Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - With just 17 days remaining until the Total Solar Eclipse, Niagara Falls representatives and officials have been working together to solidify logistical plans for safe and fun eclipse viewing on April 8.
"National Geographic listed viewing the eclipse in Niagara Falls as one of the Top 20 Coolest Adventures for 2024. So needless to say, we're gearing up for an extremely busy and action-packed weekend," says Andrea Czopp, COO of Destination Niagara USA.
Similar to the programming happening at the Buffalo Museum of Science and Sahlen's Field, NASA representatives will be in Niagara Falls in the days leading up to the Total Solar Eclipse for education presentations and to livestream the event itself on the day.
"Those locations include the Niagara Falls State Park, the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, the New York Power Authority, Power Vista, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, the Aquarium of Niagara, the Niagara Aerospace Museum, and the Niagara Falls Public Libraries," said Czopp.
In addition, programming will be taking place all over the city and in Niagara County. You can find a full list of events and everything else regarding the eclipse here.
"Niagara Falls generally is prepared for spectacular events, we have a spectacular event every day, just down at the falls," added Niagara Falls Mayor Rob Restaino.
"However, this particular event promises to bring many, many more people to our area in a confined period of time. So what we have been doing over the course of the last several weeks is having meetings with our police, fire and public works in an effort to make sure that we can provide the most streamlined, safe and efficient experience for visitors and guests."
This coordination also includes cooperation with NITTEC, county emergency management, state troopers, state park police, and NYSDOT, especially to help alleviate traffic from the massive influx of visitors.
"We've developed a comprehensive messaging plan for before, during and after the event that will be displayed and portable, and permanent variable message signs the lighted message signs," said Regional Public Informational Officer for New York State Department of Transportation Susan Surdej.
"And we encourage everyone to take note of those messages. Pre-event messaging will begin on March 27. And again, we encourage everyone to take note of those messages. That will help us to effectively manage the traffic.
We encourage all participants to watch the solar eclipse to come early and stay late and that will greatly help us manage the traffic flow. DOT will be activating their regional operations center on April 8, we will be working closely with state police and state parks, who will be part of our operations center to ensure seamless communications with our other partners which will allow us to monitor and react to real time traffic or incidents through cameras and drones."
In addition, Destination Niagara USA has worked with local police to develop a parking map that will be distributed to people in traffic from police.