ARLINGTON — The Super Bowl is coming to North Texas in 362 days.
The mayors of Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth have just returned from observing Super Bowl operations in Miami, and they're re-committing to their top priorities: Public safety and transportation.
"We come away united in believing — more than we ever have — that we are capable of putting on the best show the NFL has ever seen with this venue," said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief.
Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck and Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert agree. All three are pushing the idea the idea that it will be critical to tap into the pool of 3,700 Dallas police officers and 1,800 Fort Worth officers to maintain order at hundreds of events.
"We'll have more than we've ever had around and in the stadium,” said Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck.
The mayors also say public transportation, including DART trains, will be critical if the region is to successfully host the crush of visitors.
"If people get caught in traffic jams, if they miss events, then that's how they're going to view the Super Bowl in total," Leppert said. "It doesn't matter what you do after that."
Did anything surprise the mayors on their visit? They say at one large, outdoor event it rained, and there was no contingency plan in place.
In North Texas, they say, visitors can expect a "Plan B."
E-mail dschechter@wfaa.com
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