travel | ARLnow.com

Tips for Thanksgiving Travel

Published November 27, 2013 at 10:30AM

For those flying on Thanksgiving, expect crowded airports and airport parking lots until Monday, Dec. 2, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The peak times for holiday flights is early in the morning, between 5:30 and 8:00 a.m., and late afternoon, between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Because of the heavy volume of passengers, MWAA recommends getting to the airport two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights. Because planes will be so full, MWAA recommends packing lightly to ensure carry-on luggage fits in on-board compartments and under the seats.

Around Town

AAA Predicts Slight Decrease in Thanksgiving Travel

By ARLnow.com

Published November 22, 2013 at 3:00PM

AAA says 1,058,000 people will journey out of the Washington area, down from 1,070,5000 last year. A projected 90.7 percent of travelers will get out of town via automobile, while 6.9 percent will take planes. The remainder will take rail and other travel methods.

The D.C. region was home to about 5.9 million residents as of 2012.

Schools

APS Pulling Back From France Exchange Program

By Ethan Rothstein

Published September 25, 2013 at 2:30PM

Photo by wox-globe-trotter

A high school and middle school exchange program to France could be on its last legs after Arlington Public Schools administration took a closer look at its travel policies.

Up until this school year, teachers had been granted “professional leave” for a two-week student exchange trip to Reims, France, one of Arlington’s sister cities. But that is coming to an end, jeopardizing the Reims exchange program — a possibility that’s upsetting some parents.

Traffic

AAA: Expect More Labor Day Travelers This Year

By ARLnow.com

Published August 27, 2013 at 11:00AM

The organization estimates that 811,500 people will travel at least 50 miles this weekend, a 2.6 percent increase from 2012. Of those travelers, 707,000 — or 87 percent — are expected to travel by car. About 8 percent will travel by air and 5 percent will travel by train, bus or boat, AAA projects.

AAA says the average traveler will journey about 600 miles, which is close to the national average. Gas prices are “unlikely to be a major factor for people in determining whether they will travel this Labor Day,” even though most consider the current national average of $3.54 a gallon “too high,” according to AAA.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Memorial Day Travel

By ARLnow.com

Published May 23, 2013 at 9:45AM

The organization forecasts that 873,500 area residents will travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend, down nearly 2 percent from 890,600 last year.

Of those traveling, 795,000 (91 percent) will travel by car and 58,500 (6.6 percent) will travel by plane, AAA said. The air travel forecast is 10 percent below the 65,106 residents who traveled by air around this time last year.

Around Town

High Holiday Travel Numbers Predicted

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 18, 2012 at 4:30PM

More than 41 percent of local residents report travel plans of 50 miles or more during the holiday travel period from Saturday, December 22, 2012 to Tuesday, January 1, 2013. That’s a 2.3 percent increase over last year.

“During Christmas and New Year’s we will experience the highest travel volume this decade, especially by the roadways, the railways, and the waterways,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “The one exception is the airways, and this year, even that is making a comeback.”

Around Town

Thanksgiving Travel Begins, Up Slightly Over Last Year

By Katie Pyzyk

Published November 19, 2012 at 11:55AM

More than 1 million local residents are anticipated to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday, according to AAA. That’s a 1.3 percent increase over last year.

“The consistently solid travel numbers since the 2008 drop, despite high gas prices and a struggling economy, is impressive and reassuring,” said Martha Mitchell Meade, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “The ‘recovery’ rate of the number of holiday travelers has out-paced the economic recovery and, as Thanksgiving is primarily a family holiday, speaks to the importance of family in good times and bad.”

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 11, 2012 at 9:30AM | Updated July 11, 2012 at 9:52AM

Lightning strikes over the Potomac near the Jefferson Memorial (photo courtesy Scott Schlimmer)

Free Slurpee Day — It’s 7/11, which can mean only one thing: it’s Free Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven. The convenience store chain is offering its customers a free 7.11 ounce Slurpee today from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The 7-Eleven website lists 22 stores in Arlington. [Slurpee.com]

Arlington Jeopardy Champ’s Run Ends — Arlington resident Stephanie Fontaine has more than $50,000 to show for her three-day winning streak on Jeopardy. Her streak ended with last night’s episode, when she came some $2,200 short of a fourth victory. [Sun Gazette]

News

APS Employees Meet With Apple Execs

By Katie Pyzyk

Published January 20, 2012 at 9:54AM

Some of the attendees included School Board Member Libby Garvey and Superintendent Patrick Murphy. APS Spokeswoman Linda Erdos notes that of the 12, Garvey was the only one who traveled on her own dime.

As pointed out by the Arlington County Taxpayers Association, some think the trip was an excessive expense, especially considering Arlington spends more per student than any school system in the region. But APS believes it was well worth it.

Traffic

VDOT Suspends Most Lane Closures for Holiday Travel

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 19, 2011 at 2:35PM

In order to make your holiday traveling easier, the Virginia Department of Transportation is suspending most lane closures during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Here’s what VDOT said in a release:

RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is clearing a path for travelers this holiday season by lifting lane closures over the extended Christmas and New Year’s weekends.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Thanksgiving Travel

By ARLnow.com

Published November 23, 2011 at 9:47AM

According to AAA and the Associated Press, Thanksgiving airfare and the cost of filling a tank of gas are both up 20 percent this year.

Nonetheless, 42.5 million people nationwide are expected to hit the roads, rails and airways for Thanksgiving — the highest number since the beginning of the recession. Here in the Washington region, more than 1 million people are expected to travel for the holiday, and the vast majority of them will be getting to their destination via highways, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Around Town

Reagan National Airport Update

By ARLnow.com

Published November 24, 2010 at 9:32AM

So far it looks like smooth sailing at Reagan National Airport.

Currently, the FAA is not reporting any significant arrival or departure delays at the airport. As of about 9:00 this morning, the security lines at Terminal B were virtually non-existent.