Smart Moves

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to hit the roads for Labor Day weekend, with today being the second-most traveled day. The Pennsylvania Turnpike predicts 670,000 travelers. Drivers are advised to be patient and courteous on the road. Many people are heading to popular destinations like Washington D.C. and Hersheypark. Some travelers have unique ways of passing the time, like listening to their spouse snore.

Pennsylvania State Police are increasing patrols for Labor Day travel to ensure safe driving and deter violations. Troopers will issue thousands of tickets and emphasize the importance of leaving extra time for travel, maintaining distance, and avoiding distractions. AAA predicts a busy weekend due to pent-up travel demand and lower gas prices. They advise starting journeys early to avoid traffic, which is expected to begin on Thursday and last until Tuesday morning.

Gas prices are expected to hit a six-month low for Labor Day weekend, with the national average dropping to $3.27 per gallon, 50 cents less than last year. In Pennsylvania, the average price is $3.50. The weekend weather will start off cloudy but improve on Sunday and Monday. The Pennsylvania Turnpike expects a 1.7% increase in vehicles compared to last year.

Labor Day travel at Pittsburgh International Airport is expected to be the busiest ever, following a record-breaking July with over 962,000 travelers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts screening more than 17 million people nationwide during the holiday weekend. This summer has been the busiest in TSA's history. Passenger volumes at the airport have increased by 9.4% compared to 2023, and cargo volumes have also risen. Pittsburgh International Airport CEO, Christina Cassotis, attributes the high numbers to the strength of the market.

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll visited employees in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania, highlighting the agency's dedication to maintaining and improving the state's transportation network. With a budget of $11 billion, PennDOT's 11,000 employees are responsible for maintaining 25,000 bridges and 44,000 miles of roadways. The bipartisan budget signed by Governor Shapiro allocates $80.5 million in new funding for road and bridge repairs. PennDOT has completed 164 construction contracts and improved 2,256 miles of roadway. Secretary Carroll emphasized the importance of safety and readiness for the upcoming winter season.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced that $51 million in funding from the Multimodal Transportation Fund has been awarded to 66 transportation projects in the state. The funding will be used for highway, bridge, aviation, ports, and bike and pedestrian initiatives to improve transportation assets and enhance communities. The projects aim to spur economic growth, create jobs, and improve safety and efficiency. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will start accepting applications for the next round of funding in September.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit's Red Line light rail will reopen on Sept. 1 after being closed for over two months. The closure allowed for track replacement, grade crossing reconstruction, and other maintenance projects. Test trips will run before the reopening. The transit agency has over $150 million in infrastructure improvements planned for the light rail in the coming years.

Multiple T stations along the Blue Line in Pittsburgh will be closed on weekends for maintenance work. The closures will take place from 8 p.m. on Fridays until the start of service on Mondays. Alternate stations should be used during the closures. The closures are necessary for applying an epoxy coating to seal the concrete platforms. Similar maintenance is planned for October and possibly November. For more information, contact PRT Customer Service.

Pittsburgh International Airport had its busiest July in nearly two decades, with 962,400 passengers, up 11.2% from last year. The increase is attributed to more flights and larger aircraft serving routes. Year-to-date, the airport has seen 5.73 million passengers, up 9.4% from last year and surpassing 2019 levels.

• Amazon Air is increasing its service at Pittsburgh International Airport.
• They have added a second daily flight.
• The new flights are from Lakeland, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas.
• This is evidence of the airport's growing cargo business.

• Bikers participate in the 31st annual Pedal Pittsburgh event.
• The event involves biking for dozens of miles.
• Bike Pittsburgh claims it is the largest one-day bike ride in Pennsylvania.
• Participants woke up early to take part in the event.
• KDKA-TV's Chilekasi Adele provides a report on the event.

Riverlife, an organization dedicated to caring for Pittsburgh's waterways, has been active for 25 years. It was founded in 1999 after a boat ride that included influential figures like author David McCullough. Riverlife has overseen a $150 million investment in waterfront transformation, leading to $4.2 billion in economic development. The organization has revitalized various riverfront areas, including Point State Park and the South Shore Riverfront Park. Riverlife's future plans include completing a 15-mile loop of parks and trails and participating in the NFL Draft in 2026.