Turkey, all the fixings – weather, traffic, fuel

Not snow, not heavy traffic and not heavy gas prices will keep us from traveling over Thanksgiving to visit family and friends and taste those lumpless mashed potatoes only grandma can make.

Just be sure you’re ready for all three downsides to Thanksgiving travel.

First is weather.

“The weather has been so good we think people may not be as prepared as they usually are,” said Washington State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Alice Fiman.

Fiman said travelers, particularly those crossing the Cascades, should check and re-check weather forecasts before heading out.

Things aren’t looking so hot. The snow that has stayed away for so long is just beginning to move into Washington and Idaho. So make sure you have good tires, chains and plenty of blankets and food in case you get stuck in traffic on a pass.

On that number two issue of traffic, Snoqualmie Pass congestion is typically worst for eastbound travelers between 1 and 9 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Westbound traffic is worst from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday. The good news is that if you head out early on Thanksgiving day, westbound traffic over the pass isn’t too bad.

On the return trip, traffic volumes on Sunday are very heavy from noon-7 p.m. for eastbound traffic. Westbound traffic is bad from noon-8 p.m., but can reach stop-and-go congestion levels from 2-6 p.m.

According to AAA, about 80 percent of the 38.7 million Americans who will travel 50 miles or farther for Thanksgiving will do so by motor vehicle.

Those who fly should be prepared for delays and frustration. Although airlines have promised to be on top of their game for the holiday, one only needs to flashback to the major problems in the skies earlier this year to apply a shaker of salt to those assurances.

Get to the airport early, make sure liquid toiletries are in containers 3 ounces or smaller in a one-quart zip-up plastic bag, and wear clothing and shoes that will make screening quick. Just remember, AAA predicts that you will be joining 4.7 million people in the skies over the Thanksgiving travel period.

And some of those people haven’t flown in a very long time and may not know the rules.

Those who drive will be dealing with high gas prices, the final leg in the Thanksgiving travel stool.

According to AAA’s daily gas gauge, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the Spokane area on Saturday was $3.25, up from $2.49 a year ago. In the Coeur d’Alene area, gas was $3.09 per gallon compared with $2.34 a gallon this time last year.

But then, Grandma’s mashed potatoes and gravy are worth any price.

STA ridership express

Spokane Transit Authority is anticipating that 2007 will end with double digit percentage ridership growth compared with 2006.

Through the first three quarters of the year, ridership increased by 11.7 percent.

The number of trips people took on the bus in 2006 increased 9.4 percent over 2005, the first full year after STA improved service by adding and adjusting routes and increasing frequency on some lines.

Holiday bus hours

STA will operate on its Sunday bus schedule on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Paratransit service is available from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on those three holidays, with reservations taken from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for service those days.

Leaf pickup

The city of Spokane continues leaf pickup on residential streets this week. Remember that residents should not rake leaves into the street. Here’s this week’s schedule:

Today: Hamblin neighborhood, Rockwood neighborhood, Lidgerwood neighborhood and the South Freya area.

Tuesday: Rockwood neighborhood, Esmeralda neighborhood, East Sprague area.

Sunday: Garry Park area, Liberty/Lincoln area.

Monday, Nov. 26: Garry Park, Liberty/Lincoln area, Central Business District.

Studs out

Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession came out on the side of stud detractors last week when he banned studded tires from the city’s fleet.

The city operates 1,400 vehicles. Of those, 300 used studded tires before the executive order.

Hession cited road damage as a key reason to make the change.

Slow going

Barker Road will be closed Tuesday at Trent Avenue for railroad crossing work.

Hayford Road work continues at Highway 2. Be prepared for detours and delays.

Cheney-Plaza Road is closed from Highway 904 to Alki Street.