On the Move for Thanksgiving Weekend? Expect a Crowd Nearly Everywhere
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Unless you are in an isolated place away from the general population, or don’t plan on going out much this weekend, you could find yourself entangled in some big crowds.
The early data shows there will be at or near record travelers on trains, planes and in automobiles. From the Automobile Association of America (AAA) to ticket reservations from airlines analysts know seats will be filled and people will be in motion.
Highway 101 has already been showing signs of more cars filling the lanes, from the local population to the travelers on this coastal north-south route. Normally the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times to travel but the Sunday after Thanksgiving has now been given the honor as the busiest day.
They says a good time to travel is Thanksgiving morning when the roads are generally clear.
Caltrans construction will not be taking place Wednesday evening or Thursday.
Amtrak is adding extra cars to its trains in Southern California. Among those that will be riding on the Central Coast will be students from UC Santa Barbara on the southbound train around 1:45 p.m. Traditionally they have filled the cars for that getaway afternoon train.
One Santa Barbara City College student Eila Andresen was getting set for her train ride south and said, “I think the train is the most reliable. It only ever gets delayed a little bit sometimes. It not a big deal. “
She had a seat assigned for this trip but has had to stand in a crowded train in the past. “People get off at LA and after that so that is perfectly half way on my trip,” said Andresen.
One family coming up from the Los Angeles area did not want to do it in the car and said they made the right choice with their kids.
Ben Duckett said, “the trip were perfect, easy and these guys were great. Not too crowded. Everyone was in a good mood, just going to celebrate Thanksgiving.”
A Washington D.C. resident on an extended stay in Santa Barbara said, many family members were on the way. Joel Sarfati said, “all the family is coming in. So were going to have 14 for Thanksgiving. One group just came from Salt Lake City, another from either SLO and from Phoenix, and third group landed in Los Angeles from Seattle.”
Santa Barbara weather was forecasted to be in the 70’s.
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