(Undated) -- High gas prices may not have as much of a negative impact on Memorial Day weekend travel as analysts previously thought.  AAA is projecting a slight increase in travel for Pennsylvanians, since gas prices are nearly 25 cents lower this year than last.  Spokeswoman Jenny Robinson says the organizaton is seeing mixed messages about how gas prices have affected vacation plans.  "A little over half say no, it hasn't impacted their plans, and a little under half say that yes, they have been affected by gas prices in terms of their travel plans," she says.  Robinson says 55 percent of people responding to AAA's survey say they're traveling to see family or friends.  Forty-four percent plan to go shopping this weekend, 42 percent will dine out and 35 percent plan to visit historic sites.

(Harrisburg) -- State Police are ramping up efforts to keep central Pennsylvania roads safe through the holiday weekend. Troopers will be on the lookout for aggressive driving and DUIs over the four-day Memorial Day holiday. State Police Spokesman Sergeant Anthony Manetta says motorists can do a couple of things to stay safe this holiday. "Apply some common sense. And anticipating that traffic will be heavier, we ask that they leave a little bit earlier so that they don't have to feel the stress of being late," he says. "Just a few minutes early will make for a much more pleasant trip." Manetta says additional sobriety checkpoints will be set up across the region over the next couple of days. He adds a new program called "Operation Maximum Effort" will kick off Monday to help curb tailgating and speeding in Pennsylvania. It joins PennDOT's "Click It or Ticket" program focusing on seatbelt safety, which is already in effect.

House and Senate leaders have announced there will be no Sine Die session this fall – no session for the lame-ducks who have lost their re-election bids, no final post-election goodwill tour for those retiring. The news comes on the heels of a Capitolwire story that ponders the possibility a lame-duck session this year could be used to pass a transportation funding package.  More after the jump.

(Harrisburg) -- Deadly crashes among some younger drivers in the commonwealth have increased recently, due in part to inexperience behind the wheel and distractions from passengers. A new AAA study shows 29 16-year-old drivers died in 2011, up from 16 the year before. AAA Mid-Atlantic Spokeswoman Jenny Robinson says she's hopeful the trend will be reversed this year. "We did see an increase in Pennsylvania last year, quite a substantial jump, and we're concerned about that. But now, for 2012, this is the first year that the new junior driver law is in effect, limiting the number of passengers that the teens can have in the car in Pennsylvania, and so we're hoping that that will lead to fewer fatalities," she says. The study shows a young driver is 44 percent more likely to die at the wheel with one young passenger in the car. But adding an adult age 35 or older reduces the risk by more than 60 percent. Robinson says AAA has also created a contract parents can review with their teens to help make sure they're safe when driving.

(Undated) -- Memorial Day Weekend vacations are expected to be more popular this year, but people are more likely to stay closer to home. AAA estimates about 35 million people will travel on the holiday weekend -- that's up about one percent from last year. AAA Mid Atlantic spokeswoman Jenny Robinson says their survey shows high gas prices will shorten the average trip by 150 miles this year.  "Keep in mind that we were already paying very high prices all through the spring.  That's squeezing the budget for a lot of families.  Pretty much everybody (earning) under six figures is saying they're going to spend less money, for the most part," Robinson says. She adds says travelers are also likely to reduce their entertainment spending while they're away and stay at lower-priced hotels.  Thirty-four percent are expected to stay with friends or family.  Air travel is also seeing the effect of higher fuel prices with a five-and-a-half percent decrease in the number of people likely to fly over the holiday weekend.

Motorists may have the option of going a full five miles faster on the Turnpike, if one state House proposal is approved.  The plan would raise the roadways upper limit from 65 to 70 miles-per-hour.   

(York) -- A number of public buses in central Pennsylvania could soon be fueled by natural gas in an effort to help cut energy costs. rabbittransit, which provides transportation throughout Adams and York counties and northern Maryland, may switch from using diesel to compressed natural gas, or CNG. Executive Director Richard Farr says if its plan is approved, the company would purchase up to 40 new buses to run on natural gas. "CNG could potentially cost half as much as diesel per equivalent gallon. If that's true and you have a vehicle that runs 600,000 miles, you could potentially save $1 million in fuel alone, so that in itself could pay for the vehicle over its life," he says. Farr says a fueling station could be built at the company's new headquarters on Zarfoss Drive in York that's slated to open soon, in addition to a site in Adams County. He adds switching to natural gas is just one way to help boost Pennsylvania's economy in the wake of the recent natural gas drilling boom. Farr says the company could make a decision on the proposal by the end of the summer.

(Harrisburg) -- As electric or natural gas-powered vehicles gain in popularity, they'll need filling and charging stations throughout the state, but plans to build that infrastructure are in their infancy. The commonwealth's Public Utility Commission is planning a forum next month to look at the increased use of alternative fuel vehicles. Spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher says the agency wants input from drivers and business owners ahead of the May 31st meeting. She says some entrepreneurs may step up to help build natural gas and electric car fueling stations. "We understand as Marcellus Shale increases in the state, electricity prices continue to go down, and as gasoline prices continue to go up, more and more people become interested in alternative fuel vehicles. We want to be sure we prepare Pennsylvania for that as it comes," she says. Kocher says the PUC is inviting experts to the upcoming forum in Philadelphia. Anyone can offer comments on alternative energy stations by May 18th.

The state House Transportation Committee chair is issuing a familiar call for his colleagues and the governor to get moving on a funding solution for the state’s transportation infrastructure.  What makes it different is that the rally comes a week before the state primary.  More after the jump.

(Hershey) -- Antique car enthusiasts are cheering a measure making old license plates street legal in the commonwealth. Currently, they can use a special state-issued plate. The new law would allow them to deck old cars with plates from the auto's production era. Steve Moskowitz with the Antique Automobile Club of America in Hershey, Dauphin County, says the state will not be replicating the old tags. "They would be actual plates from that era, and there are people who specialize in collecting these plates and selling these plates and restoring these plates. It won't be difficult for most Pennsylvanians to find some correct plates to put on their car," Moskowitz says. The commonwealth joins more than 45 other states allowing vintage plates on antique vehicles. The application fee to use an antique plate is $75, and the revenues raised will be used for road and bridge repairs in PA.