Monday, November 29, 1999
Path to grandma's was clear
Good weather good news for fliers, drivers
BY SARA J. BENNETT and SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Barb and Paul Michael of Cincinnati watch at the window Sunday as a United Airlines jet departs from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
(Josh Biggs photo)
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Tristate travelers experienced smooth sailing Thanksgiving weekend — the holiday that is the heaviest traveled of the year.
Traffic fatalities were down from last year as of Sunday evening; Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport reported brisk but smooth business; and Greyhound Buslines — while enjoying its busiest Thanksgiving in more than a decade — also had one of its most hassle-free holidays.
“This is the busiest holiday I've ever worked, and I've been here 14 years,” terminal manager Virginia Purdy said as she surveyed the crowded downtown station Sunday afternoon. “Today is our biggest day of the year, and I'd say there'll be about 2,600 people through here.” A typical Sunday sees a quarter the amount of bus service offered, she said.
Despite heavy traffic on lo cal roadways, the Ohio Highway Patrol logged 20 fatalities statewide by 8:30 p.m. Sunday evening. That figure is down from last year's 22 fatalities.
Troopers reported just three fatalities in the Greater Cincinnati area by Sunday night, including two Mason High School students who died on a rural road in Turtlecreek Township the afternoon before Thanksgiving.
“Actually, it's been pretty quiet (compared to recent years),” said Sgt. Brian Rhodes of the Highway Patrol's Georgetown post in Brown County.
Kentucky traffic statistics were to be released today.
A record 33.8 million people nationwide were expected to travel this weekend, according to the American Automobile Association. About 82 percent of them were expected to be on the nation's highways.
At Greyhound, where ridership is up for the year, Ms. Purdy said Cincinnati's terminal saw the most holiday riders it has had since 1989.
“We're getting customers and drivers out on time,” Ms. Purdy said.
Well, almost on time. Dorothy Williams' bus was scheduled to depart at 5:10 p.m. But at 5:30 p.m., the 52-year-old Cleveland woman sat in the terminal crocheting.
Ms. Williams, who rides Greyhound to Cincinnati every Thanksgiving to visit her sister, wasn't complaining.
“This is better than last year,” she said. “It was crowded, and I had to wait for another bus.”
At the airport, in the return stalls of nearby Hertz Rental Car, vehicles were lined up bumper to bumper. Most travelers were too pressed to talk to a reporter.
That wasn't the case for Cathy Shriver, a Morristown, N.J., resident intent on returning a rental car before flying home Sunday night. She and her two sons spent Thanksgiving with their Ohio relatives.
“This didn't seem bad at all,” said Mrs. Shriver, marveling at the lack of traffic and driving hassles along Interstates 71 and 75.
Delta spokesman Dave Anderson attributed the smooth airport service to good weather across the United States, new airport technology that helps speed ticketing and boarding, and increased use of electronic ticketing.
Statistics on airport traffic were to be compiled today. Delta expected 143,000 travelers to pass through its terminal over the holiday weekend.
“I don't think we will experience any new, historic records,” Mr. Anderson said. “We were expecting a small increase over what we did last year — probably 4 to 5 percent, and it looks like that's where we're going to be.”
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