Thanksgiving Snarl to Give Air Terminal a Tough Test : Holiday: On Orange County roads and at newly revamped airport, travelers are urged to be patient.

Orange County is bracing today for the worst traffic congestion of the year--the mad Thanksgiving rush.

The California Highway Patrol had two words for commuters daring or desperate enough to attempt an early jump on the long Thanksgiving weekend: Be patient.

The same advice holds true for those headed to John Wayne Airport, where record-setting throngs are expected to give the new, state-of-the art Thomas F. Riley Terminal its toughest test yet. Airport officials urged airline passengers to come early, to take a shuttle or taxi or to park in the garage closest to each airline, rather than the first structure they encounter.

One adjustment announced Tuesday should ease the airport agony a bit. Bowing to public pressure, airport officials said they will double the number of taxis permitted at curbside and move the cab station back to a lot near the old Edward J. Martin Terminal, instead of making travelers trek 10 minutes to a remote lot.

The freeways leading out of Orange County on Wednesday are expected to be clogged by skiers heading for the mountains, families going out of town and commuters unfortunate enough to be leaving work at the wrong time.

“If you plan on going anywhere, expect that it will take extra time,” CHP spokeswoman Linda Burrus said. “There’s going to be a lot of people out there trying to do the same thing.”

Especially hard hit, Burrus said, will be the southbound Interstate 5 below the El Toro Y, the eastbound Riverside Freeway and northbound Orange Freeway.

Heavy traffic on a night when people are supposed to be having a good time could be especially frustrating for motorists, she said, who may seek to sneak around the traffic.

But motorists who get off the freeway to try to wind their way through unfamiliar residential areas could find shortcuts thwarted by unexpected dead-ends or seemingly endless red lights.

“Probably the best advice is to sit tight and stay where you are,” Burrus said, adding that drivers who resort to using alternate routes should plan them in advance.

Ski buffs hoping to get an early taste of the season should carry chains in their car if they are heading for the San Bernardino Mountains, she warned.

An advisory was issued Tuesday by the CHP’s Inland Empire division, which was reporting scattered light snowfall in the area. CHP officers have been told to check all cars entering resort areas for chains, Burrus said.

Not much snow had fallen yet late Tuesday, but, she said, “If you’ve been in the mountains, you know how fast things can change.”

From the CHP’s viewpoint, the airport will be a bright spot because of the revamped entrances and exits, Burrus said.

Nevertheless, she added, CHP patrols will closely monitor the airport on the first day of heavy air travel for the new facility.

About 18,500 passengers are expected to pass through the facility, officials said. There were 17,463 a year ago and are about 12,000 on an average day.

The throngs will be greeted by the new, $63-million Thomas F. Riley Terminal, however, which is 12 times larger than the old terminal.

Airport officials seemed calm Tuesday as they prepared for the onslaught, in sharp contrast with their counterparts at Los Angeles International Airport, who were targeted Tuesday by environmentalists and shuttle drivers bent on bringing the infuriating congestion at LAX under control.

“We really don’t foresee a problem here,” said John Wayne Airport spokeswoman Courtney Wiercioch. “We may add a couple of extra operations people, but that’s about it.”

Airline officials reported bookings at normal levels for a Wednesday, below what is expected just before a major holiday.

“We’re pretty full, but not overbooked like we usually are at this time,” said Jan Pirrelli, Northwest Airlines’ customer service manager at John Wayne. “I don’t know why. But I’ve checked with several other airlines here, and they’ve noticed the same thing.”

The busiest periods at the airport are expected to be 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m.

“It’s already started,” Yellow Cab manager Fred McCuistion said of the holiday rush. “We’re putting everything we have--cabs, vans and limos--on the road for this holiday. We’re expecting 30% more business than last year, when a lot of people were confused about how to get transportation to the airport.”

McCuistion said more customers are booking rides in advance and further ahead than they did last year, but he added that reservations are still available for today.

Sheriff’s officials, who are responsible for traffic control at the airport, said no extra personnel are being assigned today, because the staff was boosted by four people when the new terminal opened in September.

“Things have been going so smoothly out there that we don’t really anticipate any problem,” Sheriff’s Lt. Robert Rivas said.

The plan to improve taxicab service at the airport--a sore point with travelers--emerged from a meeting attended by company and airport officials Tuesday.

The airlines are divided between north and south wings of the building, with garages at both ends. In Building A, the north wing, are American, Midway, Delta, Continental and Alaska airlines. In Building B, the south wing, are Northwest, TWA, America West, United and USAir.

“Too many people are using the Northwest parking structure because it’s the first one they see as they drive up to the terminal,” airport spokeswoman Wiercioch said, referring to the lot labeled A1 on airport signs. “People should look at the signs and determine where their airline is located, because some people are parking too far away and then have to walk much farther than is necessary.”

Airport officials also suggested that drivers consider using the Corona Del Mar Freeway’s Campus Drive off- and on-ramps instead of MacArthur Boulevard in front of the airport.

Also, airport officials urged travelers to travel with as little baggage as possible.

HOLIDAY AIR TACTICS

THE CROWDED SKIES

The following shows the number of passengers using John Wayne Airport during the peak holiday rush.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 1989: 17,463 Sunday after Thanksgiving, 1989: 16,632 Dec. 26, 1989: 16,029 Dec. 22, 1989: 15,493 Jan. 2, 1990: 14,864 TIPS TO AVOID THE CRUSH

John Wayne Airport officials offered these tips to help travelers cope with the Thanksgiving rush, always the year’s worst. * Go to the airport as much as two hours ahead of your scheduled flight time, especially if you’re not familiar with the new terminal or parking facilities. * Use the airport’s under-used Campus Drive entrance and exit with quick access to and from the Corona del Mar Freeway as an alternative to MacArthur Boulevard and the San Diego Freeway. * Use the parking structure closest to the ticket counter of the airline you are using. The terminal is split into north and south wings, with garages at both ends. Outdoor signs indicate which garage is closest to a particular airline. * If visiting the terminal to say goodby or greet a passenger, avoid long queues at the parking exits by paying in advance at automated ticket-reading machines inside the terminal. The price is $1 per hour, or $14 a day, dropping to $7 for the third day and each following day. * If parking for several days, use the cheaper, long-term remote lot on Main Street, between MacArthur Boulevard and Red Hill Avenue, north of the San Diego Freeway. The price is $1 an hour or $7 a day, with frequent, free shuttle service to the terminal. * Avoid the parking hassle by taking taxicabs or shuttles if possible. * Try to take only carry-on luggage to avoid the crush at airport baggage carousels.

AIRLINES

Terminal B

Northwest

TWA

America West

United

USAir

Terminal A

American

Midway

Delta

Continental

Alaska

Source: John Wayne Airport