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Passengers line up for their departing flight from Santa Barbara Airport Thursday evening. Officials urge travelers to be prepared for a busy holiday season. Photo by Victor Maccharoli.

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Thanksgiving travelers should expect busy conditions

By ERIC LINDBERG — Nov. 20, 2009

As the Thanksgiving travel window approaches, local airport and transit officials are urging travelers to prepare for busier-than-normal conditions.

Local residents planning to take a flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport during the most heavily traveled holiday weekend should plan ahead and arrive early — particularly if they are traveling on Wednesday, November 25, and Sunday, November 29.

“Last year, approximately 18,000 passengers passed through the airline terminal during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend — Wednesday through Monday,” according to a Santa Barbara Airport news release.

Those catching a flight are advised to arrive two hours prior to departure in order to find parking, check in and pass through security screening. Travelers should take into account the time necessary to be shuttled from the off-site parking lot.

Airport officials also recommended that travelers check www.tsa.gov to ensure they don’t pack any items that aren’t allowed on commercial aircraft; restrictions remain in place on bottled water and liquids of more than 3 ounces.

Parking options at the airport include a long-term lot on Lopez Road off Hollister Avenue, which includes free shuttle service at all times. More details about parking rates, flights and other airport information are available at www.flysba.com.

In anticipation of increased numbers of travelers, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District is adding service on Wednesday, November 25. The transit agency is running a shuttle through UC Santa Barbara and Goleta to provide additional transportation to the Goleta Amtrak station and the airport.

“We want to provide service to students and others who are taking advantage of multi-modal transportation, such as rail or air travel, to get home for the Thanksgiving holiday,” David Damiano, MTD’s manager of transit development and community relations, said in a news release.

The shuttle will begin running at 7 a.m. and will stop at North Hall, El Colegio, Santa Catalina Dorm, Storke Road and Hollister Avenue, Goleta Amtrak, Hollister and Fairview avenues, Santa Barbara Airport and UCSB’s East Campus. It will run throughout the day and complete its final run at 2 p.m.

Additional service is being offered on Line 24x, the express line from UC Santa Barbara. MTD officials noted that the downtown transit center is closed on Thanksgiving Day and no buses will be running. On Friday, November 27, buses will run on the Sunday schedule.

More information about holiday bus service is available by calling 963-3366 or visiting www.sbmtd.gov.

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