3 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - With Thanksgiving Day just hours away, travelers on Sacramento's highways, railways and runways were finding smooth sailing making it to their holiday destinations Wednesday.
Police at Cal Expo are looking for drunk drivers this holiday. Police officers near the fairgrounds will be looking for impared drivers until early Thanksgiving morning.
"If you drink, do everyone a favor. Don't drive," said Cal Expo Sgt. Dan Daly.
A California Highway Patrol maximum enforcement period officially got underway Wednesday as officers statewide looked out for drunk drivers, speeders and seatbelt violations.
Meanwhile, despite some delays across the country, lines at local airports and train stations were relatively small. Even though traffic was expected to increase as the night continued, the light Thanksgiving Day Eve travel pattern left many travelers surprised.
Even though there was expected to be an 8 percent increase in travel throughout the state this Thanksgiving holiday compared to last year, the wait to travel Wednesday was nothing compared to busy years.
Despite the travel ease, Sacramento International Airport officials did what they could to make the day go more smoothly, including hiring bands to play in the lobby to make holiday travel a little more bearable.
Lynnae Badal's family said it wasn't a bear to begin with.
"I feel like it's 12 o'clock at night here and there's nobody flying," said her husband.
The Badal family got to the airport, barely waited for their boarding passes and were on their way to a not so normal Thanksgiving getaway.
"We're traveling to get away to Las Vegas," she said. "Viva Las Vegas. To our amazement, there were no lines so (it's) just a perfect traveling time of the year."
But while she was amazed, the light turnout confirmed projections. Triple-A estimated 3.5 million Californians would be travelling this holiday season; an increase of 8 percent over last year.
But airports aren't seeing the travel growth. Air carriers were expected to see a 1 percent decrease; in fact, air travel has been decreasing every year for the past five.
Fewer air travellers, however, means more travellers on the road. Car travel was expected to be up 9 percent with a similar increase projected for other methods like riding the rails.
Tommy Andrews with Amtrak said they expected 125,000 riders Wednesday alone.
"Please don't wait until the last minute to actually get here to travel," Andrews said. "It's better to try to travel with two smaller bags than one big bag. That way, you can utilize compartments on board the train to store your luggage."
But no matter how you get to where you're going, everyone says pack your patience.
"Everyone's trying to get to the same place and the same time, so be patient with each other also be very prepared," said Gina Swankie with the Sacramento International Airport.
While all things seem to be running smooth by plane, train and automobile the California Department of Public Health issued a statement urging anyone with the flu or flu-like symptoms to stay home.
Doctor Mark Horton said the close confinement of travel is not a place for anyone who is sick.
"During the holiday season, we enjoy spending time with family, friends and many others," Horton said. "Whether you're with them in a plane, a car or at the dinner table, remember good hygiene to prevent spreading infection."
For many, that may be tough advice to follow, considering how much tickets cost. Some, but not all, airlines provide a voucher if a traveller can provide a doctor's note.
By Nick Monacelli, nickmonacelli@news10.net
News10/KXTV
