Storm Coverage-Update 8:15 a.m.

Cuomo opens Nassau roads

Suffolk County still under travel ban

Posted

***UPDATE 9:35 a.m.***

The Nassau Inter County Express will be restoring limited service on Tuesday afternoon. According to a NICE press release, bus service will resume on routes that are "determined passable" this afternoon, but riders should expect delays on any open lines.

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*****UPDATE 8:15 a.m.*****

At Cuomo's 8 a.m. press conference, he confirmed the reopening of Nassau County roads earlier this morning. He also confirmed to service continuation on the LIRR.

He also announced that Suffolk County's traffic ban, along with traffic bans in all other New York, were lifted at 8 a.m. He continued to stress, however, that while roads are open, residents should seek to stay indoors.

"If you don't need to be on the roads today, you don't want to be," he said. "They are passable, but there is still a layer of ice under the snow in many places."

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Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday morning that he has lifted Nassau County's travel ban, effective at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and that LIRR service will begin continue schedule beginning at 9 a.m., and will return to a Sunday schedule at 12 p.m. Suffolk County remains under a travel ban until further notice.

Snow began falling early on the morning of Jan. 26 as residents around Long Island braced for what was being forecasted as a record-breaking blizzard. As the storm came through the area, however, its impact failed to live up to speculation, dropping under a foot of snow in most of Nassau County as of Tuesday morning. Residents were forced off the roads and trains beginning at 11 p.m. yesterday, as Cuomo enacted a full travel ban, the first of its kind.

“First is safety, the roads are already dangerous, we don’t think we will be able to clear them given the rate of snowfall and wind that is expected, so they will only get worse,” Cuomo said at a press conference announcing the travel ban Monday night. “Second, we’ve learned that the best way to get the system up-and-running again is to keep everything safe and out of the conditions.”

Cuomo also said that while the ban was lifted, residents should remain at home if possible. “Drivers should use extreme caution and prepare properly as driving conditions remain poor and other states still may have travel bans in effect.”

Cuomo has scheduled another press conference for 8 a.m. Tuesday to give further updates on the effects of the storm.