NEW YORK — The unofficial start of summer is getting closer and travel is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time, potentially causing more headaches on the roads for the estimated 2.8 million residents. from New York looking to escape, according to a new AAA forecast report.
About 2.5 million of those New Yorkers will drive to their destination, which is the highest number projected for the state since AAA tracking began in 2000. Across the United States, more than 43 million travelers are projected to leave home between the May 23 and 27.
Airports are also preparing for a surge with 3.5 million passengers expected this holiday weekend, an increase of nearly 5% from last year, according to the summary.
“We’re projecting 1 million additional travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re weathering pandemic-era lulls, but also signals a busy summer travel season ahead.” said Alec Slatky, managing director of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Northeast.
The worst time to hit the road in New York City will probably be Thursday and Friday afternoons, with the rush-hour crowds of commuters. According to data collected last year, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bridges and tunnels processed more than 60,000 transactions per hour between 3 pm and 6 pm on Thursday and between 2 pm and 4 pm on Friday.
The Brooklyn-bound Verrazzano Bridge had more than 6,500 cars per hour for most of the afternoon into the early evening hours Sunday, with a similar pattern seen Monday. The Staten Island-bound Verrazzano Bridge received more than 8,000 cars per hour late Thursday afternoon.
The best time to return home after the festivities will be around 7 p.m. on Monday, when traffic is expected to be the lowest, according to AAA.
With the Throgs Neck and Whitestone bridges, the busiest time for northbound driving is Saturday morning, followed by early Sunday afternoon. More than 8,000 cars per hour are expected between 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday.
The busiest time to drive south over the Throgs Neck and Whitestone Bridges is Thursday night, followed by Sunday night.
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