AAA: Almost 35 Million to Travel for Holiday

Pennsylvanians will travel in force this Memorial Day, according to AAA. The travel agency’s annual prediction says more than 965,000 will take to the roads, while another 84,000 mean to fly to their holiday destination.

AAA spokeswoman Bevi Powell says the high number of travelers reflects a national trend, despite gas prices hovering about $1.00 higher than last year’s price per gallon.

AAA predicts a total of almost 35 million Americans to take a trip more than 50 miles this Memorial Day.

Powell says when gas prices were high in 2008, travel numbers remained high for that Memorial Day as well. She says vacationers often budgeted less for other aspects of their trips, such as lodging and dining, to make up for the high prices.

As of May 23, the U.S. Department of Energy reports the average price of gas in the Central Atlantic region to be $3.91 per gallon, about $1.08 more than last year’s price.

AAA also expects about 12,000 regional motorists to be stranded this holiday. The travel group advises drivers to 1) inspect their tires, including the spare tire, 2) check and clean their car batteries, and 3) replace wiper blades and wiper fluid if necessary.

More Roadside Assistance Anticipated

Triple-A expects to see an increase in motorists needing roadside assistance during the coming summer travel season. Cindy Brough, a spokeswoman with the automobile club, says several factors are expected to contribute to the rise..."Lower gas prices are putting more vehicles on the highway, and consumes are holding onto their cars longer, therefore they have higher maintenance costs and needs, and some folks because of the economy are actually cutting major repairs out of their household budgets."
Brough says they anticipate roadside assistance calls to rise by 1 and a half percent this summer compared to last year at the same time. In order to avoid becoming part of those statistics, she recommends motorists take their vehicles in for routine maintenance. She says a mistake people commonly make is to weigh down their vehicles with too many belongings when going on vacation.

Gas Prices to Rise, Souces Say

This week's average gas price in Western Pennsylvania is $1.976 and are expected only to go up. Despite oil prices lingering around $40 per barrel, gas prices are rising separately as a result of lower production from refinery plants. Western Pennsylvania Triple A spokesperson Bevi Powell says the stimulus plan could cause gas prices to drop. She says gas prices go hand in hand with the economy. This week's gas price is up about 6 cents from last week's average and down $1.04 from this time last year.

Taxi Passengers Continue to Pay Surcharge

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved an extension to a statewide fuel surcharge for the passenger motor carrier industry. The surcharge was introduced in 2004 as a temporary fix for rising gas costs, but has been renewed every year since its inception because of the continued rising cost of gasoline. The surcharge can be used by taxicabs, paratransit and airport transfer automobiles. The surcharge price changes depending on the price of gasoline and can be found at the PUC's website.

PAT says "dump the pump" tomorrow

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is hoping to see a spike in ridership Thursday. PAT is marking the third annual “dump the pump day” Thursday by giving away a monthly pass but spokesperson David Whipkey says that is just the beginning to what a bus rider can save. The average mass transit commuter save 15 hundred dollars a year in gas costs alone. Whipkey says in the last two years the Port Authority has seen a bump in ridership on “dump the pump day” and he expects the numbers to be even bigger this year with rising gas prices driving up the cost of a daily commute. Whipkey says there is a “mystery” that surrounds ridding the bus or “T” and once people get over that hurdle they often find its is a very easy process.