Citing customer and employee safety concerns the MTA will begin to shutter LIRR train, bus and subway services as of 7 p.m. Sunday night.
Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road will start their final trains by 7 p.m. Subway and railway stations will be closed after the last trains.
Customers who need to travel today should do so as soon as possible and not wait until the last train or bus is departing. Anyone who does not leave for their destination before 7 p.m. runs the risk of being stranded when service is suspended, according to a press release. New York City Transit, Metro-North and the LIRR will cross-honor each other’s passes today to speed the process of returning customers to their homes.
The MTA Hurricane Plan calls for suspending service hours before the approach of winds of 39 mph and higher. That gives MTA crews time to prepare rail cars, buses, tunnels, yards and buildings for the storm, then return to safety. Winds of 39 mph and higher are predicted to reach the metropolitan region during the predawn hours Monday.
“The MTA proved it can suspend service in an orderly manner when it did so last year for Tropical Storm Irene, and we have refined our Hurricane Plan since then to help us prepare for Hurricane Sandy,” MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota stated in a release. “This storm will batter the MTA, but the precautions we take now will allow us to recover much more quickly.”
The duration of the service suspension is unknown, and there is no timetable for restoration, MTA officials said. Service will be restored only when it is safe to do so, after careful inspections of all equipment and tracks. Even with minimal damage this is expected to be a lengthy process, according to the release.
Metro-North Railroad’s special “Train to the Game” for today’s Jets game in the Meadowlands has been cancelled. Customers who return promptly to Penn Station after the conclusion of the game will be accommodated on MTA services leaving by 7 p.m.
Outbound Access-A-Ride trips are being scheduled only until 12 p.m. today, and return trips will continue until 5 p.m. Any previously scheduled trips after that time, including subscription trips, are cancelled.
Customers and the media should monitor the mta.info website or call 511 for the most current service information.
Someoneat the PA has screwed up big time
The PA bridges typically go on speed restrictions in winds above 39 mph and close when gusts exceed 60 mph.
PA strongly suggests all airlines cancel operations for tomorrow. PA will issue a NOTAM indicating that JFK/LGA/EWR will only remain open to handle EMERGENCY flights. It is believed that this NOTAM will be in effect through Tuesday with hopes of resuming service on Wednesday. Each Carrier should advise is operations / flight control centers of this notice. Again, JFK will remain open tomorrow to handle EMERGENCY flight activity only. Storm is expected to have winds at a constant 40 to 60 MPH with gusting winds at 70 to 80 MPH. Tidal Surges are expected to be between 6 and 11 feet and there is a possibility that the Bay Runways could be underwater. Most domestic carriers have planned to cease operations for tomorrow 10/29. Due to public transportation being shut-down the TSA is planning on having only a token staff available at each Terminal. Governor’s Office announced that all public transportation will cease operations between 19:00 and 21:00 this evening in the New York Metro area and will not resume until further notice. Projected wind speeds will make the loading/unloading of Cargo, Bags, and Commissary hazardous and may need to be curtailed. There could be significant delays in the ground handling of flights as a result of the heavy rains, winds and potential staffing issues. This could all result in extended tarmac delays which could put you, the Carrier in jeopardy of significant fines.