Memorial Day travel to set record lows as pandemic keeps people close to home

Many people who typically travel over Memorial Day weekend are trading three days away for more time at home as the coronavirus pandemic leaves countless businesses still closed and social distancing measures in place, travel officials said.

Travel numbers are expected to drop by more than half across the country, with traffic and toll revenue dropping between 50% and 90%, said Patrick Jones, executive director and CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association.

Pennsylvania Turnpike officials are prepared to accommodate 1.1 million motorists for Memorial Day holiday travel this year, down from 2.2 million recorded over the same weekend last year.

“With social distancing guidelines still in practice, this holiday weekend’s travel volume is likely to set a record low,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president at AAA Travel said in a statement, noting that the travel volume will be so low that AAA did not bother to make a travel forecast for the first time in 20 years.

Record low volumes are not only expected on roadways. Travel at Pittsburgh International Airport was down 96% in April compared with the same month in 2019, said spokesman Bob Kerlik.

“While we have seen a slight uptick in passengers the last few weeks, passenger traffic remains down approximately 90%,” Kerlik said.

The number of available seats on flights at the airport are down 70% between Friday and Tuesday, he said.

Ralph Passarelli, 48, of North Huntingdon would typically head to Allegheny County to visit friends or walk around Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh with his family. This year, he plans on staying home.

“I think it’s better,” he said. “This Memorial Day, the weather will be nice. We have things they can do at home. We’ll be OK.”

Jack Winter, 25, of Greensburg also plans to stay home with his mother and siblings rather than visit his grandparents and extended family.

“It was the same at Easter,” he said. “We didn’t get together at Easter, and it’s not a big deal. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Still, about one in three Americans, or about 36%, will travel over the holiday, according to a survey by Cars.com. Of those travelling, 43% plan to visit family or friends, 57% are planning a shorter trip and three-quarters will travel 100 miles or less, the website reported.

Kathy Medeiros of Fawn said her family might have gone to Meadville or Erie —if they all weren’t working over the holiday weekend. Medeiros works for the Turnpike Commission, her husband is a police officer and her son works at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh.

“It’s just the way things are,” she said. “The places where we work are considered essential positions.”

Howard Sproul, 63, of Elizabeth is heading to his house at the Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County with his wife and daughter. He plans to spend the time fishing.

Michelle Andros, 46, of Irwin said she will spend the weekend camping in the Laurel Highlands — the first camping trip of the year for her family of eight.

“We had originally planned this before the pandemic and then, considering all of the restrictions, we figured if the campsites were open that it would be a safe bet to try it because it would be outside mostly,” Andros said.