AAA projects 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the 10-day year-end holiday travel period*. This year’s total number of travelers is a 2.2% increase over last year and the second highest year-end travel forecast since AAA began tracking travel in 2000. 2019 remains the busiest Christmas and New Year’s travel period on record, with 119 million travelers.

“This year’s holiday forecast is a perfect example of the strong travel trends we’ve been seeing all year,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “More Americans are investing in travel, so they can make those special memories with loved ones and experience new places.”

Mid-Atlantic region Year End Forecast Highlights:
*Region includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

AAA expects nearly 104 million people will drive to their holiday destinations, an increase of 1.8% compared to 2022. This year’s projected number of drivers is the second highest on record since 2019, when 108 million drivers hit the road for the holidays. As 2023 ends, drivers can expect to pay about the same or less for a gallon of gas than they did last holiday season, when the national average on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day was $3.10 and $3.20, respectively.

Airports are expected to be the busiest they’ve ever been over the Christmas and New Year’s travel period. AAA projects 7.5 million air travelers this holiday season, surpassing 2019’s record of 7.3 million passengers. Average ticket prices are lower than last year. According to AAA booking data, the average price for a roundtrip ticket to Orlando this holiday season is $613, down from $735 last year.

People traveling by other modes, like bus, train and cruise, are projected to surpass 2019. AAA expects more than 4 million Americans will take alternative transportation over Christmas and New Year’s compared to 3.66 million in 2022 and 3.89 million in 2019. Demand for cruises has skyrocketed post-pandemic, and the industry is preparing for the wave of bookings that traditionally happens at the start of the new year.

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro  

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says there will be several days of potentially bad traffic during the 10-day holiday period. Saturday, December 23 and Thursday, December 28 will be the most congested days on the road. INRIX also says Saturday, December 30, when many people will be heading home from their holiday destinations or traveling for New Year’s Eve, will see an increase in traffic compared to a normal Saturday. The best times to hit the road are before lunchtime or after 7p.m.

“Nationwide, drivers could see travel times up to 20% longer this holiday season. In major metros, especially in Denver, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., drivers could experience nearly double the typical delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Avoid peak commuting hours and use traffic apps, local DOT notifications and 511 services to minimize holiday travel traffic frustrations.”

Top Destinations

This holiday season, many travelers are heading to warm-weather destinations like Florida and the Caribbean, tourist hotspots like New York and Las Vegas, and European cities like London and Rome. Here are the top domestic and international destinations based on AAA flight booking data:

Airport Parking Tips

With a record number of air travelers expected this holiday season, AAA recommends travelers plan ahead and take precautions when driving to the airport and parking their vehicles.

• Reserve a parking spot ahead of time to save time and money.
• Choose a well-lit, secure garage.
• On-site garages tend to be more expensive but offer convenience and peace of mind given their proximity to the terminals.
• If choosing off-site parking, look for reputable businesses like The Parking Spot, which is securely fenced and offers a shuttle to the airport (AAA members get a discount).
• Opt for covered parking if you live in an area expecting inclement weather.
• Remove valuables from your vehicle.
• Lock doors and roll up windows.
• Take a photo of your spot to remember where you parked.
• Keep your ticket – and receipt; if you prepaid – convenient to show when exiting.

AAA to rescue more than 930,000 at the roadside
The 104 million Americans planning to drive over the holidays need to be prepared for slowdowns and breakdowns. AAA expects to respond to more than 930,000 calls for help. Before a trip, vehicles should be inspected to check key components like the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels to avoid an unnecessary breakdown. It’s important to do this as early as possible in case there is an issue that needs to be fixed.

Holiday Forecast Methodology  

Travel Forecast

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from S&P Global Market Intelligence’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing-market indicators and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel-volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor^SM. The PERFORMANCE/Monitor^SM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts more than 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.

The travel forecast is reported in-person trips. AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday-travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of October 9, 2023.

*Year-End Holiday Travel Period

For the purposes of this forecast, the year-end holiday-travel period is defined as the 10-day period from Saturday, December 23, 2023 to Monday, January 1, 2024.

About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology, so they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan today for tomorrow. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.

About DKSA

DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel, both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding more than 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic-planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.

About INRIX   

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent-mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic-signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gases, optimizing last-mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.

Harrisburg, PA –  Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced over $140 million in passenger rail investments through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP-National) grant program and the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program. These investments are part of an $8.2 billion federal investment to transform passenger rail in the United States, and is among the many ways the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) continues to deliver for Pennsylvania’s transportation network.

“From my very first day in office, my Administration has worked aggressively to create real opportunity for the good people of Pennsylvania,” said Governor Shapiro. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and our federal representatives’ support, we have a historic opportunity to build infrastructure that will connect our communities, spur economic development, and create opportunity for generations to come. I am proud of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for winning this competitive funding that will benefit people across the Commonwealth.”

Pennsylvania will receive $143 million through the FSP-National program to support the expansion of passenger rail along the Keystone West corridor between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Currently, the Pennsylvanian Amtrak service travels roundtrip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg once daily. The agreement that Norfolk Southern and PennDOT entered into supports increasing those Pennsylvanian passenger services to twice a day. To support these expanded passenger operations, the Commonwealth will invest more than $200 million in infrastructure and safety improvements, which will now be partially offset by this federal investment.

“Enhancing passenger rail and restoring these connections will deliver new mobility options for Pennsylvanians,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Expanding this service will reduce commute times, help connect hundreds of thousands of residents, and boost local economies.”

Additionally, FRA has identified three passenger rail corridors in Pennsylvania for study and development through the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program, a comprehensive intercity passenger rail planning and development program that will help guide intercity passenger rail development throughout the country and create a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for implementation. The Corridor ID grant funds will support the Scranton to New York Penn Station (NYP) Passenger Rail Corridor project, the Keystone Corridor: Pittsburgh to Philadelphia project, and the Reading-Philadelphia-New York Corridor. Each corridor will receive up to $500,000.

The Scranton to New York Penn Station (NYP) Passenger Rail Corridor project will restore intercity passenger rail service between Scranton, Pennsylvania and New York Penn Station (NYP), providing access to New York City, northwestern New Jersey, and Scranton for employment, business, leisure trips, tourism, recreation, and opportunities at higher education institutions along the route. The Corridor has been the subject of numerous studies, including the Amtrak Connects US Corridor Vision Plan, and long-range transportation plans that show growing demand for intercity passenger rail service along a corridor that has heavy auto traffic and unpredictable travel times for commuters. The Corridor will provide an intercity transportation option for historically under-served northeastern Appalachian Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey.

The Keystone Corridor: Pittsburgh to Philadelphia (Corridor) project will expand, modernize, and improve the two state-supported Amtrak services – the Pennsylvanian and the Keystone Service – to meet the demands of intercity passenger rail in the Corridor and improve co-mingled operations for intercity, commuter, and freight trains. PennDOT’s overarching goals for the Corridor are to increase frequency of service, reduce trip times, and improve the passenger experience, leading to higher ridership. PennDOT and its partners have invested significantly in the Corridor over the past two decades, designing and implementing station and rail infrastructure improvements between Harrisburg and Philadelphia and identifying improvements between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg to allow for a second daily Pennsylvanian frequency.

The Reading-Philadelphia-New York Corridor would connect Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties with Philadelphia and New York City, as well as other communities along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and beyond. The corridor would run on an existing rail alignment that has not had passenger trains running since 1983, wiht new intermediate stops in Pottstown, Phoenixville and potentially Norristown, with four to eight daily roundtrips connecting southeastern Pennsylvanians with Philadelphia and New York, NY, from Reading. This application was submitted by the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published December 11, 2023 9:26 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) A massive congratulations was sent to Aliquippa on winning their FIFTH state championship title, and for an incredible undefeated football season, according to a release.
Peter Hall, President of Kraft Heinz Ingrediants and US Away from Home Congratulated the Quips by writing “It’s been an honor getting to know this amazing community and help support its hardworking students and members – from the unveiling the new home of Heinz Field., to hosting our first-ever mentoring program with bright young leaders from the Aliquippa School District. There is even more to come as we look to break ground on the academic and athletic center”.
The letter was sent to Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods, Dr. Jennifer Damico and Football Coach Mike Warfield.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published December 11, 2023 9:14 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) At approximately 11 pm Friday night a 37 year old male was stabbed in the back in the 300 block of Superior Avenue. Aliquippa Police were dispatched to the scene and the man was life flighted to a Pittsburgh Hospital.
The incident is under investigation, according to police.

(Photos by Daniel Campbell and Frank Sparks)

(Ambridge, Pa.)  A warm December night was chilled out on Friday as Christmas was in the air on Merchant Street in Ambridge. The annual Christmas on Merchant Parade and Festival was held on Friday night.

There were many activities for everyone that featured a Christmas Parade along Merchant Street that featured the big guy from up north himself, Santa Claus.

Beaver County Radio did a live broadcast of the Christmas on Merchant and a live video stream of the event on our Facebook Page and You tube Channel.

You can see the video stream of Beaver County Radio’s broadcast below along wiht pictures of a fun night in Ambridge;

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Mike Kelly (R-PA-16) sent this letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm opposing the Biden Administration’s proposed rule to mandate the use of amorphous metal (AM) cores instead of Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel (GOES) cores. GOES cores are used in electrical distribution transformers across the country.

Currently, there is only one facility in the United States producing GOES, located in Butler, Pennsylvania, which is represented by more than 1,300 United Auto Workers (UAW) employees. Implementation of this proposed rule would jeopardize the Butler, Pennsylvania facility, leave the U.S. electrical grid reliant on imports, and potentially cost over 1,500 American jobs.

Moreover, amorphous metal cores rely on imports of raw materials; a dependency that could leave Americans susceptible to a variety of disruptions, from production to shipping. The Department of Commerce has identified this as a threat to national security.

“Finalizing this rule would significantly impact the production of distribution transformers, which are already difficult to obtain,” the Congressmen wrote in their letter. “Grid security and reliability are vital to our economic and national security.  We respectfully urge you to make serious modifications that preserve utilization of GOES for transformer cores to the proposed rule and thank you for your consideration.”

The administration’s proposed rule comes when the supply chain constraint for distribution transformers has grown significantly, with demand exceeding current rates of production. The current lead time for procuring a distribution transformer is more than 16 months.

“This rule would severely limit the ability of our utility providers to ensure grid reliability and security while making us dependent on foreign imports of amorphous metal,” the Members continued.

The Proposed Rule increases efficiency standards on distribution transformers, which are already no less than 97.7% energy efficient. 

FILE – Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks to Texas state troopers and guardsmen at the South Texas International Airport, Nov. 19, 2023, in Edinburg, Texas. Trump’s lawyers are arguing that he had a good faith basis to question the outcome of the 2020 election that he lost. A defense motion filed late Monday in federal court in Washington asserts that Trump was not obligated to accept at face value the judgments of government officials who found no widespread fraud in the election. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court in Washington has upheld a gag order on former President Donald Trump in his 2020 election interference case but has narrowed the restrictions on his speech. The three-judge panel’s ruling Friday modifies the gag order to allow the Republican 2024 presidential front-runner to make disparaging comments about special counsel Jack Smith. Trump has described the gag order as unconstitutional muzzling of his political speech. Trump could appeal the ruling to the full court or to the Supreme Court. Prosecutors say the restrictions are necessary to shield potential witnesses from harassment and threats inspired by Trump’s incendiary social media posts.

FILE – Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, walks from Marine One upon arrival at Fort McNair, June 25, 2023, in Washington. Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California as a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of the president’s son intensifies against the backdrop of the looming 2024 election.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden has been indicted on tax charges in California as a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son intensifies against the backdrop of the 2024 election. Thursday’s indictment has three felonies and six misdemeanors. Special counsel David Weiss says Hunter Biden “spent millions of dollars on an extravagant lifestyle rather than paying his tax bills.” Defense attorney Abbe Lowell argues prosecutors bowed to political pressure in the case, which had been expected to end with a plea deal before it imploded over the summer. The new charges are in addition to federal firearms charges in Delaware alleging Hunter Biden broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018.