Maine Roads Buzz with Holiday Travelers as the Festive Week Kicks Off!

Mainers departing from their homes to celebrate the holidays will be part of the unprecedented number of individuals anticipated to travel in the upcoming two weeks.

This year’s predictions for the busiest travel days are somewhat complicated due to Christmas occurring mid-week, however, specialists suggest that travelers from Maine using planes, trains, or cars are not likely to face the same hold-ups common in metropolitan areas.

The peak day at the Portland International Jetport is predicted to be Monday, as per Zachary Sundquist, the assistant director of the airport.

“We don’t foresee any significant lines or traffic surges here in Portland, but travelers ought to anticipate the connecting hubs to be quite congested,” Sundquist stated.

The estimated number of Americans traveling by train, bus, and cruise for the holidays is around 4.47 million — a nearly 10% rise from last year, based on AAA, the automobile association monitoring travel trends. This marks the highest level in two decades.

BUSY ROADWAYS

Over 119 million Americans are expected to journey at least 50 miles away from home between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1, which would exceed the prior record set in 2019, according to AAA.

Approximately 90% of travelers will be using cars, the organization reports, predicting an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to last year.

“This is the season when unforgettable memories are created with family, and travel is a significant aspect of that,” stated Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in an emailed comment. “This year, as Christmas falls on a Wednesday, we’re predicting record-setting travel figures the weekend prior and the weekend following the holiday.”

Motorists can expect severe traffic delays during the weekends leading up to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX, which forecasts that drivers in Boston and New York City might experience double the usual delays. Travel durations nationally may be up to 30% lengthier.

Traffic will be substantial on the Maine Turnpike, although the vehicle count will be notably less than during the peak summer months.

Erin Courtney, a representative for the Maine Turnpike Authority, mentioned she is unable to project holiday travel figures in the same manner as around Thanksgiving because Christmas varies each year by day of the week. However, turnpike traffic for the initial weeks of December was up 3.3% compared to last year. Year-to-date traffic through November increased by 4.6%, she noted.

Last December saw nearly 7 million transactions at toll stations on the turnpike. In the summer, that figure rises to approximately 9.5 million monthly.

AIR TRAVEL

The trade organization Airlines for America anticipates that U.S. airlines will transport 54 million passengers during a 19-day period commencing on Dec. 19 and concluding on Jan. 6. This figure would signify a 6% increase compared to the previous year.

The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2.

Sundquist indicated that traffic at the jetport during the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s Day is expected to exceed last year’s numbers. The market capacity between Dec. 21 and Jan. 2 is nearly 90,000 seats — a 22% rise from the previous year, he added.

“Passengers may still arrive 90 minutes before their flight and will have ample time to check in and pass through security,” Sundquist remarked.

On Sunday morning, lines were brief at the jetport as air travelers set off for home or to their holiday destinations.

Daniella Gonzalez and her roommate, Veronica Toledo, students from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences in South Portland, were returning to Puerto Rico in time for the festivities and were eager to reunite with family.

“Currently, we’re just organizing everything to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the anticipated busyness,” Gonzalez remarked before boarding her flight. “We’re headed to JFK (International Airport in New York), so I’m quite certain we’re going to encounter (crowds).”

In the meantime, several families waited in baggage claim, clad in holiday attire to greet relatives arriving in Maine.

Eleven-year-old Phoebe and 7-year-old “Bingo” Littlefield, from Farmingdale, rushed to embrace their grandma, Donna Mathias, as she reached Portland from Virginia.

“She’s never missed a Christmas in Maine,” expressed Kaiti Littlefield, the girls’ mother.

Kaiti Littlefield stated that Mathias’ journey from Dulles International Airport was seamless.

“She woke up very early due to concerns about large crowds, but she said she passed through easily,” Kaiti Littlefield noted. “Everyone’s in such high spirits.”

TRAIN TRAVEL

The Amtrak Downeaster is anticipated to be busy this week, according to Taylor Auclair, marketing director for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

“We foresee a bustling travel season extending through year-end, which is fantastic,”she remarked.

Train journeys heading north to Maine will commence a few days prior to Christmas, with numerous trains already completely reserved, Auclair stated. She expects travel to be distributed throughout the week following the festivities.

Auclair mentioned that many individuals view the train as an appealing choice due to the ever-present possibility of wintry conditions.

“We’ll manage the driving for you,” Auclair stated. “Getting off the road is always a wise decision if you have the option.”

Copy the Story Link