- Title: Low gas prices projected to increase Thanksgiving travel rush
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 18:57
- Keywords: Thanksgiving travel automobiles AAA travel road gas prices holiday airports
- Location: DENVER, COLORADO/WASHINGTON D.C./HOUSTON, TEXAS/CHICAGO, ILLINOIS/ ATLANTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES
- City: DENVER, COLORADO/WASHINGTON D.C./HOUSTON, TEXAS/CHICAGO, ILLINOIS/ ATLANTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00459O1K5J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Bolstered by lower gas prices and increased consumer confidence, a million more travelers will hit the road or fly ahead of this year's annual Thanksgiving celebrations, AAA predicts.
Across the country, 48.7 million people are expected to travel 50 miles (80 km) or more this Thanksgiving - that's 1.9 percent higher than 2015, the travel organization reported.
"It's the best number we have seen in a decade. One million more people are traveling this Thanksgiving than travel last Thanksgiving and 89 percent of all holiday travelers are going by automobile, so the roads are going to be extremely crowded when you have 43 million Americans in the mix," says John Townsend, Manager of Public and Government Affairs of AAA Mid-Atlantic's Washington office.
3.6 million Americans are expected to fly this holiday weekend, with Wednesday being the busiest day to get out of town, according to AAA. Long lines were seen at ticket counters and security checkpoints at major airports across the country.
Weather could complicate travel in several regions. A winter mix of precipitation was expected to hit the Upper Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes region on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. Snow and patches of freezing rain could spread into the Northeast on Wednesday night into Thursday, but snow and ice accumulations would likely be light, the service said.
Amtrak said it had added extra trains and seats to accommodate rail passengers along some of its busiest lines, including along the East Coast, in southern California and the Pacific Northwest. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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