Traffic tie-ups a holiday inevitability

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- Freeway traffic will probably remain as miserable as

ever this holiday weekend. But drivers are feeling pretty good about

plummeting gas prices.

More than 2.6 million Southern Californians will travel this holiday.

And 87% of them will be hitting the road, according to the Auto Club of

Southern California.

They will probably be thankful, too, because gas prices have bottomed

out after rising to nearly $2 around Newport Beach and Costa Mesa earlier

this year, said Jeffrey Spring, spokesman for the auto club.

It is possible that low gas prices may give people the added incentive

to hop in their cars and head to grandma’s house, he added.

“If there are people this year sitting on the fence, wondering whether

to travel, the low gas prices might give them a push in that direction,”

Spring said.

The average price per gallon of unleaded gasoline in Orange County as

of Wednesday was $1.22. That is a penny down from Tuesday and 23 cents

lower than a month ago.

Spring said the number was as low as $1.07 in some cities, such as

Anaheim and La Habra.

This year, there is a 6% drop in the overall number of people

traveling in Southern California but a 4% increase in the number of

people who will be hitting the road, he said.

Greg Reinker of Newport Beach was filling his gas tank at a local pump

Wednesday in preparation for his trip to Phoenix.

“I travel every year, but these gas prices are just making it sweeter

for me,” he said. “They’re just making it so economical and affordable to

drive. I drove to Vegas last weekend. I’m off to Phoenix now. It’s

great.”

Reinker said many of his friends are also resorting to road travel

instead of flying because of the cost factor and long delays at airports.

Bob Stinchfield of Costa Mesa said he is happy gas prices are down but

does not think that it is going to affect people’s travel plans.

“I don’t think prices matter,” he said. “People travel anyway.”

-- Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached

at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .