Author: I-70 Scout

Second highest year-end holiday travel forecast on record.

DENVER (Dec. 11, 2023) – AAA projects 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the 10-day year-end travel period from Saturday, Dec. 23 through Monday, Jan. 1. That marks a 2.2% increase over last year and the second-highest year-end travel forecast on record – coming in just shy of 2019’s record 119 million travelers.  “If 2023 has made anything clear, it’s that Americans see travel as a right, not a privilege,” said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. “Despite inflation, rising interest rates, global unrest and recessionary fears, Americans have decided that travel holds a non-negotiable place in their budgets, and that will persist into the new year. Expect crowds on the roads and at airports – so you must finalize your travel plans ASAP, anticipate longer lines, and build in extra time to get to your destination.”

Auto Travel AAA expects nearly 104 million people will drive to their holiday destinations, a jump of 1.8% over 2022. That’s the second highest on record after 2019, when 108 million drivers hit the road for the holidays.  Gas Prices At a national level, gas prices have fallen every week for 12 weeks straight – or three months. At $3.15 as of Dec. 10, the national average is down from $3.39 at this point last month and sits approximately $0.15 below this time last year. Colorado, meanwhile, has some of the fastest-falling gas prices in the country. At $2.85, prices are down $0.50 on the month and nearly $0.20 from this point last year. The average pump price is highest in Glenwood Springs, at $3.47 per gallon, and lowest in Greeley, at $2.58. With lackluster demand and faltering crude oil, pump prices are expected to continue to decline into early 2024. Air Travel Airports are expected to be the busiest they’ve ever been over the year-end travel period. AAA projects 7.5 million air travelers this holiday season, surpassing 2019’s record of 7.3 million passengers. Average ticket prices have fallen slightly, year over year: Per AAA booking data, the average price for a roundtrip ticket to Orlando this holiday season is $613, down from $735 last year. “AAA recommends booking flights as early as possible to ensure the best combination of price and availability,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA. “Those waiting until the last minute could catch a discount but may have fewer options in terms of non-stop flights and seat availability. Whenever you book, it’s important to consider travel insurance.” “Seemingly every year around this time we hear about winter weather that causes widespread cancellations or delays,” Haas continued. “That’s another reason why we encourage travelers to get travel insurance, which offers protection for covered expenses associated with flight cancellations, lost luggage, and on flights with delays of as little as three hours.” Other Travel The number of people traveling by other modes, like bus, train, and cruise, is projected to surpass 2019. AAA expects more than 4 million Americans will take alternative transportation over Christmas and New Year’s compared to 3.66 million in 2022 and 3.89 million in 2019. Demand for cruises has skyrocketed post-pandemic, and the industry is now preparing for the wave of bookings that traditionally happens at the start of the new year. “Savvy travelers know that right after the holidays is the best time to book a cruise,” Haas said. “That’s when cruise lines offer some of the best deals, and AAA members get exclusive benefits in addition to those discounts.” Congestion INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says there will be several days of potentially bad traffic during the 10-day holiday period. Saturday, December 23, and Thursday, December 28, will be the most congested days on the road. INRIX also says Saturday, December 30, when many people will be heading back home from their holiday destinations or traveling for New Year’s Eve, will see an increase in traffic compared to a normal Saturday. The best times to hit the road are before lunchtime or after 7pm. “Nationwide, drivers could see travel times up to 20% longer this holiday season. In major metros, especially in Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC, drivers could experience nearly double the typical delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Avoid peak commuting hours and use traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services to minimize holiday travel traffic frustrations.” In Colorado, peak congestion is expected on the Front Range on southbound I-25 from Fort Collins to Denver on Friday, Dec. 29 at 2pm – with an estimated travel time of 1 hour, 40 minutes (or 67% above typical).  Top Destinations This holiday season, many travelers are heading to warm weather destinations such as Florida and the Caribbean, tourist hotspots such as New York and Las Vegas, and European cities such as London and Rome. Here are the top domestic and international destinations based on AAA flight booking data. Domestic 1) Orlando, FL 2) Anaheim, CA 3) Chicago, IL 4) Charlotte, NC 5) Miami, FL 6) Atlanta, GA 7) Las Vegas, NV 8) New York, NY 9) Phoenix, AZ 10) Houston, TX International/U.S. Territories 1) London, England 2) St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 3) Aruba 4) Dublin, Ireland 5) Toronto, Ontario, Canada 6) Rome, Italy 7) Reykjavík, Iceland 8) San Juan, Puerto Rico 9) Montego Bay, Jamaica 10) Costa Rica Safety First Approximately 950,000 drivers will call for AAA roadside assistance during the year-end travel period, with more than 10,000 of those in Colorado alone.  The most common calls will relate to dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts. AAA encourages drivers to get a full vehicle inspection before they hit the road to check everything out from the tires up – including oil, the air filter, and wiper blades. We can help you find a mechanic you can trust at AAA.com/AutoRepair. Ensure your vehicle has an emergency kit. This should include jumper cables, a first-aid kit, car/portable phone chargers, a flashlight with extra batteries, and drinking water and snacks for everyone in the car. Don’t forget an extra set of warm clothes, gloves, hats, and blankets.  A mix of winter weather, an increase in impaired drivers, and the influx of auto travelers will make the holidays especially dangerous for those stuck at the roadside. AAA reminds motorists to slow down and move over for first responders and tow trucks, as is required by Colorado law. New this year: These protections are extended, by law, to every driver in any vehicle in the breakdown lane with its hazard lights flashing.  “Everybody on Colorado’s roadways deserves to make it home for the holidays,” McKinley said. “Saving a life is as easy as slowing down and moving over whenever you see any flashing hazard lights at the roadside.” Winter Wise Press Conference CDOT, the Colorado State Patrol, the I-70 Coalition and AAA will gather this week to deliver a collective caution to Colorado drivers ahead of the upcoming holiday travel rush: Winter is here, and drivers must prepare accordingly for winter road conditions. Date/Time: Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, 10:30 a.m.- Noon Location: CDOT Golden Maintenance Shed 17101 West Colfax, Golden, CO 80401 Holiday Forecast Methodology In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from S&P Global Market Intelligence’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000. Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken. The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of October 9, 2023.

LAKEWOOD, Colo. –  Today, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association (GCSA) have filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado regarding the pending release of gray wolves in Colorado.  The lawsuit names U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) as defendants. The associations representing ranchers and farmers across Colorado have filed litigation to address concerns about the potential impacts of wolf introduction on livestock and rural communities. The decision to pursue legal action comes after extensive discussion and consultation with CCA and GCSA members, who are deeply committed to the prosperity of Colorado’s agricultural industry and the well-being of their livestock. Both organizations, CCA and GCSA, have opposed wolf introduction since it was a proposed ballot initiative and were involved in every step of the process.  CCA and GCSA actively participated in developing the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission’s Wolf Management Plan as members expressed detailed oral and written concerns regarding the scope of impacts associated with the potential release.  Those concerns and looming conflicts were not sufficiently resolved during that public process.  The subsequent renewal of the Cooperative Agreement between FWS and CPW authorizing the proposed release is clearly a major federal action that is subject to NEPA requirements.  The following very recent quote from CPW personnel underscores the significance of the introduction program: “I think the whole agency recognizes that there’s nothing we’ve taken on as an agency that’s nearly as big and meaningful.”  Eric Odell, CPW’s Species Conservation Program Manager, statement to 9NEWS, December 6, 2023. Andy Spann, 5th generation rancher from Gunnison and GCSA President, stated: “Impacts of wolf reintroduction, as would any other action of this magnitude, need to be properly reviewed to avoid unintended negative consequences to the natural environment, wildlife, and people of the impacted communities.  GCSA put forth our concerns throughout the public process.  We believe that much of our input, and that of many others across Western Colorado, was diminished by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. We regret that a course of litigation on this and other issues seems to be the only recourse left to have these concerns legitimately addressed.” The litigation aims to ensure that the economic, ecosystem, and animal welfare concerns of livestock producers are adequately addressed before any further steps are taken in the wolf introduction process.  The associations seek to highlight the risks to livestock, wildlife, and the potential economic repercussions for the agriculture sector should the introduction proceed without the proper safeguards and mitigation strategies.  The litigation seeks to delay the release of wolves until the proper environmental impact review has been conducted.  In the interim, the associations are grateful for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife partnership and the finalized FWS 10(j) rule, which went into effect on December 8th, to provide Colorado producers management flexibility for potential wolf and livestock interactions. “Throughout the state’s wolf introduction processes, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association leadership and members dedicated time and effort to ensuring livestock production and rural communities are protected. Today, the association, in partnership with Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, reaffirms its commitment. We regard this path of litigation not out of a desire for conflict, but rather as a testament to our unwavering commitment to supporting Colorado’s agriculture community and producers of the western slope,” said Robert Farnam, CCA President

Amidst this chilly season, we all want to get cozy by putting on our favorite Christmas movie with our loved ones. HubScore has released its latest report on America’s Favorite Christmas Movies by Stateand Colorado’s top Christmas pick has been Home Alone 2.

Entertainment experts at HubScore delved into the top 25 Christmas movies to analyze the top 5 most popular in each state. Home Alone 2 emerged as the nation’s favorite, and the people of Colorado loved watching it.

MOST POPULAR CHRISTMAS MOVIES IN COLORADO
(The most popular Christmas movies in Colorado ranked in order of popularity in 2023)

1. Home Alone 2
2. Home Alone
3. Die Hard
4. The Nightmare Before Christmas
5. A Christmas Carol



Discover more about the most popular Christmas movies in other states here.

Newly released crime data by the FBI revealed that in 2022, Colorado was the most likely state to have your car stolen.

As part of a comprehensive study of the Most Dangerous States in 2023 research firm HubScore delved into the automobile theft data and found that Colorado experienced an additional 4,529 automobile thefts in 2022 compared to 2021.

Colorado Car Theft Data Highlights: 
(Ranked highest to lowest)

• Car Thefts per Capita (2022): 785.7 | Ranked #1
• Number of Car Thefts (2022): 45,883 | Ranked #4
• Number of Car Thefts (2021): 41,354 | Ranked #3
• Change in Car Thefts from 2021: Increased by 11% | Ranked #19

Click the photo to read the December edition of The Detail Newsletter.

 

DENVER- Governor Polis ordered the flags to be lowered to half-staff tomorrow, Wednesday, December 6, 2023, to honor Sergeant Michael Moran, who was killed in the line of duty last week. Flags should be lowered tomorrow, the day of the service, from sunrise to sunset on all public buildings statewide. 

DENVER – Today, Governor Polis announced the annual Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion Holiday Tours. Open to the public annually around the holidays, Coloradans from across our state can tour the Governor’s Residence on Friday and Saturday, December 8th and 9th from 10 am-2 pm. Members of the public are asked to express interest in a tour through this Governor’s Office Form; however, walk-ins are welcomed. 

“This holiday season, I encourage Coloradans to come celebrate with us in Colorado’s House. Our public tours not only give Coloradans a chance to see the Governor’s Residence while beautifully decorated for the holidays, but also learn about the storied history of the home,” said Governor Polis. 

The Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion was recently named a runner-up top wedding venue in the Denver Metro Area by the Colorado Sun. A limited number of weddings can take place at the mansion each year, if you are interested inquire on the Governor’s Residence Wedding website.  

DENVER – Today, Governor Polis ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on all public buildings in honor and remembrance of First Lady Rosalynn Carter as proclaimed by President Biden. Flags should be lowered beginning on Saturday, November 25, 2023, until sunset on the day of the funeral which will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. 

The President’s full proclamation text states: 

Throughout her life as First Lady of Georgia and First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter exemplified hope, warmth, and a steadfast commitment to doing all she could to address many of our society’s greatest needs.  She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for all; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities.  Above all, the deep love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership, and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism.  

As a mark of respect for the memory of Rosalynn Carter, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions from November 25, 2023, until sunset, on the day of interment.  I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.