Come April 8, millions of people are expected to find themselves in the dark—on purpose. That’s the day the moon will slip between the Earth and the Sun, creating a solar eclipse, turning day into night for a few minutes.The only way to experience the full effect of the eclipse is to be in what’s known as the path of totality. In North America, that’s a swath extending from Mazatlan, Mexico through 13 U.S. states from Texas to Maine and up through Canada’s Maritime provinces.
Many of the states in the path of totality have come up with plans to deal with the expected mass of motorists creating traffic jams and delays on routes leading to and from the best viewing spots. “The TMC will collect live information from cameras, on-the-ground personnel, and online sources before, during, and after the Eclipse. The TMC will then disseminate that information to flagging crews, enforcement personnel, and emergency responders, along with potential countermeasures as appropriate,” its website explained.
At LYT, which specializes in traffic management technology, it centers on regulating traffic flow, access for emergency vehicles and even dealing with the effects of inclement weather.