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Though the number of Virginians traveling will be down, airports like Dulles will still be crowded.
Charles Dharapak/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Fewer in state plan to travel
Most will travel by car. The rest will take a plane, bus or train
BY KAREN BOLIPATA
Date published: 12/22/2008
BY KAREN BOLIPATA
Just like on Thanksgiving, more Virginians are staying close to home on Christmas.
Nearly 1.8 million Virginians are traveling 50 miles or more, 2.1 percent fewer than last year, said John Town-send, manager of public and government affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic. It's the first time since 2002 there's been a decline in Christmas holiday travel, and many say the economy is keeping them home.
Though numbers are down from last year, the 63.9 million Americans traveling are the third-largest group of Christmas travelers since 2000.
Most will drive, and the rest will take a plane, train or bus. Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day to travel.
BY CAR
The 1.4 million Virginians hitting the road this week can expect gas prices $1.29 per gallon less than last year and 35 cents less than a month ago.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will open lanes temporarily closed for construction or maintenance from noon Wednesday until noon Friday, and again from noon Dec. 31 until noon Jan. 2, except for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
In Fredericksburg, U.S. 1 between Massaponax and Prince William County is expected to be heavily congested, said VDOT spokeswoman Tina Bundy.
Motorists are encouraged to plan trips and to look on va511.com to reroute their travel around congestion.
Traffic deaths are down so far this year, but that doesn't mean motorists shouldn't practice safe driving habits, Bundy stressed Travelers are encouraged to buckle up, avoid distractions, share the road, obey speed limits and drive drug- and alcohol-free.
BY PLANE
The heaviest days to travel depend on the airport. At Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, the next two days will be the busiest days to fly. Dulles International Airport in Chantilly will see the most travelers tomorrow.
Airlines saw fewer travelers on Thanksgiving, and a similar decrease is expected this week.
"Many of the airlines have reduced some of their flights to the same destinations or they've brought in smaller aircraft," Metropolitan Wash-ington Airports Authority Public Affairs Manager Tara Hamilton said.
About 8.1 million people will travel by plane, 8.5 percent fewer than last year, according to AAA.
If you're lugging presents on the flight, leave them unwrapped in case you're requested to open them at security. The Transportation Security Administration is staffing family lanes at all airports for those with children or carrying liquid medications.
To see a complete tip sheet, visit mwaa.com.
Karen Bolipata 540/374-5418
Email: kbolipata@freelancestar.com
Date published: 12/22/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Stay home
(posted by
wc2
, Dec. 22, 2008 10:45 am)
IF THINGS GET MUCH WORST, Alot of us will be walking.
That won't be that bad. I remember when I walked about
ervery where I went. I GUESS WHAT GOES AROUND
COMES AROUND. LETS ALL BUY A GOOD PAIR
WALKING SHOES.
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