Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - With one week remaining until the Total Solar Eclipse cuts its path directly through Western New York, officials in the City of Buffalo continue to make final preparations leading up to the once in a lifetime celestial event that's expected to bring a massive influx of people into the region.
"With Buffalo in the Path of Totality, Buffalo has the best seats in the house to view the eclipse in just a few days," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown during a press briefing Monday in Niagara Square downtown. "We expect a record number of out-of-town visitors to start arriving in Buffalo to view this rare event, and it's going to get really busy in our city."
With a record number of tourists expected to converge on the Buffalo area to view the eclipse, as well as the potential for heavy traffic congestion and disruptions in cell service, all City residents are being urged to plan in advance, and to avoid unnecessary travel on that day, especially during the peak of the eclipse and the anticipated influx of traffic right after.
"With crowd estimates of half a million to a million people converging on the Buffalo area, we're asking residents to take this event seriously," Mayor Brown said. "If people are viewing the events from their homes, you will be happy to know there is no bad vantage point to view the eclipse in the City of Buffalo."
Mayor Brown further advises residents to not wait until Monday to tend to any urgent errands, such as grabbing any needed prescriptions or needed grocery items for your home.
City of Buffalo officials and emergency planners also announced on Monday that Buffalo City Hall will be closed next week on the day of the Total Solar Eclipse out of an abundance of caution with the anticipation of traffic being significantly increased.
"This decision is part of the city's comprehensive approach to eclipse preparedness, which includes traffic management strategies, enhanced emergency response capabilities, and community engagement activities. By closing city offices during the eclipse, we hope to minimize traffic congestion," Mayor Brown explained.
In addition, city officials also announced on Monday that trash and recycling pickups in Buffalo will be delayed by one day during the week of the eclipse. There will be no collections in Buffalo on Monday, April 8. Collections will be one day later than usual throughout the entire week.
Also, there will be no bulk trash pickup in the Ellicott Council District on Monday, April 8, but it will resume on Tuesday. Residents should still put their bulk trash curbside on Sunday, April 7.
"The stoppage of service for one day, a delay of one day on sanitation and recycling. We've coordinated with our partners, so Monday's pickup will not occur, as the mayor said. That will be Tuesday, Tuesday will be Wednesday, Wednesday will be Thursday. Everybody's pickup next week will be pushed back one day, and again, we're asking you put out bulk trash as normal per the schedule in the Ellicott District, but we will not pick up on Monday," said Public Works Commissioner Nate Marton on Monday. "Our goal is to eliminate as much of that traffic, from our perspective, that can be on the street, so we'll ask for the cooperation, on that standpoint."
The City of Buffalo Parking Department is also asking and advising the public that parking must be in designated parking spaces only. Parking rules will be strictly enforced on Monday, April 8, and no parking is allowed on grass or other areas not designated for parking.
"Our parks are opened to be enjoyed by the residents. I know we encourage people to walk to those, but if you go to a park, if you drive to one, please do not park on the grass, do not park on the fields. Use the designated parking areas, we'll have staff and [Buffalo] Olmsted [Parks] will have staff in their major parks to facilitate some conversations, but we just ask to protect our parks," Marton said. "If you bring things in, if you're going to spend a little bit of time, please don't leave garbage in the parks. What you bring into a park, please take out with you as well."
In addition, Marton says that all roadwork in the City of Buffalo next Monday and Tuesday will be put on hold to better accommodate for any traffic needs in the city.
To stay best informed about the eclipse, City residents should text ECLIPSE to 38276. More eclipse information can be found on the City’s eclipse web page, www.buffalony.gov/eclipse.
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