Hollister
– Many residents will be leaving Hollister for the Christmas
holidays, and local architect David Huboi is no exception.
Hollister – Many residents will be leaving Hollister for the Christmas holidays, and local architect David Huboi is no exception.
Huboi said that on Sunday, he will be braving Bay Area highways to visit his wife’s sister and family in Novato. The numerous holiday travelers usually mean packed roadways, but Huboi said he isn’t worried about traffic during his 120-mile drive.
“Traffic didn’t seem to be that bad last year,” Huboi said.
Congestion on other holidays, including Labor Day, can scare Huboi off the road, he noted.
Huboi added that he has a good collection of music CDs and audiobooks to keep him entertained when traffic slows down, as it often does on U.S. Highway 101 near Morgan Hill.
“A lot of people think about traveling as being all about the destination,” Huboi said. “If it’s delayed, then they’re upset. On the other hand, I like to think of it as more of a continuous experience.”
Lt. Roy Iler of the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department predicted traffic will start getting really bad on Friday, as most people head off for their vacations. He said Highways 25 and 156, as well as the Don Pacheco Y, will stay congested over the weekend, and that traffic will get congested again over the following New Year’s weekend.
The California Highway Patrol announced it will be implementing a maximum enforcement period from Dec. 22 to Dec. 25 and from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1. During that period, every available CHP officer will be patrolling the roads.
CHP representatives said that due to their enforcement efforts, the recent Thanksgiving holiday saw a 30 percent reduction in traffic fatalities from the same period last year.
Iler said drivers should give themselves ample time and prepare alternate routes in case of bad traffic or accidents.
“Slow down and keep your distance,” he added.
The American Automobile Association predicted that 64.9 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home during the holiday season; that number is up 2.2 percent from 2005. Driving among Californians is expected to increase by 1.4 percent, while air travel is predicted to go up 2.7 percent.
Cynthia Harris, a spokeswoman for the AAA of Northern California, echoed Iler’s prediction that Friday will be a particularly busy travel day. She also said Tuesday and New Year’s day will see many people returning from their holidays.
“The airports are already jammed and congested,” she said.
Harris noted that 2006 is also shaping up to be the worst year in more than a decade for lost, delayed, damaged or stolen airline baggage. She attributed this to heightened airport restrictions, which are causing more people to check their luggage in rather than carrying it on board.
“There’s more baggage checked in, so there’s more baggage being lost,” Harris said. “It’s been pretty chaotic for some airlines.”
She said the AAA encourages travelers to make sure they’re familiar with security restrictions, particularly the fact that liquids and gel carry-ons are only allowed in containers that are three ounces or smaller, and they must be placed in a clear plastic bag.
Luckily, Hollister resident Pat Richardson said she won’t have to worry about traffic, crowds or restrictions, because her children will be driving to her house on Christmas Day. However, she’s still going to make a point of staying off the freeways during the holiday weekend.
“It’s crazy out there,” Richardson said. “I spent Thanksgiving in Salinas, and coming home was scary.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
