CAPITAL REGION — The Labor Day weekend typically is a busy travel period as people head out for visits and celebrate the traditional end of summer.

But indications from AAA and the state Thruway Authority suggest two things may be different this year: People can expect to see fewer cars on the road and fewer of those orange cones to mark lanes closed for construction on the Thruway.

A reduction in travel throughout the summer is expected to curtail unnecessary spending on construction, according to the Thruway Authority. At the same time, the American Automobile Association is predicting an increase in the number of people who will travel by alternate means, like buses and trains.

According to AAA, 34.4 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles one way from home to somewhere else this weekend.

That represents 11.3 percent of the U.S. population, less than the 34.7 million people who traveled last Labor Day weekend.

In New York state, an estimated 1.9 million people will travel, with 1.5 million of those traveling by vehicle, according to AAA, which started separating state numbers this year.

The predictions, based on surveys of AAA members nationwide, suggest 28.6 million people will travel by car, compared to 29 million who did so last year.

Air travel, estimated at 4.1 million people during the holiday weekend last year, is projected to drop to 4 million this year.

Other modes of transportation, however, are expected to increase by 12.5 percent to 1.8 million travelers.

“It seems that mass transit is more popular this year,” said Christopher Chevalier, marketing coordinator at AAA Northway.

“Obviously, gas prices are definitely one factor. High gas prices, high air fares, the reduction in air capacity. There’s lots of different factors in the economy, of course, and people are really adjusting their spending habits,” Chevalier said Thursday.

Chevalier said he had not seen any reports of people having trouble getting a ticket for a bus or train.

THRUWAY TROUBLES

According to the state Thruway Authority’s monthly traffic statistics, passenger and commuter traffic from January through July fell by 1.37 percent this year compared to 2007.

That represents a drop of 1.766 million travelers. Added to a 1.69 percent reduction in commercial trips during the same period, total travel is down by 1.4 percent, or just over 2 million travelers.

The Thruway relies on money it collects in tolls, and the reduction in travelers is forcing the authority to “implement significant operating cost-containment measures,” according to Thruway Authority spokeswoman Kimberly Chupa.

The Thruway Authority expects to save $9 million by hacking spending on hiring, reducing part-time toll collectors’ hours, reducing mowing and cutting down on the use of fuel by Thruway vehicles, according to Chupa.

Some representatives in the local tourism industry say the Labor Day weekend isn’t a major draw that’s relied on, so reduced travel may not play a big role.

Schenectady County doesn’t have any major parks for camping or performing arts centers, so there isn’t a big expectation of an influx of people this weekend, said Gail Kehn, vice president of visitor services at the Chamber of Schenectady County.

Despite the continued reduction in traffic seen all summer on the Thruway, Schenectady County experienced a decent summer in terms of people stopping in a hotel or motel, Kehn said. “This summer has actually been fairly good for us.”

September is typically a busier month than August, Kehn said. People will people start booking rooms to catch shows at Proctors, Kehn said.

Kehn said Schenectady County lodging establishments maintained stable rates and experienced higher occupancy than normal this summer.

To the west in Montgomery County, events like the Fonda Fair and attractions like the Shrine of the North American Martyrs at Auriesville keep regular travelers coming back, but not for as long, said Susie Maye, manager at the Best Value Inn on Market Street in Amsterdam.

“A lot of people come every year around this time,” Maye said.

Maye said occupancy at 86 percent this time last year is down to 67 percent this year.

“My customers used to come two times per month to go to Saratoga. They cut that down to one time per month,” Maye said.

GASOLINE COSTS

A year ago, the average price for a gallon of gas was about $2.69, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Most recent averages put the current cost at $3.63 on the East Coast, according to the EIA.

In an apparent effort to help motorists cope with increased costs, state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on Thursday announced plans to start an audit of how much it costs to fill up at rest stops on the state Thruway.

“Anyone who drives the Thruway knows gas prices are higher, and motorists are forced to pay these prices,” DiNapoli said in a news release.

“But just because those stations have a captive market doesn’t give them license to gouge at the gas pump. Gas prices are high enough already,” DiNapoli said.

The comptroller is asking the Thruway Authority to post prices for gas on its Web site so that motorists can make an informed decision on where to buy their gas.