Winter Storm Update: Above-ground subway, LIRR, Metro-North back in service after nor'easter
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City resumed above-ground subway service at 5 a.m. Tuesday, while buses continued to run on a reduced schedule, 75% of regular weekday service.
"It was a dangerous situation, it was a challenging situation," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "Storm was near historic proportion. It was well handled across the board. A situation like yesterday, people can die. We've had situations with people stranded on roads through the night. It can get very dangerous very quickly."
On the Upper West Side, a water main break at 103rd Street and Broadway caused delays and multiple impacts to 1 2 3 train service.
The MTA posted the following Tuesday morning:
*2 trains are running on the 5 line between 149 St-Grand Concourse and Nevins St.
*There is no 3 train service in Manhattan at this time.
*1 train service is suspended between 137 St-City College and Times Sq-42 St.
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton says airports have resumed operations as flights have been taking off and landing at a reduced level.
"Airlines have cancelled 45% of their schedule for the day, so check with your carrier," Cotton said. "Newark Air Train has two segments down due to icing, but shuttle bus is up. All of the bridges and tunnels are open. All community bus lines have continued their suspension. A few inner city buses are scheduled to depart later today."
Amtrak will continue operating modified service on select routes in the northeast on Wednesday due to inclement weather, including:
- Acela Service (Boston - New York - Washington, DC)
- Northeast Regional Service (Boston - New York - Washington, DC - Virginia)
- Keystone Service (Harrisburg - Philadelphia - New York)
The South Walk on the George Washington Bridge, the shared use path at the Bayonne Bridge, and the shared use path at the Goethals Bridge are closed and will remain closed for the duration of the storm.
Elsewhere, LIRR and Metro-North resumed service at 4 a.m., with LIRR operating on a weekend schedule.
PATH resumed underground service between Journal Square-33rd Street via Hoboken and Journal Square-World Trade Center at 11 a.m.
Due to treacherous snow and wind conditions that continue to impede snow removal efforts, PATH service at Newark Penn Station and Harrison Station will remain suspended until further notice. That route plans to resume Wednesday morning.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels' ban on empty tractor trailers and tandem trucks remains in effect.
The Staten Island Railway is operating, and the Staten Island Ferry is running modified schedule.
NYC ferry service was delayed while crews worked to clear snow at each landing.
NICE buses on Nassau County will also resume to full service Wednesday.
Alternate side street parking in the city is suspended through the rest of the week, but parking meter rules remain in effect.
NJ Transit will resume full weekday service on Wednesday on all bus, light rail and Access Link services systemwide. Atlantic City Rail Line will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
RELATED: Live Updates: NYC schools move to remote learning due to snow
Additional information:
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
MTA Bridges and Tunnels personnel have activated full inclement weather preparedness for all facilities. Staffing will be maintained at the level necessary to fight the storm with up to 300 employees engaged in weather-related activities.
Bridges and Tunnels will be closely monitoring the weather and implement additional appropriate restrictions as needed.
Fleet Operations garages were activated throughout the storm to maintain the availability of all storm-fighting equipment and material including:
- 8,100 tons of salt
- 50 portable snow blowers/throwers
- 74 truck mountable snow plows/salt spreaders
- 45 portable generators
- 31 front loaders
- 31 wreckers/tow trucks
- 25 variable message signs
- 23 bucket trucks
- 17 weather monitoring stations
- 14 light tow vehicles
- 12 chainsaws
- 10 forklifts
-10 torches
- 10 car carrier trailers
Bridges are equipped with embedded roadway sensors for temperature and above-ground atmospheric sensors that deliver real-time information on wind velocity, wind direction, humidity, and precipitation via wireless communication. These sensors record data used to determine if speed restrictions are necessary.
Flooding conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate mitigation measures will be put into place as needed. All non-critical roadwork will be suspended during the storm with contractors on-site and/or available to assist with weather-related response and mitigation.
New Jersey Transit
NJ Transit will resume full weekday service on Wednesday on all bus, light rail and Access Link services systemwide. Atlantic City Rail Line will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
All other rail lines will operate on a Level 1 Severe Weather schedule.
On Tuesday, NJ TRANSIT buses and Access Link in north and central New Jersey remained suspended due to the major winter storm.
However, service resumed on the No. 2 & No. 78 bus routes as of 3:00 p.m. Tuesday on a regular weekday schedule. These routes serve the UPS distribution facility in Secaucus, which is a critical component of the vaccine distribution supply chain in New Jersey.
Officials say the continued suspension of all other north and central New Jersey bus and Access Link for the remainder of the service day is to ensure that state, county and local agencies continue to have full access to roadways, particularly local and county roads, to continue snow removal operations.
Systemwide cross honoring will remain in effect for rail, NJ TRANSIT & private carrier buses, and light rail. NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes will also be accepted for travel on PATH at Hoboken, Newark Penn Station and 33rd St.
Pascack Valley, Main/Bergen County/Port Jervis, Montclair-Boonton, Morristown and Gladstone Branch rail lines will remain suspended until further notice and will resume as weather conditions permit safe operation. Upon resumption, these rail lines will operate on Severe Weather Schedule Level 2.
Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Raritan Valley rail lines resumed service at approximately 9 a.m. and will continue operating on Severe Weather Schedule Level 2 for the remainder of Tuesday. Atlantic City Rail Line service will continue to operate on a weekday schedule.
Newark Light Rail resumed service as of 2 p.m. and will continue to operate on a Sunday schedule for the remainder of Tuesday. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will continue operating a Saturday/Sunday schedule for the remainder of Tuesday.
Port Authority buses
Several bus carriers operating out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal have suspended operations Wednesday. Travelers should check with bus carriers for updates and rebookings before leaving for the terminal.
Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North plans to resume service by 4 a.m. Tuesday ahead of the morning rush after earlier suspensions.
The last Metro-North trains running to and from Grand Central on Monday left around 3 p.m.
Metro-North is closely monitoring conditions and may further modify or suspend service if the snowfall is heavy. In ice storms, blizzards, or sustained winds over 39 mph, train service may be severely curtailed or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches, downed trees, or a loss of third rail or overhead catenary power.
Metro-North Railroad installed third rail snowshoes on its electric trains to scrape ice off of exposed third rails, is shrouding exposed train couplers with snow covers to keep snow out, is treating exposed shoes with deicer, and is spraying door panels with an anti-freeze agent.
Metro-North Railroad has snow-fighting equipment ready to go, strategically located at facilities around the system.
Switches - the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another - are being treated with an anti-freeze agent and lubricated. Metro-North Railroad uses electric switch heaters.
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road resumed service Tuesday at 4 a.m. and will operate on a weekend schedule.
LIRR trains will resume operating on a weekday schedule Wednesday beginning at 12:01 a.m. after crews clear the snow and ice from rails and switches throughout their system.
Due to the extreme cold currently hitting the service territory, LIRR station waiting rooms will remain open through Wednesday.
The LIRR is closely monitoring weather forecasts as the upcoming storm nears its service area and may further modify or suspend service if the snowfall is heavy. In ice storms, blizzards, or sustained winds over 39 mph, train service may be severely curtailed or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches or there is a loss of third rail power.
The LIRR reminds customers to travel only if necessary on Tuesday. Railroad crews will be out across the service territory working to keep trains moving for those who need them. Those who must travel are urged to be cautious on station staircases/platforms and when boarding/exiting trains. Customers who are planning to travel are encouraged to check the LIRR TrainTime app, MyMTA app, or new.mta.info, for the latest service information.
Access-A-Ride
Access-A-Ride paratransit service will continue to provide service, with vehicles using tire chains and all-weather tires, although shared trips and feeder service will be suspended during the storm. Reservations are being accepted on a 24-hour booking cycle instead of the usual 48-hour booking cycle. Customers may experience additional travel and wait times. Customers may want to reconsider travel, unless medically necessary. The Paratransit Command Center will be monitoring the storm to track and respond to immobilized vehicles and customers.
New York City Transit has coordinated a procedure with New York City first-responders and the NYC Office of Emergency Management for rescuing customers on immobilized vehicles or those who develop medical needs during storms.
NY Waterway Ferry Service
All NY Waterway ferry service was suspended on Monday, February 1 due to severe winter weather. NY Waterway will issue updates on Tuesday's service as the storm develops.
Tri-State air travel update
Early Tuesday morning, area airports were reporting the following flight cancellation percentages: LaGuardia 59% cancelled; Kennedy 42% cancelled; Newark 27% cancelled.
ADDITIONAL WINTER STORM COVERAGE
Snow Stream live winter storm updates
New York CIty declares state of emergency
Mass transit and travel information
SEND YOUR SNOW PHOTOS HERE:
For weather updates wherever you go, please download the AccuWeather app.
