-NOT stop over in new orleans at the beginnig of the katrina disastre. i would expect apolgies frome a bucha americans now that they recognize teh reality. i correct my mistakes (cept ptyos), you 'can; correct yours. comeon a2, this is real. recognize it and recant. this IS the president! whetoher or not you favor him/her.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 11:11 p.m.
I don't see why you would want to go downtown just so you can express your thrill at having Obama in town when you're not even going to commencement. I don't see why people need to evacuate town, but I also don't see why they wouldn't want to just stay home if they aren't going to commencement.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 11:11 p.m.
I don't see why you would want to go downtown just so you can express your thrill at having Obama in town when you're not even going to commencement. I don't see why people need to evacuate town, but I also don't see why they wouldn't want to just stay home if they aren't going to commencement.
bwebb
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 9:15 p.m.
A socialist in Ann Arbor how shocking.
Margaret
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.
So exciting! Loved the helicopters this afternoon. Ann Arbor is lucky to get a sitting president for a speaker at UM graduation. In my opinion, anyone who feels they have to leave town is silly. It's a small blip of inconvenience (and I live on a street TOTALLY impacted by this) and it's good for the local economy. Enjoy, if you don't like chaos, stay home and read a good book or walk to farmer's market.
Top Cat
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 7:21 p.m.
Rats! I'm going to miss the Spruce Ale at Arbor Brewing. I will forgive Mr. Obama this time only.
Dogfish120
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 6:38 p.m.
Surprised to see so many whiners about the "chaos" this will cause them. Really? Stay inside, watch a movie and quit whining, attempting to leave town will only add to your whining.
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 5:46 p.m.
The piece I'm interested in watching is when Rich Rodriguez interrupts the speech to try and convince Obama to join the competition for this fall's starting quarterback.
81wolverine
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:38 p.m.
Spring commencement day/night in Ann Arbor is ALWAYS THE worst night to plan to go out for dinner. This year will be even worse as the graduation crowd is bigger than normal. My whole family is ignoring all the waiting and security hassles and going to the stadium. I plan to enjoy the nice weather in the yard! But, I hope the whole event goes well and the weather holds off.
PuttNGlowMike
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 1:58 p.m.
You do not need to LEAVE town. Just visit PUTT N GLOW on the West side of Ann Arbor. Lots of parking. Open 11-6 on Saturday.
KarenH
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.
@glynda... I'm pretty sure they mean that it will be streamed live on The Big Ten Network's website: http://www.bigtennetwork.com/
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 11:16 a.m.
Wonder if Secret Service will notice the substandard number of officers that the local PD employs?
glynda
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
What website do we use to watch the commencement streaming live on the web? I don't have Big Ten Network, but I'd love to watch (and don't dare try to join the crowds). Thanks in advance.
jeanarrett
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.
I'll be there bright and early with my kids and bells on our toes--wouldn't miss it!
An
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
I wasn't planning to leave until early Saturday morning but now I am considering calling our hotel and booking Friday evening too...just to be far far far out of town when this all starts. I don't do well with crowds and I cannot stand driving on game day or during art fair, so I think maybe that Friday night stay would make life a bit easier. Off to call the hotel.
bunnyabbot
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 10:24 a.m.
well I could call it something specific but I will go with what a mess!
amazonwarrior
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
Jake C - Glad to hear that the hotels and restaurants are fully or close to fully booked. Maybe, they will even get out to the mall and local stores to spend some big bucks. Let's hope the visitors remember to generously tip the waitstaff, too!
Barb
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 10:03 a.m.
Can't wait. I'll be walking there with my rain gear. I'm just a little nervous about the term "aggressive set of shuttles". Maybe I should wear a helmet...
Jake C
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 9:49 a.m.
amazonwarrior: Nearly every single local restaurant has a completely full reservation list, and every hotel in a 20 mile radius is also booked full. If you don't think that's going to help the local economy, I'm not sure what else to tell you.
amazonwarrior
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 9:19 a.m.
This is going to be WORSE than a home football game. We're all paying for this whether it's local or federal tax dollars, because I still haven't read where U of M is paying for the extreme security measures. And in an article earlier this week, someone stated that the local businesses are going to profit from this visit. I don't see how with all the parking, walking and vendor restrictions. You're right, get out of town - fast.
DagnyJ
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 9:13 a.m.
Lots of tickets available. If you want them, get in line. UM community today, public tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. It will be no worse than a football Saturday.
Jake C
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.
Moira: It was linked to in the story, but here's the link to the "full size" suggested parking map: http://www.umich.edu/~gradinfo/spring/pdf/parkingmap.pdf
treetowncartel
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 8:55 a.m.
This will be a little more chaotic than a home football game. I'm taking the sage advice and heading north with the family for the weekend.
Moira Branigan
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
Ryan - thanks for the story. If you could either provide a link to the map that you've included, or repost the map so more of it is included, that would be a big help.
bruceae
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 7:42 a.m.
How much is all this going to cost the city? Is U of M going to pay for all the extra security?
Steve Pepple
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 7:15 a.m.
@sellers. According to the Associated Press Stylebook, midnight is part of the day that is ending. Main Street will not be closed on Friday.
sellers
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 7:06 a.m.
Friday midnight, I assume you mean Saturday Midnight? Is Main really going to be closed all day Friday? (recall the day changes at 12:00:00)
Gill
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 6:43 a.m.
Very similar to a normal home football game...
Huron74
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 6:37 a.m.
I know all the grads and their families will enjoy the president's visit but as for the rest of us it would be a good day to leave town.
An
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 5:16 a.m.
My children and I are headed west for the weekend...just to avoid the presidential chaos.