New Jersey Transit is temporarily suspending all services, except the Atlantic City Rail Line, which will operate during normal weekday hours.
Long Island Rail Road will have a weekend program on Monday and Tuesday, and Metro-North’s night service will end on Monday night.
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MTA Bridges and Tunnels will implement a ban on tandem and empty tractor trailers starting at 6 am on Monday. The buses are being equipped with tire chains and will have reduced schedules.
The MTA recommends customers to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel during the storm.
“This is a serious winter storm with high levels of snow expected,” said MTA President and CEO Patrick J. Foye. “MTA employees will work hard over the next 48 hours and beyond to prepare and respond to the storm. Still, we strongly recommend that New Yorkers stay at home, stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel on Mondays and Tuesdays until the storm passes. “
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MTA employees will be:
– Spread salt and clean snow and ice surfaces
– Keep signals, switches and third rail operating
– Removal of any felled trees that may fall on the tracks
– Meet any weather-related challenges during the storm
New York Subway and Staten Island Railway Station
Although the underground parts of the subway system are not affected during snowstorms, there are about 220 miles of outdoor trails in the neighborhoods. The Rockaway, Sea Beach, Flushing, Brighton and Dyre Av lines are particularly vulnerable to snow and freezing precipitation. To prevent subway trains from being blocked in yards, they will be moved and stored underground, providing for heavy snow or ice. This will affect service on express service lines.
The New York City Transit has a fleet of snow and ice fighting trains designed to keep the outer tracks, switches and third tracks free of snow and ice. High-powered snow throwers, jet snow blowers and de-icing cars – retired subway cars modified with tanks and other specialized equipment to spray de-icing fluid on the third rail – are ready for immediate deployment.
New York City Bus
Due to the expected high levels of snow accumulation, buses will operate with reduced service. All local buses will be equipped with tire chains. The 60-foot articulated buses will be replaced by standard 40-foot buses starting on Sunday night.
The New York City Transit and MTA Bus Company have 35 snow-fighting vehicles in their fleet, which operate on predetermined routes to quickly reach terminals, stopping places and other areas of heavy traffic and known access points.
Bus managers have technology that tracks service when it falls below the expected minimum levels on any route, allowing them to make decisions more quickly. The bus service will be adjusted based on the conditions of the roads around the city and it is possible to reduce the service route by route.
The MTA New York City Transit Bus Department and the MTA Bus Company have the following equipment and supplies to fight the storm:
– More than 800,000 gallons of diesel fuel
– More than 338,000 pounds of defrosting material
– 28,000 gallons of gasoline
– 83 box trucks
– 77 truck-mountable snow blowers / salt spreaders
– 57 portable snow blowers / throwers
– 40 emergency response vehicles / road service trucks
– 25 winches
– 35 road trucks
– 36 bucket trucks
– 22 dump trucks
– 14 portable generators
– Two fuel tank trucks
MTA bridges and tunnels
The staff at MTA Bridges and Tunnels enabled full weather preparedness at all facilities. The team will be kept at the level necessary to fight the storm with up to 300 employees involved in climate-related activities.
Due to the expected strong wind conditions, a ban on empty tractor trailers and tandem trucks will be in effect on all MTA bridges starting at 6 am on Monday, February 1. required.
Fleet Operations workshops will be activated during the storm to maintain availability of all storm-fighting equipment and materials, 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 winches / winches
– 25 variable message signals
– 23 bucket trucks
– 17 weather monitoring stations
– 14 light trailers
– 12 chainsaws
– 10 forklifts
-10 torches
– 10 car transport trailers
The bridges are equipped with built-in road sensors for temperature and above ground atmospheric sensors that provide real-time information on wind speed, wind direction, humidity and precipitation via wireless communication. These sensors record data used to determine whether speed restrictions are necessary.
Flood conditions will be monitored closely and appropriate mitigation measures will be put in place as needed. All non-critical road works will be suspended during the storm with on-site contractors and / or available to assist with climate-related response and mitigation.
New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit will temporarily suspend all services on Monday, except the Atlantic City Rail Line, which will operate during normal weekday hours.
Port Authority buses
Due to the impending snowstorm, the entire bus service inside and outside the Port Authority’s Bus Terminal will be suspended on Monday, February 1st. Please check with your carrier for specific information and resumption of service.
Passenger railways
Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad are changing service plans before the storm and may change them further depending on storm conditions.
The snow-fighting equipment is prepared for winter, tested and strategically positioned on both railways. The heat protection circuits are being checked to be operational, the air brake lines are being purged of any moisture to prevent them from freezing and the electric trains are being equipped with a special third chock to prevent the accumulation of snow.
Metro-Norte Railway
The service will end on Monday morning, February 1st, with the last day’s trains departing from their origins at 9:39 pm and arriving at their final destination after midnight. To view final train departures at individual stations, customers must visit mta.info or use the Metro-North Train Time or MYmta apps.
Metro-North is closely monitoring conditions and can modify or suspend service if it snows a lot. In ice storms, blizzards or sustained winds of more than 63 km / h, train service can be severely reduced or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches, felled trees or loss of the third rail or overhead power line.
Metro-North Railroad installed third rail snowshoes on its electric trains to scrape ice from exposed third tracks, is covering exposed train hitches with snow covers to keep snow out, is treating exposed shoes with defrost and spraying the door panels with anti-freezing agent.
Metro-North Railroad has ready-to-use snow equipment strategically located in the system’s facilities.
The switches – the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to direct trains from one track to another – are being treated with an antifreeze agent and lubricated. Metro-North Railroad uses electric heaters.
Long Island Rail Road
From Monday at 12:01 pm, LIRR trains will operate on a weekend schedule, which will remain in effect until Tuesday night. This will help us perform the best service possible as the storm intensifies and we work to clean the tracks. Due to the extreme cold that currently affects the service territory, the waiting rooms at the LIRR station will remain open until Wednesday, February 3.
LIRR is closely monitoring weather forecasts as the next storm approaches its service area and can modify or suspend service if heavy snow falls. In ice storms, blizzards or prolonged winds above 63 km / h, train service can be severely reduced or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches or if there is a loss of power from the third rail.
LIRR reminds customers to travel only if necessary on Monday and Tuesday. Railroad crews will be scattered throughout the service territory, working to keep trains moving for those who need them. Those who need to travel should be cautious on stairs / platforms at stations and when boarding / exiting trains. Customers planning to travel should check the LIRR TrainTime application, the MyMTA application or new.mta.info for the latest service information.
Access-A-Ride
The Access-A-Ride paratransit service will continue to provide service, with vehicles using all-weather tire and tire chains, although shared travel and feeder service are suspended during the storm. Reservations are being accepted on a 24-hour reservation cycle instead of the normal 48-hour reservation cycle. Customers can experience additional travel and waiting times. Customers may want to reconsider their trip, unless medically necessary. The Paratransit Command Center will monitor the storm to track and respond to vehicles and immobilized customers.
The New York City Transit coordinated a procedure with New York City’s first respondents and the NYC Office of Emergency Management to rescue customers in immobilized vehicles or those who developed medical needs during storms.
NY Waterway Ferry Service
All NY Waterway ferry service will be suspended on Monday, February 1, due to the severe winter. NY Waterway will post service updates on Tuesday as the storm develops.
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