It’s the day before Thanksgiving and that means millions of people are hitting the roads and taking to the skies during the busiest travel day of the year.
According to AAA, about 42.5 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more during the holiday weekend. That’s a four percent increase from last year.
In the Tri-State area, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says it expects more than 5 million people will be using its bridges, tunnels, trains and airports.
“This may be one of the worst times we’ve seen in a long time,” said traffic expert “Gridlock” Sam Schwartz. ”Early returns for motorist surveys conducted by AAA and airport travel show we’re up. We’re up over last year, we’re up over the year before. So we may see record traffic volumes at all the bridges and tunnels leading away from the city.”
In New York City, drivers should expect delays and detours Wednesday in around 81st and 77th streets from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue. That’s where the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day balloons are being inflated.
Starting at 10 a.m., all vehicles will be banned from that area but pedestrians can watch from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m.
If you don’t feel like driving, you could always take mass transit. The Long Island Rail Road is offering extra Thanksgiving weekend service.
In addition, LIRR says trains off-peak fares will be in effect for the entire four-day holiday weekend.
Metro-North will have extra trains leaving Grand Central starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday and plans on operating on a holiday schedule for Thursday.
New Jersey TRANSIT is also offering additional trains from New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Trains will operate on a holiday schedule on Thursday.
More travelers are also expected to take to this skies for the holiday. More than 23 million people will fly to their Thanksgiving destinations.
At our area airports, more than 1.3 million people will travel through Newark Liberty, Kennedy, LaGuardia and Stewart International airports.
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3 Responses
What holiday?? Oh everyone is traveling to fully celebrate Shabbos:)
corny but very cute zaidy. Neither of us live in NY, but i’m sure no one is announcing “what holiday” or “it’s shabbos” when alternate side parking is suspended, and no parking meters.
Good day to sit and learn.