Overview
- AAA projects a year-end record of 122.4 million trips from Dec. 20–Jan. 1, including about 109.5 million drivers and a record 8.03 million domestic fliers, with 4.9 million traveling by bus, train or cruise.
- Traffic analytics point to lighter roads on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with the next major highway crunch expected during the post-Christmas return window Dec. 26–30, especially from late morning through evening.
- TSA says it is fully staffed and expects to screen more than 44 million travelers through Jan. 4, is enforcing REAL ID at checkpoints, and notes some lanes and technologies may speed screening in select airports.
- Airport operators report heavier crowds and advise extra time because of ongoing projects, including the Port Authority’s JFK redevelopment; projections include 5.7 million travelers across New York–New Jersey airports and a roughly 5% year-over-year increase at Philadelphia International.
- Agencies are trying to ease backups as weather poses localized risks, with MassDOT pausing most roadway work during peak days and forecasters flagging New England snow and Bay Area storms that could disrupt plans.