Over a Foot of Snow Possible Across NY Metro Region, With Snow Starting as Early as Saturday Evening
All Planned Work Postponed for Duration of Storm
Metro-North to Run Hourly Service Sunday, Holiday Schedule on Monday; LIRR to Run on Modified Sunday Schedule
View MTA-Wide Storm Prep Photos on MTA News and Here; Check MTA App, TrainTime App or mta.info for Real-Time Service Alerts During the Storm
View Video of MTA Chair Lieber Discussing Weather Preps
View Q-&-A on Weather Preps
View Broll Video of LIRR Storm Preps
View Broll Video of NYC Subway Storm Preps
View Broll Video of NYC Bus Storm Preps
With a winter storm forecast to impact the New York metropolitan area as early as Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today advised customers of steps being taken to ensure safety and maintain operations. The MTA is committed to keeping the region moving during this significant storm expected to impact millions across the service area.
MTA employees will be deployed across the region to spread salt, clear snow from stations and facilities, keep signals, switches, and third rails operating, and respond to any weather-related challenges. All planned maintenance work has been postponed for the duration of the storm.
Customers who must travel are urged to allow extra travel time and use caution on station staircases and platforms, as well as when boarding and exiting trains. For the latest service updates, customers should check mta.info, the TrainTime app, and the MTA app.
Summaries of actions being taken by MTA agencies follow.
New York City Transit
NYC Subway
While the underground portions of the subway system remain unaffected during snowstorms, there are nearly 220 miles of outdoor track throughout the boroughs. The Rockaway , Sea Beach , Flushing , Brighton and Dyre Av lines are particularly vulnerable to snow and freezing precipitation. NYC Transit’s Department of Subways has a fleet of emergency response equipment including debris trains and de-icer trains ready to deploy and respond to icy conditions.
Crews are monitoring switches and tracks to ensure they are working properly, along with salting and clearing snow from elevated station platforms, exposed stairs and subway entrances.
Field personnel are staged at critical locations including stations and yards, ready to deploy and respond to snow conditions.
NYC Buses
Articulated buses have been taken out of service for the duration of the upcoming winter weather and replaced by 40-foot standard buses. All divisions have extra personnel on duty closely monitoring service, clearing the snow and ready to respond to issues that arise during the storm.
NYC Transit has 35 snow-fighting vehicles in its fleet, that have been strategically staged ahead of the storm and operate on predetermined routes to quickly reach terminals, lay-over locations and other highly trafficked areas. Certain areas will be salted in an effort to prevent any stuck buses.
Bus service will be adjusted based on road conditions around the city and service curtailments on a route-by-route basis are possible. Bus managers have technology that tracks headways and service in real time allowing them to make service-related decisions more efficiently.
Customers are encouraged to check the MTA app or mta.info for the latest service information and updates.
Access-A-Ride
Access-A-Ride paratransit will continue to provide service. Customers may experience additional delays and wait times. Customers may want to consider adjusting their travel plans. The Paratransit Command Center will be monitoring the storm to track and respond to any customer or day-of service issues.
All providers have been reminded to follow the Severe Weather Plan, which includes advising drivers to be vigilant and look for passengers sheltering in doorways and other shelter situations before declaring a No-Show during extreme weather conditions.
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road will run on a modified Sunday schedule. There will be no service between Ronkonkoma and Greenport, hourly service on the Port Washington Branch and between New York City and Huntington on the Port Jefferson Branch. There will be half-hourly service on the Babylon Branch.
LIRR crews will be out across the service territory working to keep trains moving with equipment on hand to be able to respond quickly as conditions warrant. Crews will also proactively de-ice station walkways and platforms.
De-icing trains will be running to keep third rails clear of snow and ice, while crews are strategically positioned throughout the system helping to keep switches clear and operable. In addition, switch heaters will be activated to prevent track switches from freezing using natural gas burners and electrical heating elements.
Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad will operate hourly service on the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines on Sunday, while the New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury branches will run on their regular weekend schedules. On Monday, trains will operate on a holiday schedule. Customers are encouraged to check their trips before traveling.
In preparation for winter weather, snow-fighting equipment is winterized, tested, and strategically positioned at facilities around the system.
Protective heat circuits have been verified to be operational, air brake lines purged of any moisture to prevent them from freezing, and electric trains have been fitted with special third rail shoes to prevent snow from accumulating. Switches – the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another – use electric switch heaters to melt snow.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
MTA Bridges and Tunnels personnel have activated full inclement weather preparedness for all facilities, and the Operations Command Center will monitor the forecast, traffic conditions, and response operations. Staff will coordinate throughout the storm to ensure a quick response to any weather-related issues that may arise.
Bridges are equipped with embedded roadway sensors which measure temperature and above-ground atmospheric sensors that deliver real-time information on wind velocity, wind direction, humidity, and precipitation via wireless communication.
Restrictions may be put in place if weather conditions warrant.
Ways to Stay Informed
mta.info – The definitive source for real-time arrival information and service change information for each line or route in the MTA system. Customers can find current statuses on mta.info and upcoming planned service changes using the lookup tool at mta.info/alerts.
MTA app – Customers who use the comprehensive MTA smartphone app will see real-time train, bus and rail arrival times, and can chat with our customer care team all in one place. The app is available in the Apple Store and in Google Play.
TrainTime app – The MTA’s TrainTime app is the essential companion to navigating the commuter rail system. Customers can plan their trip, purchase tickets, check train status, and chat with customer service, all in one app. The app is available in the Apple Store and in Google Play.
Email Alerts – Customers can sign up for email alerts tailored to their specific commutes and travel times. They can also sign up for MTA newsletters like The Weekender, a weekly newsletter that covers major weekend planned service changes. Customers can sign up here.
511 – Customers who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.