At a Glance
- Nearly 1.4 million Philly commuters expected to travel on Tuesday, the busiest holiday travel day.
- AAA Mid-Atlantic projects 1.2 million road trips and 93,000 airport passengers.
- Philadelphia International Airport reports only 20-minute TSA wait and no flight cancellations.
- Why it matters: Millions of holiday travelers will face traffic, so planning off-peak travel can ease congestion.
Philly is bracing for a holiday travel rush, with AAA Mid-Atlantic forecasting nearly 1.4 million commuters heading to the city on Tuesday. The motor club expects record traffic volumes, while the airport reports smooth operations so far.
Record-Setting Travel Volume Forecast
AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Jana Tidwell told Michael A. Turner from News Of Philadelphia that the club anticipates the highest travel numbers this season.
The forecast includes 1.2 million drivers and 93,000 airport passengers, totaling almost 1.4 million travelers.
At 6:30 a.m., TSA lines at Philadelphia International Airport were moving in about 20 minutes, and no flights had been canceled. Seven flights were delayed as of 7:15 a.m., but overall traffic remained smooth.
Jana Tidwell said:
> “If you could hit the road before ten this morning or later this evening, you’ll see the least impact in terms of traffic,” Tidwell said.
Jana Tidwell added:
> “We will see this ebb and flow throughout the day,” Tidwell said.
Travel Tips and SEPTA Schedule Changes
Commuters are advised to travel off-peak to avoid congestion. SEPTA announced modified schedules for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, affecting Metro, Regional Rail, and bus services.
- On Christmas Eve, Metro and Regional Rail run normal weekday schedules; select bus routes run modified weekday schedules; other buses run weekday levels with no school trips.
- On Christmas Day, Metro and buses run Sunday schedules; bus route 204 does not run; the Cynwyd Line has no service; Regional Rail follows special Christmas schedules.
- SEPTA also alerted riders to look out for “Festibuses,” decorated buses that will roam neighborhoods for the first time this holiday season.
Key Takeaways
- Nearly 1.4 million travelers expected.
- 1.2 million road trips and 93,000 airport passengers.
- Off-peak travel and SEPTA schedule changes can ease congestion.
With traffic already moving smoothly at the airport and AAA predicting record volumes, Philly residents and visitors should plan ahead to navigate the holiday rush.
