UPDATED @ 4:47 p.m.: We’ve posted an initial post-rally news story. It’s available right here.
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UPDATED @ 12:58 p.m.: Penn State assistant football Coach Jay Paterno will be among the speakers at the Democratic rally today at the HUB, StateCollege.com has confirmed. Other speakers, in addition to Vice President Joe Biden, will be local Congressional candidate Michael Pipe and Penn State College Democrats President Rob Ghormoz, we’re told. More to come. Meanwhile, follow our live updates on Twitter: @SCNewsDesk.
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Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Penn State University Park this afternoon will prompt some temporary changes in traffic and pedestrian patterns today, the university announced.
Biden is expected to appear for a 1:30 p.m. rally at the HUB-Robeson Center. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the latest, these traffic restrictions will be in effect on Pollock Road:
- Vehicular access to Pollock from Shortlidge Road will be limited to media and logistical parties with prior security clearance.
- Vehicles traveling to Old Main and parking lots Brown B (Chandlee/Pond Lab), Brown C (Davey/Whitmore/Osmond/Frear) and Brown G (Henderson) will need to turn onto Pollock from Burrowes Road.
Biden will fly into University Park Airport — an arrival dubbed a “closed event.” There will be no public access at the airport or along his motorcade route during his arrival, Penn State reported. (Paying airline passengers, and those providing them ground transportation, will be allowed airport access at all times, however.)
That means Fox Hill Road and Fox Hollow Road will be shut down for about 15 minutes at some point between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., until the motorcade arrives at the HUB, according to the university. The same route will shut down again for about 15 minutes at some point between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Likewise, parking along Fox Hollow and Fox Hill roads will be banned all day today. State police will tow any cars that stop or park along those roads, and commuters should plan to use Bernel Road instead of Rock Road or Fillmore Road on Tuesday afternoon, Penn State noted.
A few other notes:
- The university emphasized that ticketed airline passengers — and people picking them up or dropping them off — will not be prevented from accessing University Park Airport. However, cars will not be allowed to park or be left unattended in front of the terminal, and police and the Secret Service have asked that people cooperate at checkpoints.
- On-campus pedestrians and drivers in the area should expect to see some slight delays as Biden travels to and from the HUB.
- Doors will open at noon for the program in the HUB, to be held in Alumni Hall. The event will be free and open to the public, but people with tickets will be given priority seating. (Ticket information is available on this page.) A pre-program will start at 1:20 p.m. Talks from members of the College Democrats, a Congressional candidate and Biden are scheduled. The band Velveeta is slated to perform early in the afternoon.
- Attendees should not take any bags to the event, though a bag check will be available in room 110 at the HUB. Organizers have encouraged attendees to use public transportation and anticipate airline-type security at the HUB. No signs or banners will be allowed.
Earlier coverage
