NEW YORK - The Port Authority is prepared to handle millions of travelers moving through its airports, bridges, tunnels, terminals and PATH rapid-transit system this Independence Day weekend - one of the summer's busiest travel periods. 

Although activity levels at the Port Authority's facilities are expected to be busier than normal, the agency anticipates that overall passenger volumes at its airports will be far below previous years due to the national recession.

To accommodate those who plan to attend this year's Macy's fireworks display in the Hudson River, the Port Authority also will provide extended, more frequent PATH service on July 4.

Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)

PATH will provide additional service as needed on Thursday, July 2, to accommodate passengers leaving work early for the holiday weekend.

On Saturday, July 4, PATH will operate on a regular Saturday schedule with some augmentations. Additional service will be provided on the Journal Square-to-33rd Street-via-Hoboken line between 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. to accommodate passengers traveling into New York City for the fireworks display.  This year, the fireworks display will be launched from the Hudson River to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage to New York.  For more information, call 800-234-PATH.  To receive electronic notifications of train delays (15 minutes or greater) and PATH service changes, visit www.panynj.info and sign up for PATH alerts.

Airports

From Tuesday, June 30, through Sunday, July 5, about 1.8 million travelers are expected to pass through the agency's airports.

This year, 871,000 passengers are anticipated at John F. Kennedy International Airport, down 3.9 percent from last year. To ensure arriving at the airport on time and to ease highway congestion, travelers are encouraged to take advantage of AirTrain JFK, which links to the New York City subway system and the Long Island Rail Road. For those who are driving, call 718 244-4080 or listen to the airport's radio at 1630 AM for parking information and updates.

Newark Liberty International Airport is estimating 605,000 travelers will pass through its facilities, down 6.5 percent from last year.  Using AirTrain Newark, which links the airport to NJ Transit and Amtrak rail service, is the best way to reach the airport this weekend.  Drivers should tune to 530 AM or call 888 EWR-INFO and press 22 for timely parking information.

Approximately 377,000 travelers will fly to their holiday destinations through LaGuardia Airport, down 9.1 percent from last year.  Those arriving by car should call 718 533-3850 for parking information.

More than 8,800 passengers will use Stewart International Airport, down 41 percent from last year.  For parking information, travelers should call 845 567-0048.

The Port Authority has now registered more than 500 members in its National Alliance to Advance NextGen, a coalition of business, travel, tourism, civic, labor, education, airline, and aviation officials created to urge funding for initiatives to overhaul national air traffic control systems to reduce future air delays.

Visit www.panynj.info for parking rates, ground transportation information, flight delays, terminal maps and other frequently asked questions about Port Authority airports.

 Tunnels, Bridges, and Terminals

The Port Authority projects that approximately 2.5 million vehicles will cross its four interstate bridges and two tunnels from July 2 to July 5, about the same as last year.

To ease the way for the high volume of travelers, the Port Authority will suspend all construction projects for the holiday weekend.

To relieve congestion and reduce carbon emissions, commuters are encouraged to use mass transit whenever possible.  Travelers using the Port Authority Bus Terminal or George Washington Bridge Bus Station should allow extra time and anticipate longer lines than usual. Call 800 221-9903 for more information.