NEW YORK — The MTA is making changes for the evening commute after a major storm dumped nearly a foot of snow throughout the tri-state area Thursday.
The Long Island Rail Road announced service changes for four of the 11 branches for the evening rush hour as snow continues to fall out
Port Jefferson Branch
The 3:27 p.m. train from Penn due into Huntington at 4:33 p.m. has been cancelled. As an alternative, the 3:43 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Huntington at 4:49 p.m. will stop at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and all further stops to Huntington.
The 5:06 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Huntington at 6:07 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:17 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Huntington at 6:21 p.m. will stop at Westbury and Hicksville and then make all further stops to Huntington.
The 6:30 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Huntington at 7:32 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 6:35 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Hicksville at 7:22 p.m. will stop at Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and then make all further stops to Huntington.
Babylon Branch
The 4:03 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Babylon at 5:05 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 4:12 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Massapequa Park at 5:10 p.m. will stop at Woodside, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Rockville Centre, and make all further stops to Babylon.
The 4:34 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Babylon at 5:39 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 4:37 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Wantagh at 5:27 p.m. will stop at Rockville Centre and then make all further stops to Babylon.
The 4:57 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Wantagh at 5:42 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:03 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Freeport at 5:46 p.m. will stop at Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Freeport, Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh.
The 5:19 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Wantagh at 6:06 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:24 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Freeport at 6:10 p.m. will stop at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Rockville Centre, and then make all further stops to Wantagh.
The 5:40 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Seaford at 6:30 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:47 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Freeport at 6:31 p.m. will stop at Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Seaford.
The 6:05 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Wantagh at 6:51 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 6:10 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Freeport at 6:54 p.m. will stop at Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Wantagh.
The 6:33 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Babylon at 7:35 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 6:36 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Wantagh at 7:29 p.m. will stop at Jamaica, St. Albans, Rockville Centre, and make all further stops to Babylon.
Port Washington Branch
The 4:22 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Port Washington at 4:58 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 4:25 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 5:02 p.m. will stop at Woodside and all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
The 4:43 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Port Washington at 5:21 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 4:46 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 5:23 p.m. will stop at Woodside, and make all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
The 5:11 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Port Washington at 5:47 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:14 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 5:45 p.m. will stop at Bayside and make all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
The 5:26 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Port Washington at 6:04 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:29 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 6:05 p.m. will stop at Woodside and make all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
The 5:50 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 6:19 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:56 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 6:31 p.m. will stop at Woodside, and all further stops to Great Neck, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
The 6:11 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Port Washington at 6:48 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 6:14 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 6:49 p.m. will stop at Woodside, and then make all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
The 6:24 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Port Washington at 7:04 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 6:42 p.m. train from Penn due Great Neck at 7:17 p.m. will stop at Woodside, and all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
The 7:01 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Port Washington at 7:36 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 7:14 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Great Neck at 7:48 p.m. will stop at Woodside, and then make all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
Long Beach Branch
The 4:40 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Long Beach at 5:37 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:00 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Long Beach at 5:55 p.m. will stop at Jamaica, Locust Manor, and all further stops to Long Beach.
The 5:20 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Long Beach at 6:11 p.m. has been canceled. As an alternative, the 5:23 p.m. train from Penn Station due into Long Beach at 6:18 p.m. will stop at Jamaica, Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, Lynbrook, and then make all further stops to Long Beach.
About 20 percent fewer MTA buses are scheduled to run, MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz says. All buses appeared to be facing delays as of 7 a.m., the MTA website showed. Buses continued to have delays on all routes by 3:30 p.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo encouraged business owners to close early to create less traffic during the Thursday evening commute. Crews have been able to keep main roads clear on Long Island and Hudson Valley, but the danger lies on highway ramps.
“People get stuck on the ramps because there’s an incline and that then starts to back up traffic all across the board. And once you have a few cars stuck on a ramp, the plows can’t get in, the tow truck can’t get in and now you have a problem,” said Gov. Cuomo.
All limited bus service will be making local stops in Manhattan and Staten Island.
If temperatures drop to 10 degrees or less, the area sees freezing rain and/or ice, or 5 inches of snow or more accumulates, the following train services may be impacted:
- B, W may end early
- Express service may run local on A, E, D, F, N, W, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- 7 line service may be reduced, with the last/first stop to/from Flushing being Times Square-42 St. and 34 St.-Hudson Yards
Some routes may be temporary reduced or suspended to clear tracks if snow accumulates 8 or more inches. Cuomo said officials did not seriously consider closing the subways.
In preparation:
- 2,900 snow-clearing personnel are prepared to go out into the elements to salt platforms, remove snow from platforms and stairs, and perform other maintenance operations
- About 1,000 snow-melting devices and switches are along tracks
- 1,300 third-rail heaters are set up
- 80 scrapper shoes are attached to trains in order to keep ice off the third rail
- All operational buses are dressed with tire chains to keep traction on road
NJ Transit warns of 15 minute rail delays system-wide, and in both directions, due to the storm.
The Exclusive Bus Lane will not operate for Thursday, and cross-honoring is in effect system-wide for NJ Transit bus, rail and light rails.
Bus line 196 and 197 are terminating at West Mill for park-and-ride, and the 73 line is starting and ending in West Orange due to road conditions, NJ Transit spokeswoman Jennifer Nelson said.
Long Island Railroad commuters are experiencing system-wide delays averaging 20 to 30 minutes. For specific set-backs, you can visit the LIRR’s Twitter page by clicking here.
The Staten Island Ferry is operating on a modified schedule, with service about every 20 minutes due to low visibility and mechanical issues, according to the NYC Department of Transportation.
In addition to allowing for extra commuting time due to delays on Thursday, people are advised to walk and travel with caution, as walkways will be slippery.
MTA and NJ Transit commuters are advised to check appropriate websites before traveling to learn the latest information.
This story will be updated with any significant travel delays.
