well the summer fun kicks off today with the start of Memorial Day Weekend state and federal transportation agencies say they're anticipating record levels of travel and traffic this year Triple A predicts we'll see the highest number of Travelers on the roads in nearly 20 years that's despite sticker shock from the cost of an airline ticket gas or a hotel room as senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports from Newark Airport it appears people's worries about the economy are no match for Wanderlust I needed to get away needed to get away from work family needed to get away from family Chris we me got away via Spirit Airlines and the que at check-in shows she's not alone it's another record-breaking Memorial Day travel weekend at New York Liberty and all Port Authority airports they expect 2.2 million passengers it was very crowded at the airport we were in shocked when we got there this morning travel was actually pretty smooth if you have uh a pre-check if not General Warden takes a long time really yeah you see a lot of crowds absolutely and it was um 6:00 in the morning when we traveled here and even then it was already packed we were able to get some affordable uh tickets and so we were able to to fly but we were looking at driving but with three small kids we actually seemed like the better choice to to fly this time many passengers feeling the economic squeeze tweaked their travel itineraries planning shorter stays or cheaper hotels the Vincent family lives in newor New York City but chose to fly out of New York yeah well um Spirit the price was right it's definitely a lot more expensive than it used to be um so it makes it a little harder to travel but that's why I'm like I'm going to take advantage I'm going I'm flying out for a wedding so I'm going to make a trip out of it you know cuz flights ain't cheap no more the Port Authority recommended Travelers arrive early pre-book parking and pack a lot of patience as the nation goes on vacation the TSA expects some 3 million passengers to file through checkpoints just today but actually more folks are driving tripa is expecting more than 1 million New Jersey residents to travel this weekend for the Memorial Day holiday that is an increase of 4% compared to last year and it's actually the highest number of Travelers since 2005 aaa's Tracy Noble says gas costs may be a dime a gallon more than last year so folks might plan shorter drives perhaps down the Jersey Shore she says traffic's lighter for early birds and night owls if you're heading out tomorrow say for a day trip the worst times to travel are going to be between 2 and 5:00 p.m. so again head out in the morning or wait till the evening on the return Monday afternoon is going to be the brunt of the gridlock the Port Authorities tried to smooth the ride through Bridges and tunnels we have stopped all non-emergency construction at all of our Hudson River Crossings we are have we will be providing enhanced staff at all of our facilities from PATH stations to The Crossings to the airports back at the airport flight board showed few delays so far so good Nida Adams from Newark lined up for tickets to Miami I been before so like I want to go on the beach have fun the official summer season kickoffs now underway at New York Liberty International Airport I'm Brenda Flanagan and NJ Spotlight news [Music]