New Jersey Transit is temporarily suspending all service except the Atlantic City Rail line, which will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Long Island Rail Road will have a weekend schedule on Monday and Tuesday and Metro-North service at night will end on Monday evening.
RELATED: The following explains how New York prepares snow
MTA bridges and tunnels will implement a ban on towing empty and tandem tractors from 6 a.m. Monday. The buses are equipped with tire chains and will run on a reduced schedule.
The MTA urges customers to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel during the storm.
“This is a severe winter storm with high snowfall levels expected,” said Patrick J. Foye, president and CEO of the MTA. “MTA employees will work hard for the next 48 hours and beyond to prepare for and respond to the storm. However, we strongly recommend New Yorkers to stay home, be safe, and avoid unnecessary travel on Monday and Tuesday until the storm subsides. “
RELATED: Live Updates: New York Schools Switch to Remote Learning Because of Snow
MTA employees will be:
– Spread salt and clean snow and ice surfaces
– Maintenance of signals, switches and operation of the third lane
– Removal of fallen trees that may fall on tracks
– Meet any weather-related challenges during the storm
New York Subway and Staten Island Railroad
While the underground portions of the subway system are unaffected during snowstorms, there are about 220 miles of outdoor runway throughout the city. The Rockaway, Sea Beach, Flushing, Brighton and Dyre Av lines are particularly vulnerable to snow and icy rainfall. To prevent subway trains from getting stuck in the yards, they will be moved and stored underground in anticipation of heavy snow or ice. This will affect service on express service lines.
New York City Transit has a fleet of snow and ice fight trains designed to keep outdoor tracks, switches, and third lanes free of snow and ice. High-powered snowplows, jet snow blowers, and de-icing vehicles (modified modified subway cars with tanks and other specialized equipment for spraying de-icing fluid into the third lane) are ready for immediate deployment.
New York City buses
Due to the expected high levels of snow accumulation, the buses will operate with reduced service. All local buses will be equipped with tire chains. Sixty-foot articulated buses will be replaced by standard 40-foot buses starting Sunday night.
New York City Transit and the MTA Bus Company have 35 snow vehicles in their fleet, operating on predetermined routes to quickly reach terminals, support sites, and other busy areas and known areas.
Bus managers have technology that tracks service when it falls below expected minimum levels on any route, allowing them to make decisions more quickly. The bus service will be adjusted according to the road conditions in the city and the service by route may be reduced.
The MTA New York City Transit Bus Department and the MTA Bus Company have the following equipment and supplies on hand to fight the storm:
– More than 800,000 liters of diesel
– More than 338,000 pounds of thawing material
– 28,000 liters of gasoline
– 83 box trucks
– 77 snowplows / salt spreaders that can be mounted on trucks
– 57 portable snow throwers
– 40 emergency response vehicles / road service trucks
– 25 trailers
– 35 road trucks
– 36 bucket trucks
– 22 dumpers
– 14 portable generators
– Two fuel tank trucks
MTA bridges and tunnels
MTA bridge and tunnel staff have activated weather preparedness at all facilities. The staff needed to combat the storm will be maintained with up to 300 employees engaged in meteorological activities.
Due to the expected high wind conditions, the ban on empty tandem trailers and trucks will be in effect on all MTA bridges from 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1. Bridges and tunnels will closely monitor the weather and implement appropriate additional restrictions as needed.
Fleet Operations garages will be activated throughout the storm while maintaining the availability of all storm fighting equipment and materials, including:
– 8,100 tons of salt
– 50 portable snowplows
– 74 snowplows / salt spreaders that can be mounted on trucks
– 45 portable generators
– 31 front loaders
– 31 wrecks / trailers
– 25 variable message signs
– 23 bucket trucks
– 17 weather monitoring stations
– 14 light towing vehicles
– 12 chainsaws
– 10 forklifts
-10 torches
– 10 luggage carriers
The bridges are equipped with built-in road sensors for atmospheric temperature and terrain sensors that provide real-time information on wind speed, wind direction, humidity and precipitation via wireless communication. These sensors record the data that is used to determine if speed restrictions are needed.
Flood conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate mitigation measures put in place as needed. All non-critical road works will be suspended during the storm with on-site and / or available contractors to assist with climate-related response and mitigation.
New Jersey traffic
New Jersey Transit will temporarily suspend all services Monday, except the Atlantic City Rail Line, which will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Port Authority buses
Due to the impending snowstorm, all bus service in and out of the Port Authority bus terminal will be suspended on Monday 1 February. Check with your carrier for specific information and resume service.
Commuter Railways
The Long Island Railroad and the Metro-North Railroad modify pre-storm service plans and may modify them further depending on storm conditions.
Snow fighting equipment overwinters, is tested and strategically positioned on both railways. Checking the heat protection circuits is being checked, air brake lines are being purged of any moisture to prevent them from freezing, and electric trains are being installed with special third-party rail shoes to prevent l snow accumulation.
Metro-North Railway
The service will end in the early hours of Monday, February 1, with the last trains of the day departing from their origins at 9:39 p.m. and arriving at their final destinations after midnight. To see the final train departures at the individual stations, guests must visit mta.info or use the Metro-North Train Time or MYmta apps.
Metro-North is closely monitoring the conditions and may further modify or suspend service if the snowfall is heavy. In ice storms, snowstorms, or sustained winds of more than 39 mph, train service can be severely reduced or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches, downed trees, or loss of third rail power or overhead catenary.
Metro-North Railroad installed snow slippers for its electric trains to scrape the ice from exposed third lanes, surrounds exposed train couplers with snow covers to prevent snow, is treating exposed shoes with old ice, and spray door panels with freezing agent.
Metro-North Railroad has snow-fighting equipment ready to begin, strategically located at system facilities.
The switches (the interlocking tracks that allow traffic controllers to pull trains back from one track to another) are being treated with an antifreeze agent and lubricated. Metro-North Railroad uses electric heaters.
Long Island Railroad
Starting Monday at 12:01 p.m., LIRR trains will operate on a weekend schedule, which will remain in effect until Tuesday night. This will help us do the best service possible as the storm intensifies and we work to clean the rails. Due to the extreme cold currently reaching the service territory, the waiting rooms at the LIRR station will remain open until Wednesday 3 February.
The LIRR is closely monitoring weather forecasts as the next storm approaches its service area and may modify or suspend service if snowfall is heavy. In ice storms, snowstorms, or sustained winds of more than 39 mph, train service can be severely reduced or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches or if there is a loss of third rail power.
The LIRR reminds customers to only travel on Mondays and Tuesdays if necessary. Railway crews will be out of service territory working to keep trains moving for those in need. Those who have to travel are urged to be careful on the stairs / platforms of the station and when boarding / leaving trains. Guests planning to travel are encouraged to check out the LIRR TrainTime app, the MyMTA app, or new.mta.info for the latest information about the service.
Access-A-Ride
The Access-A-Ride paratransit service will continue to provide service, with vehicles using tire chains and tires for all types of weather, although shared travel and food service will be suspended during the storm. Reservations are accepted on a 24-hour booking cycle instead of the usual 48-hour booking cycle. Guests can experience additional travel and waiting times. Customers may want to reconsider travel, unless medically necessary. The Paratransit Command Center will monitor the storm to track and respond to immobilized vehicles and customers.
New York City Transit has coordinated a procedure with New York lifeguards and the New York Office of Emergency Management to rescue customers of immobilized vehicles or those who develop medical needs during storms.
NY Waterway Ferry Service
All NY Waterway ferry service will be suspended on Monday, Feb. 1 due to severe winter weather. NY Waterway will post updates on Tuesday’s service as the storm unfolds.
MORE ACCUWEATHER RESOURCES
Check AccuTrack Radar
School closures and delays
Winter storm alerts issued by the National Meteorological Service
SEND YOUR SNOW PHOTOS HERE:
READ ALSO | Snowy Owl in Central Park offers visitors a once in a lifetime experience
For weather updates wherever you go, download the AccuWeather app.
Copyright © 2021 WABC-TV. All rights reserved.