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Thanksgiving getaway day off to sunny start

With a forecast of sunny skies, weather will not be an impediment on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

It's a perfect day for a getaway.

With a forecast of sunny skies, weather will not be an impediment on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

But that sunshine will have no affect on the lines that are expected to form at airports and train stations or the congestion that is bound to slow highway travel.

Not only are more people expected to make trips this Thanksgiving weekend than last year, but security has been heightened at airports and rail stations due to terror threats.

For travel information here are some useful links:

Philadelphia International Airport: www.phl.org ... Amtrak: www.amtrak.com ... SEPTA: www.septa.org  ... NJ Transit: www.njtransit.com ... PATCO: www.ridepatco.org ... PennDot: www.511pa.com ...  New Jersey DOT: www.511nj.org ... Delaware DOT: http://www.deldot.gov/information/travel_advisory/ .

In the Philadelphia region, AAA Mid-Atlantic estimates more than 542,000 people in the city and the Pennsylvania suburbs will travel at least 50 miles for the holiday this year, a 1.4 percent increase from 2014 and the highest number since 2007.

Nearly 89 percent of those visiting family and friends out of town will go by car, and about 8.5 percent plan to travel by air, the travel group said.

The State Department has issued a global travel alert, warning citizens of "increased terrorist threats" from groups such as Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram.

"Exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events," the alert said.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said over the weekend that the agency knew "of no credible and specific intelligence indicating a Paris-like plot on the U.S. homeland" as the holiday season approaches, but officials were "working overtime" to monitor threats and evaluate security.

The busiest travel days on the roads, rails and airports will be Wednesday and Sunday.

Those traveling by car will enjoy some of the lowest Thanksgiving gasoline prices since 2008.

In Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania counties, prices were averaging $2.31 per gallon Tuesday, down from $2.96 a year ago. In South Jersey, fuel averages $1.90 per gallon, down from $2.68.

Philadelphia International Airport suggests that travelers arrive at least two hours before their flights in case extra time is needed to check in and get through security.

The airport was also reminding passengers that US Airways has merged with American Airlines and all US Airways signage has been replaced with American branding.

Airport travelers can also take advantage of the recently opened secure corridor that lets passengers walk to and from Terminal F without needing to go through security a second time.