With the unofficial start of summer inching closer, travel is expected to surge above pre-pandemic levels for the first time, resulting in an increase in travel costs for the estimated 2.8 million New Yorkers seeking shelter. It could cause more headaches, according to the latest report from AAA.
About 2.5 million of those New Yorkers plan to drive to their destinations, the most expected in the state since AAA tracking began in 2000. More than 43 million travelers in the United States are expected to leave their homes between May 23 and May 27.
Airports are also bracing for a surge, with passenger numbers expected to reach 3.5 million this weekend, an increase of nearly 5% from last year, according to a summary.
“We expect an additional 1 million more travelers this weekend compared to 2019. This not only means we are coming out of a pandemic-era lull, but also a very busy summer travel season. is coming,” said Managing Director Alec Slatke. AAA Northeast Public and Government Affairs.
The worst time to hit the road in New York City is probably Thursday and Friday afternoons, during rush hour traffic. According to data collected last year, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bridges and tunnels experienced more than 60,000 transactions per hour between 3pm and 6pm on Thursdays and 2pm and 4pm on Fridays. has been processed.
The Brooklyn-bound Verrazzano Bridge saw traffic of more than 6,500 cars per hour most of Sunday afternoon and into the evening, and a similar pattern was seen on Monday. Late Thursday afternoon, more than 8,000 cars per hour were passing through the Staten Island-bound Verrazzano Bridge.
AAA says the best time to head home after the festival is around 7 p.m. on Monday, when traffic is expected to be at its lowest.
Because of the Throggs Neck and Whitestone Bridges, the busiest time for northbound traffic is Saturday morning, followed by early Sunday afternoon. More than 8,000 vehicles are expected to pass through the area each hour between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The most active time to drive south on the Throggs Neck and Whitestone Bridges is Thursday night, followed by Sunday night.
