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MTA Begins To Restore Limited Bus Service

Posted by
on August 28th, 2011 at 6:21 pm

I apologize for not posting over the last few hours. Unfortunately I did not lose power but did lose access to the internet among other things. Anyhow the MTA sent out a brief notice almost 2 hours ago to announce that they were beginning to restore limited bus service:

As of 4:30 p.m. the MTA will begin restoring limited bus service in New York City. Full details about the routes where service will be provided will be available at mta.info. Restoration will begin in Manhattan and the Bronx, followed by Queens and Brooklyn. Conditions in Staten Island continue to prevent restoration of service at this time. No fares will be charged for service provided today.

“Conditions vary greatly across our system, but we’re working hard to assess storm damage and will begin to restore service wherever we can do it safely, starting with limited bus service this afternoon,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder. “The actions we took to protect the system have helped limit damage, but there were still storm impacts across our system and we will keep customers informed as we work to restore service across our 5,000 mile territory. I can’t say enough about the hard work of our employees first in evacuating New Yorkers and now in bringing service back.”

Full restoration of service is a lengthy process, as damage is assessed and repaired, equipment and personnel are positioned, and safety is ensured. Customers are urged to stay tuned to mta.info as more details are made available about efforts to restore service.

Assuming nothing else will be happening in terms of outages in my area, I will be able to post in real time as I get word from the agency.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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2

MTA Service Remains Suspended

Posted by
on August 28th, 2011 at 8:53 am

Just a couple of minutes ago, the MTA sent out a press release to highlight that service remains suspended:

Subway, bus and rail service remains suspended as Hurricane Irene makes its way through the region. Members of the public should not attempt to travel on the MTA’s public transportation network until further notice. Suspensions and restrictions are also in place at MTA bridges and tunnels (see service status on MTA.info for updated details).

The process of assessing the damage from the storm cannot safely begin until the storm passes locations around the MTA’s 5,000-square-mile territory. Thousands of personnel and the necessary equipment have been positioned at key locations so that workers can begin this process as soon as conditions allow. In addition, Governor Cuomo has directed the National Guard to assist in the recovery efforts and helicopters will be provided to quickly assess damage.

There are already reports of flooding and down trees across the region, and the storm surge and heavy rains may cause additional widespread flooding, mudslides, washouts, fallen trees and downed power lines that wreak havoc on the MTA’s signals, tracks, stations, under-river tunnels, catenary wires and other infrastructure. Restoration of service will be implemented as quickly as possible without compromising the safety of our customers, employees or equipment, but it is expected to be a lengthy process that will begin with damage assessment and could include significant repairs.

Important: The subway, LIRR and Metro-North all use electrified third rail and even though passenger service has been suspended, track cars and equipment trains may be moving on the rails at some point before service is restored. No one should assume that the third rail is deactivated. Stay off tracks and away from third rail at all times.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

MTA Shutdown Complete

Posted by
on August 28th, 2011 at 12:58 am

Well as I sit here riding out the storm on Long Island, the MTA sent out word a little over an hour ago that they have completed their shutdown. Details courtesy of the press release I received:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has now completed the shutdown of its subway, bus and rail network, with equipment and facilities secured and employees returned home or safely positioned for the storm.

This safe and orderly process began at approximately noon today when final runs began on scheduled services, and finished with the relocation of equipment to higher ground, sandbagging of facilities and securing of crossing gates, among many actions taken to protect infrastructure. As of 10 p.m. the MTA’s Bridges and Tunnels remain open but closures are expected and will be posted on mta.info.

The MTA’s focus now turns to preparing for the safe and timely restoration of service when conditions allow. Even if damage is minimal, this will be a lengthy process, and potential widespread flooding, mudslides, washouts, fallen trees and downed power lines could dramatically complicate the situation.

“I’m extremely proud of the MTA’s dedicated employees, who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and orderly suspension of service and shutdown of our vast transportation network today,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder. “Our next goal will be a safe and orderly restoration of service. This is going to be a very difficult process, beginning with assessment of the storm’s damage. Safety will continue to be our first priority.”

To best prepare for restoration, the MTA’s agencies have thousands of workers on standby throughout the 5,000-square-mile territory. In anticipation of road closures, personnel have been positioned at key locations so that workers would be in place when conditions allow the restoration process to begin.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

MTA Recap Of Hurricane Irene Plans

Posted by
on August 26th, 2011 at 8:43 pm

Just a short time ago, the MTA sent out a press release recapping their service plan for Hurricane Irene. Here are the details:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reminds customers that all MTA services will begin an orderly shutdown at about 12 noon tomorrow in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Irene. These actions are consistent with the MTA’s Hurricane Plan, designed to protect the safety of customers, employees and equipment, and ensure the fastest and safest possible restoration of service after the storm. In addition, the MTA is suspending certain fares and tolls in order to facilitate evacuations.

Details of the MTA’s service plan for Hurricane Irene are as follows:

Preparation/Evacuation:

• In order to facilitate the mandatory evacuations in New York City and Long Island, the MTA will suspend collection of certain fares and tolls.

o Tolls are suspended at the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge.

o Starting at 8 p.m. today:
 Toll collection will be suspended on the Verrazano-Narrows, Throgs Neck, and Bronx-Whitestone Bridges.
 Fares will be suspended on buses throughout the city.
 Fares will be suspended for subway and rail passengers at stations in mandatory evacuation areas.

• Those who wish to evacuate using MTA services should seek out existing services and routes. In addition, the Long Island Rail Road is operating special shuttle trains between Far Rockaway and Valley Stream to assist in evacuation efforts. Additional crews will be available to augment bus service tomorrow morning.

• Pets will be allowed on board MTA vehicles. Dogs must be leashed and, if possible should be muzzled. Cats and other pets should be in carriers.

• Scheduled weekend construction projects have been cancelled to allow for potential evacuation and suspension of service. All MTA construction sites are being secured, with cranes lowered.

• MTA stations and rail terminals are not designated shelters and will be closed in the event of a service shutdown. Those in need of assistance will be directed to nearby shelters.

Safe and Orderly Shutdown:

• Subways, buses, LIRR, Metro-North, and Staten Island Railway will begin shutting down service at about 12 noon tomorrow. People who need to travel are encouraged to do so as soon as possible and not wait until the last train or bus is departing. Those who do not need to travel are advised to stay put until the storm has passed.
o Details on the last LIRR trains to run are here: http://bit.ly/nVljTK
o Details on the last Metro-North trains to run are here: http://bit.ly/opXOfw

• Restrictions or closures at MTA Bridges and Tunnels are likely. MTA bridges will close if winds reach sustained speeds of 60 mph, but this does not preclude them from closing sooner if high winds are coupled with other weather-related conditions including flooding. Each of MTA’s seven bridges and two tunnels will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• There will be no scheduled Access-A-Ride pickups after 12 noon on Saturday but Access-A-Ride will be working with NYC OEM to provide vehicles for the evacuation for disabled residents. There will be no Access-A-Ride service on Sunday, August 28 or Monday morning, August 29.

• The MTA is working with law enforcement across the region to protect infrastructure during a system-wide shutdown.

Safe and Orderly Restoration:

• As soon as conditions allow following the storm, MTA personnel will evaluate damage and begin implementing its plan to restore service as quickly as possible while protecting the safety of all involved.

• Even with minimal damage this is expected to be a lengthy process that will impact service following the storm. MTA riders are urged to call 511 and stay tuned to mta.info and local news broadcasts before traveling.

• State helicopters will be deployed to assist the MTA in assessing storm damage

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

Some MTA Fares & Tolls To Be Suspended

Posted by
on August 26th, 2011 at 6:18 pm

Literally just a few minutes ago, the MTA has sent out word that Gov. Cuomo has announced the suspension of certain fares & tolls to help facilitate evacuations. Here are the details:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that in order to facilitate the mandatory evacuation of residents living in low-lying Zone A areas and the Far Rockaways, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will suspend certain fares and tolls.

“The only approach to a storm of this magnitude is to act preemptively. Waiving fares may be the factor that convinces some people to leave promptly when they might otherwise be tempted to stay and confront this hurricane,” Governor Cuomo said.

The fare and toll suspension is effective in the following areas:

• Tolls are already suspended at the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge.

• Starting at 8:00 PM today, the following changes will go into effect:

o Tolls will be suspended on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

o Fares will be suspended on buses throughout the city.

o Fares will be suspended for subway and rail passengers at stations in the mandatory evacuation area.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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