Obama Visit to Shake Up Traffic and Parking

Whether residents are excited for in Redwood City’s or dreading his appearance, they will all be impacted in some way.

Secret Service requires significant restrictions and security protocols for transporting the President in and out of the city, so downtown Redwood City and the area surrounding the Fox Theatre will have major restrictions on May 23.

The Redwood City Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies will be executing the security logistics.

“We really don’t have a choice,” Chief JR Gamez laughed, referencing to the specific directions that Secret Service mandates.

Starting in the early afternoon, around 2 or 3 p.m., the following will take place, according to the city:

• A security perimeter will be set up and barricaded, around the Downtown core area (the specific area is presently being determined)
• The area must be cleared so that the Secret Service can carry out its security sweeps of the entire Downtown core area prior to the President’s arrival in the evening.
• There will be no vehicles, pedestrians, employees, or any other unauthorized persons allowed inside that perimeter after that time
• We are anticipating that businesses within the security perimeter must be closed and vacated for the duration of the event (potentially until 10 pm).
• Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the Downtown area during the afternoon and evening - there is the potential for protests or demonstrations to take place in the vicinity, so anyone who is in the area should exercise caution.

However, this information is subject to change, according to the city, and updates will be made as soon as more information is provided.

The city is currently contacting the affected downtown businesses about the events.

Changeable electronic message boards at several locations Downtown will advise motorists and pedestrians of the upcoming traffic restrictions. “No Parking” signs will give motorists notice of where to avoid parking on the day of the event.

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