'Know Before You Go' campaign to curb congestion during Super Bowl
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - “Know before you go.” That's the slogan and the traffic plan the Super Bowl Host Committee is trying to drive home to Houstonians and visitors to the city.
Over the course of 10 days, 1 million people are expected to enjoy all of the Super Bowl festivities here in Houston. That could lead to a parking nightmare, but not if you know before you go.
“We developed the Know Before You Go traffic plan,” explains Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. If the crowds and congestion of Super Bowl give you a headache just thinking about it you certainly don't want to get caught in it.
”You can know before you go. You can plan ahead and you can make life easier for yourself and everybody else as well,” adds Bob Eury with the Super Bowl Host Committee.
So how are you supposed to know before you go? Well, there's almost an app for that. The Houston Super Bowl Host Committee app coming in December will allow you to pre-pay for a parking spot.
”You'll be able to purchase it via your phone or the website and it'll give you turn by turn directions to your lot. You'll be able to show your pass or print it out like a boarding pass,” explains Kyle Chank with the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee.
You can also turn to the houstonsuperbowl.com/transportation website to find out which downtown streets will be closed, which area shuttle is more convenient and where bike share locations are. Have your own bike? A bicycle valet will be set up at Super Bowl Live to keep your bicycle secure while you're inside.
Public transportation will run on an extended schedule. “Bus service and rail service, they'll be running at least two hours after super bowl live events end,” explains Jerome Gray with METRO.
If you've considered all of this information and you think you don't need to know before you go, think again. "You may think you know how you're going to get around but not really,” says Judge Emmett.
There will also be "Six In The City". Any taxi will take you anywhere in Downtown Houston during Houston Super Week for $6. So make a plan for attending Super Bowl events and make “Know Before You Go” more than a slogan.