(The following story by David Patch appeared on the Toledo Blade website on November 25.)
TOLEDO, Ohio — The busiest travel weekend of the year should be more than 2 percent busier than it was in 2002, with most of the increases reflected on the nation?s highways, AAA has predicted.
Motorists should expect to pay slightly more for gasoline than they did during the Thanksgiving weekend a year ago, but substantially less than they paid in late summer, the auto club said.
Road construction delays should be minimal.
Layoffs at the Transportation Security Administration have prompted fears of extensive delays at airport security checkpoints.
But Michael Conway, spokesman for Detroit Metropolitan-Wayne County Airport, said TSA has assured airport officials that all checkpoint lanes at Metro will be staffed during the Thanksgiving weekend, “even if they have to force overtime to do it.”
Even so, Metro officials urged passengers to get to the airport at least two hours before their scheduled departures. Travelers using Toledo Express Airport should allow at least 90 minutes during peak travel periods.
People picking up holiday visitors at Metro should not plan waiting in their vehicles at arrival curbs. Airport police are directing all vehicles not involved in loading or unloading to move along, Mr. Conway said.
To encourage greeters to use short-term parking, Metro is charging just $1 for the first 45 minutes, though after that the rate jumps $4 for the next 15 minutes, and $1 more for each of the next two half-hours.
At Toledo Express, the first 15 minutes in short-term parking is free.
Those who haven?t booked trips yet might have trouble finding space.
Kris Nichter, air service development manager at Toledo Express, said a sampling of airlines showed flights today, tomorrow, and Saturday through Monday are about 80 percent full, and that includes evening flights that may be totally sold out.
Based on a preholiday survey of 1,300 adults, AAA expects 36 million Americans to travel more than 50 miles from home between now and Monday – 2.4 percent more than the 35.2 million who did so a year ago.
About 31.1 million, or 86 percent, of those travelers, will drive to their destinations, the auto club said, while about 4.6 million will fly, and 300,000 expect to take a bus or train.
The national average gasoline price of $1.50 a gallon is about four cents more expensive than a year ago, but 24 cents cheaper than the pre-Labor Day average, AAA said. Toledo prices bounced into the upper $1.50s for self-serve, unleaded regular on Thursday, gradually slipped lower during the weekend, and now are generally within a few pennies of the national average.
Although construction of I-280?s new Maumee River bridge continues, no lane closings are planned for this weekend. Most other road work in the region has ended for the season.
The Ohio Turnpike officials said all lanes would be open, with extra toll collectors and state troopers on duty during the weekend.
Amtrak planned to add extra cars to many of its trains across the nation. Reservations are required for all Amtrak trains serving the Toledo area, and passengers must display photo identification when buying tickets.
Greyhound Lines said it would have extra buses and drivers available to provide additional service on heavily used routes. Bus travel tends to be heaviest today and Sunday, spokesman Kim Plaskett said.
Air travelers have the most planning to do before leaving home.
Airports, airlines, and federal authorities all issued reminders that passengers should avoid wearing clothes with metal snaps, buttons, or buckles to minimize checkpoint delays. In addition, they should put all metallic items in their carry-on baggage beforehand.
Photographic film should be put in carry-ons, not checked baggage, because checked-baggage scanners will fog the film, they said.
But any item that could be perceived as a weapon, including pocketknives, sharp-pointed scissors, and straight razors, should be checked.
Any such items that are confiscated at security checkpoints will not be returned.
Weather is not expected to be a travel obstacle in the Toledo area today or tomorrow. Forecasters said today will be chilly but sunny.
Tomorrow will remain cool but dry. Showers are possible tomorrow night and Thursday.