Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As expected, a record number of visitors made their way to parts of New York State this past Monday, including Western New York, to take in the Total Solar Eclipse.
According to officials in the Governor's Office on Friday, from April 6 to April 9, nearly one million people visited New York State Parks, which is an increase of 45% compared to last year alone.
The New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Department of Transportation recorded significant increases in vehicle travel, and the New York Power Authority provided nearly double the charging miles for electric vehicles when compared to the previous week.
Even New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was one of the 45,000 visitors to take in the once in a lifetime experience during Monday’s celestial event at Niagara Falls State Park.
"From majestic Niagara Falls to the mighty Adirondacks, New York was one of the best places on earth to witness this once-in-a-generation celestial event," said Gov. Hochul. "We planned for more than a year to welcome a record number of visitors during the total solar eclipse, and those preparations helped this event go off safely and successfully."
In October 2022, Gov. Hochul convened an Interagency Task Force comprised of nearly two dozen state agencies and authorities to prepare to welcome the influx of visitors the state expected for this once-in-a-generation event. New York State agencies involved in the Interagency Task Force reported record services provided to residents and travelers.
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New York State Parks
On April 8 alone, New York State Parks welcomed more than 326,500 visitors, an over 52% jump in attendance compared to last year. 12 state parks reached full capacity on April 8:
- Cayuga Lake (Seneca County)
- Chimney Bluffs (Wayne County)
- Crown Point (Essex County)
- Cumberland Bay (Clinton County)
- Fair Haven State Park (Cayuga County)
- John Brown Farm (Essex County)
- Point Au Roche (Clinton County)
- Robert Whele (Jefferson County)
- Selkirk (Oswego County)
- Seneca Lake (Seneca County)
- Southwick Beach (Jefferson County)
- Stony Brook State Park (Steuben County)
Governor Hochul opened campgrounds at State Parks within the Path of Totality early to accommodate visitors for the Total Solar Eclipse, which were 100% booked the night of April 7, and 93% booked the night of April 8.
To welcome visitors, New York State Parks and Historic Sites hosted numerous eclipse-viewing gatherings on April 8. Additionally, scientists, subject matter experts and astronauts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) provided programming and exhibits at Niagara Falls State Park through April 8.
New York Power Authority
On April 7 and April 8, the New York State Power Authority reported that EVolve Stations dispensed over 260,000 miles of driving, which is over 115,000 more miles dispensed than the same days the previous week.
New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation staff and resources were fully engaged up to and through the eclipse monitoring traffic conditions, responding to emergencies and helping motorists get to their destinations safely and with as few delays as possible.
As expected, New York State experienced moderate-to-heavy traffic volumes in certain areas along the path of totality, especially in the North Country and Adirondacks, and aside from a few crashes that were addressed quickly, there were no major reported incidents.
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New York State Thruway Authority
During the five-day period from Friday, April 5 to Tuesday, April 9, over 5.5 million toll transactions were recorded. The peak day was Tuesday, April 9, with more than 1.2 million toll transactions, a 21% surge over the previous year.
Gas sales and overall sales at the service areas almost doubled during the eclipse weekend, with the peak day being Tuesday, April 9, similar to a summer travel weekend.
In addition, charging sessions at the EV charging stations increased by over 111% compared to weekdays in March.
New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority
New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority facilities welcomed more than 10,000 guests, including at Whiteface Mountain, Gore Mountain, Belleayre Mountain, the Olympic Center, Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the Olympic Jumping Complex.
All of the facilities were open access for eclipse viewing on April 8 and held special events for visitors. The venues are primarily utilized for visitor attractions, recreation, training and competition.
New York State Office of Information Technology Services
In partnership with New York State Parks, the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) significantly improved the digital infrastructure within Niagara Falls State Park as part of a large-scale initiative that involved the deployment of a highly resilient, robust, and high-speed network to enhance visitor experiences.
In addition, ITS employees were on site before and during the event to ensure success.