What to Know
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About 2,500 flights scheduled to take off or land at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty international airports have been canceled Wednesday
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Metro-North and NJ Transit will be running on modified schedules because of the storm
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The nor’easter is expected to drop 1 foot of snow on parts of the region, including New York City
The fourth nor’easter to hit the tri-state in the month of March is bearing down with heavy snow and damaging winds, and it’s expected to cripple travel on the East Coast once again as the region still recovers from the first three storms.
Here’s what you need to know.
NYC SUBWAY
The city’s subways are mostly operating normally, but News 4 has learned the MTA may transition to underground-only service if conditions warrant. (Here is the MTA map of underground-only subway service.) In the meantime, the MTA tweeted it was preparing snow-fighting equipment and staffing up throughout the system. The MTA is suggesting straphangers to follow the @NYCTSubway Twitter account for updates. Get real-time commute updates here.
Several express subway lines are running locally because of the weather, including 4 and N trains, which are running locally in Brooklyn, and D trains, which are running locally in the Bronx.
Several subway lines have experienced service changes because of the weather, including 4, A, J and N trains, which are running locally in parts of Brooklyn, and the D train, which is running locally in the Bronx. The SIR has also stopped express service.
Meanwhile, B and W trains ended service at 4 p.m.
LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD
As of the evening, LIRR is running a regular weekday schedule with some delays and cancellations. The MTA said service may be reduced or suspended if conditions worsen.
Some trains on the Babylon, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches have been canceled.
In general, here’s what customers can expect during different types of winter storms, according to LIRR:
- Light snowfall, 4 inches or less: Little or no impact on operations/train service.
- Moderate snowfall, accumulations of 5 to 9 inches: Operations could be hampered by more than a few inches of snowfall and blowing snow. Walking in parking lots, on stairways and station platforms may be difficult. Expect some delays; and allow extra travel time.
- Heavy snowfall, 10-13 inches or more: Train service on some branches may be modified or suspended. We will try to restore normal service as quickly as possible to our core branches. We will also dedicate our snow-fighting equipment to our most heavily traveled lines. Train travel is not encouraged at height of storm.
- Ice storms, blizzards, sustained winds over 39 mph: Train service will be severely curtailed or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches or there is a loss of third rail power. Icing can have a greater impact on travel conditions than heavy snowfall and can develop very quickly. Train travel is not encouraged.
LIRR customers can check for service updates on MTA.info/LIRR, through text and email alerts, and on Twitter.
METRO-NORTH
Metro-North is running on a reduced week-day schedule. Regular service is expected to return Thursday. Read Metro-North’s Guide to Winter Weather Travel.
Metro-North is operating hourly service after 8 p.m. to ensure customer safety.
Metro-North customers can check for service updates on MTA.info/MNR, through text and email alerts, and on Twitter. Real-time train information is also provided on the Metro-North Train Time website and on the Metro-North Train Time app.
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NJ Transit
NJ Transit, which is operating on its Severe Weather Schedule Level 1, suspended all bus service at 3 p.m., including to and from Port Authority. The agency said service would return to normal “when weather and road conditions permit safe operations.”
System-wide cross-honoring will be in effect Wednesday on NJ Transit and private carrier buses, rail and light rail services. PATH is also cross-honoring NJT customers at 33rd Street, Hoboken and Newark.
Trains traveling between Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station are experiencing delays of up 20 minutes in both directions as of 5 p.m. because of signal issues.
Access Link is suspended statewide. It will resume statewide at noon Thursday.
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AMTRAK
Amtrak said it will operate on a modified schedule Wednesday, with dozens of Acela Express, Northeast Regional and Empire service trains canceled. Service on the Keystone route between New York City and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is canceled.
Amtrak said its modified schedule will continue Thursday. Dozens of trains are already canceled for Thursday, including many on the Acela and Northeast Regional routes.
Check for the latest updates at Amtrak.com. To be notified of service disruptions on the Northeast Corridor (including Acela Express, Northeast Regional and other corridor services), follow @AmtrakNEC on Twitter.
AIR TRAVEL
LaGuardia and Kennedy airports have suspended operations until Thursday; Newark Airport has suspended operations until later Wednesday evening.
More than 2,500 flights had been canceled at all three area airports by the afternoon, including nearly 900 at LaGuardia, nearly 1,000 at Newark, and nearly 700 at JFK.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the storm would affect Thursday’s flights. Newark said it was doing its best to return operations to normal.
Check the latest cancellations with FlightAware.com.
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HIGHWAYS AND ROADS
NEW YORK
- Gov. Cuomo has issued a tractor-trailer ban for a number of roads. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the restrictions were effective for the following: I-684 from I-84 to Hutchinson River Parkway, Thruway from I-84 (exit 17/Newburgh) to exit 1 (NYC line), I-287 exit 1-12 and I-95 NYC line to Connecticut line. Anyone in violation will be ticketed by the New York State Police, Cuomo said.
- Alternate side parking is suspended in New York City Wednesday and Thursday.
- The MTA and Mayor de Blasio are warning drivers to stay off the road if possible.
- See the latest travel information at 511NY.org.
- Dozens of accidents have been reported, one of them fatal: a van rollover on the southbound Wantagh State Parkway near Hempstead Turnpike at around 10 a.m. injured five people and killed a 51-year-old woman, state police say.
NEW JERSEY
- The New Jersey Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to stay off the roads
- Commercial vehicles will be barred from traveling on interstates 78, 80, 280 and 287. The ban includes all tractor-trailers, passenger vehicles pulling trailers, recreational vehicles and motorcycles.
- More than 2,750 New Jersey Department of Transportation crews and contractors are working statewide to clear the highways.
- See the latest travel information at 511NJ.org.
PATH
No changes to PATH service had been announced as of Tuesday evening. Check the PATH website for updates on service. Follow PATH on Twitter for updates.
PATH said it is cross-honoring NJT customers at 33rd Street, Hoboken and Newark.
BUSES
All bus lines out of Port Authority Bus Terminal have been suspended except for Adirondack Trailways. Here’s a breakdown of the last buses by carrier. Follow @PABusTerminal on Twitter or go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal website for the latest updates.
There are delays on every MTA bus line as of the evening. The latest advisories can be found at MTA.info.
NJ Transit, which is operating on its Severe Weather Schedule Level 1, suspended all bus service at 3 p.m.
There is no DeCamp Bus service (Essex and Passaic counties) in the evening.
There is no Bee-Line Bus service (Westchester) after 6 p.m.
PATCO is cross-honoring NJ Transit bus passengers until 6 p.m.
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FERRIES
NYC Ferry said the Rockaway Route is suspended Wednesday because of high winds. Rockaway shuttle buses are being redirected to take riders to the nearest train station located at Beach 108 Street. All other routes will operate on a normal schedule but could be impacted by storm conditions.
The Staten Island Ferry is operating on a normal schedule, according to the city Department of Transportation.
Seastreak is operating on a modified schedule because of the storm.
New York Waterway is running on a modified schedule.
Source : Nbcnewyork
