(NECN: Kathryn Sotnik, Boston) - About 1 million people expected to take part in the St. Patrick's Day festivities in South Boston on Sunday.
That is why MBTA Police are making sure their security plans are on target.
People are strongly discouraged to carry backpacks, coolers or any type of bag to the parade. If people bring them, they should expect to get searched.
Several perimeters along the parade route, including Boston Police and Massachusetts State Police, will check bags and provide security.
Transit police say they will also have motorcycle officers out to move the crowd along after the end of the parade.
Because so many people try to funnel into the Broadway MBTA stop all at once, MBTA Police say they will be using metal fencing to create a buffer zone, alleviating large crowds from being outside all at once.
"With this whole idea of holding people outside of the station till we can actually get them down, it allows us to perform more observation of people entering the station to watch out for suspicious behavior or suspicious packages," said MBTA Police Deputy Chief Bob Lenehan.
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"It's one of the largest events, if not the largest event in the state, in terms of the public coming out to enjoy the day," said Democratic Rep. Nick Collins of Dorchester. "We're very keenly aware of the security risks and that's why we're down here today working with the officials in preparation."
Transit police told NECN that they feel they are prepared, but they ask everyone to be on their best behavior.
