Snow Falling On Busiest Travel Day Of Year
Team Coverage By Nicole Brewer, Jan Carabeo, Mike DeNardo, Tim Jimenez, Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Light rain this morning will be changing to snow and the timing just could not be worse as thousands of drivers are expect to hit area roads today.
Mother nature has impeccable timing serving you up our region's first significant snow storms on one
of the busiest travel days of the year, but PennDOT is prepared.
Crews in Montgomery, Chester and Bucks Counties are already out there in full force. Other trucks in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties will also be out this morning.
Heavier snowfall will be happening in the afternoon hours and that is when most of the vehicles will be on the road. PennDOT has access to 444 trucks, ready to take on this winter storm event however it may fall.
Fortunately, the last two warm days and the rain before the snow should help.
"The road is still quite warm," says Leo Taoso with PennDOT. "We don't expect to see heavy accumulation on the road surfaces. You will see more on the lawns."
PennDOT is asking people to use common sense out and about on the roads. In addition to adjusting travel times and waiting out this storm they are also asking for folks to decrease their speed and increase the travel distance between themselves and other vehicles, especially those PennDOT trucks. They want you to leave six car lengths between you and the plow.
Travelers in New Jersey got started bright and early today and tell KYW Newsradio they haven't encountered any problems in the early morning hours. One million New Jerseyians are expected to travel at least 50 miles today.
For those travelers flying, the FAA has issued a ground delay alert averaging 1 hour 43 minutes at Philadelphia International Airport.
Some airlines are waving fees if you choose to change your plans. People who don't change their flights know they could be in for a long day.
"I'm gearing up. I have made a play list on my iPod, I know I will be sitting here a long time," this traveler tells CBS3 Eyewitness News.
This year folks are bracing for the worst. Add bad weather to the busiest travel day of the year and you
have a recipe for major delays.
"The airlines have lifted their fees for changing, and are encouraging people to change their flight to avoid
Wednesday and anticipated bad weather," explains airport spokesperson Mary Flannery.
Kim of Peckville. Pa. is heading to Fort Lauderdale and tells KYW Newsradio she had no second thoughts about flying today and is glad to be leaving the snow behind.
Around 90,000 travelers are expected to pass through PHL.
Over at 30th Street Station the trains are rolling and Amtrak has added trains this holiday, but most tickets are already taken.
"If you are looking to change your plans act fast," says Craig Schultz with Amtrak, "get to amtrak.com, check back frequently in case other people cancel. There might be availability there."
The annual rush to make it home for the holidays never feels easy, but some years are better than others.
"The ticketing is crazy, so it is really difficult to go spend time with your family," traveler Cassandra Mvie tells CBS3.
Joe from Philadelphia tells KYW Newsradio he had to change his plans:
"What I decided to do is take the first train to Newark Airport, and then from Newark Airport I'm going to try to move my flight up as early as possible and fly to Toronto."
About 80,000 people are expected to go through 30th Street Station during the holiday week.