TEXAS, USA — With tens of thousands, possibly even hundreds of thousands of people visiting Central Texas in April for the total solar eclipse, local law enforcement and TXDOT are preparing for the increase in traffic.
Waco Police Department Spokeswoman Cierra Shipley said drivers could see issues parking or getting around town with the influx of people in the area. She wants people to remember that patience will be much needed during the event-packed weekend.
"Know that there are going to be a lot of people here so it might be frustrating at times," Shipley added. "If you're driving around the city or maybe trying to park somewhere, you're trying to go out and do your normal day-to-day things, just please be patient if you can."
Shipley said the biggest concern for Waco PD is Interstate 35 and drivers' decisions during totality.
"Our major concern is those people stopping on I-35," Shipley said. "Stopping on a city street is one thing -- still dangerous, but stopping along I-35 is even more dangerous. We just want to make sure people know when the eclipse is going to happen. Make sure you're at a spot that you are safely able to watch the eclipse and you're not, you know, in the way of traffic or anything else is in the way of traffic."
Shipley said being in a designated parking spot or parking lot for the event is best for your safety and other people's safety.
With the increase in people in town, Waco PD will be busy and will have lots of staff working. Shipley said it's important to leave the 911 lines available for actual emergencies, but if you need help or information about the eclipse you can call the non-emergency line.
"Just know that we do know the eclipse is happening, so don't call 911 that you can't see the sun," Shipley said. "Please only call 911 if you are having an emergency and this is a life or death situation."
With the population set to double and possibly even triple for a couple of days in the area, both Waco PD and Temple Police Department have a goal to keep traffic flowing.
"Temple Police Department will have extra staff the day before and the day after the eclipse and of course, we'll have on-call staff or personnel available as well if those accidents do arise," said Temple PD Spokeswoman Charlese Butler. "As far as traffic, we hope that it just keeps flowing through but if need be, Temple Police Department will have that extra staff available to help those issues if they arise."
Temple PD is hoping no large public event for the eclipse in town will also help keep traffic from congesting city roads.
"We're hoping that traffic will pass through so that we don't really have to deal with the influx of everyone coming here and the issues that may bring to our community," Butler added.
Both Temple PD and Waco PD recommend getting your day-to-day activities done before the eclipse weekend arrives to avoid traffic.
In a statement to 6 News, Jake Smith, the public information officer for TxDOT Waco District, said they are working closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management for the eclipse.
"TxDOT will have statewide messages deployed on DMS signage for drivers. TxDOT encourages motorists to plan ahead, especially for the increase in vehicles using the highway system after the event is done. TxDOT also encourages motorists to not park on the shoulders of roads as a means of viewing the eclipse."