Winter Weather Service Advisories

Posted by
December 27, 2010

The first major storm of the 2010-11 winter season is upon us & definitely living up to the hype it received over the last few days. As expected, service across the region has been crippled in one way or another. Here is the latest info from the MTA:

The Long Island Rail Road has suspended passenger service system wide in both directions due to the current blizzard conditions. NYC Transit is honoring LIRR tickets at Penn, Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica. The LIRR will continue throughout the night to operate equipment trains to clear snow from the tracks.

Metro-North Railroad, NYC bus and subway service and Long Island Bus service is running on or close to schedule, with scattered weather related delays. Limited-Stop bus service in New York City has been suspended, instead all buses will make local stops.

On Monday, Long Island Rail Road will operate on a Holiday schedule, Metro-North Railroad will operate on a Sunday schedule. If you plan to travel, plan accordingly. We advise customers to please check back frequently for updates on impacts to service. Click on the links below for the latest information from each of our services.

NYC Transit:

The Department of Buses has suspended all Limited-Stop bus service due to the snow and street conditions. In addition, crews have chained articulated buses and buses that will be in operation during the overnight. Particular attention is being paid to routes with hilly sections. Salt Truck crews are scheduled. To help keep bus service moving, NYC Transit is working with the Department of Sanitation to assist in deployment of snow removal forces to problem areas.
Winter storm preparations began earlier this weekend.

Subways personnel prepared de-icers, snow throwers and additional track sweepers for deployment against what could amount to 16 inches of snowfall and wind-driven drifts of several feet. Maintenance workers have been assigned to 12-hour shifts and managers called in from vacation to deal with the first significant snowfall of the season.

To insure that the fleet is available and ready for rush-hour service on Monday morning, the process of moving trains usually parked out doors to underground locations began on Saturday continued through today. In some locations trains that normally operate express have to run on local tracks instead.

Snow throwers are in place in vulnerable portions of the system such as the Bronx’ Dyre Avenue Line, the Rockaways in Queens and the Sea Beach in Brooklyn. They will begin their work once accumulations have reached four inches or more. Additionally, there will be strong focus on keeping station staircases and outdoor platforms cleared and salted.

A portion of the subway fleet on lines that travel outdoors and all Staten Island Railway trains are operating with scraper shoes to help prevent ice build up on the electrified third rail which can cause an interruption of electrical power resulting in stalled trains. To power work equipment, diesel locomotives are fueled and ready for service.

Long Island Rail Road:

The LIRR has suspended passenger service systemwide in both directions due to the blizzard. NYC Transit is honoring LIRR tickets for subway service at Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica Station. The LIRR will continue throughout the night to operate equipment trains to clear snow from the tracks.

The LIRR plans to run on a holiday schedule for Monday. Due to inclement weather, platforms and staircases may be icy and slippery. Please use handrails on staircases and be careful when boarding and exiting trains. Please stay clear of platform edges.

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Long Island Bus:

LI Bus is experiencing some delays due to weather and road conditions.

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Metro-North Railroad:

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On Monday, December 27th Metro-North will operate a regular Sunday schedule on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines due to the blizzard. See a current October 17 timetable or view our schedules page for details on train times.

Customers should listen for station announcements, and use caution getting on and off of trains. Please continue checking this website for updates.

West-of-Hudson Customers: On Monday, December 27, NJ TRANSIT will operate on an Enhanced Weekend Schedule. To plan a rail trip, use January 17 as your travel date in the trip planner at http://www.njtransit.com

Special Monday, December 27th schedules for the Hudson Rail Link, Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry and Newburgh-Beacon Ferry are available from their links on our Connecting Services page.

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Bridges & Tunnels:

Brooklyn Battery Tunnel:

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel’s southbound West Street entrance is closed; motorists should follow detour for alternate access to Brooklyn-bound Tunnel.

Verrazano-Narrows:

The 92nd Street and Belt Parkway entrance ramps on the westbound lower level of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge are closed to traffic. The eastbound lower level is also closed at this time.

The westbound lower level remains open to traffic from the Gowanus + BQE entrance ramps.

Other facilities:

All other facilities are reporting that they are currently engaged in snow operations with no weather related issues affecting operations at this time.
Roadway surfaces are wet and traffic is moving at a moderate pace.

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MTA Bus Company:

Bus service is operating close to schedule, with scattered weather related delays. All Limited-stop service has been suspended, buses will make all local stops instead. Crews have chained buses that will be in operation during the overnight. Particular attention is being paid to routes with hilly sections. Salt Truck crews are scheduled.

To help keep bus service moving, MTA Bus & NYC Transit are working with the Department of Sanitation to assist in deployment of snow removal forces to problem areas.

Click these links for updated information throughout the storm:

xoxo Transit Blogger

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