Storm Coverage-Update 3:05 p.m.

State threatens travel ban

Cuomo announces service changes due to storm

Posted

***UPDATE 3:05 p.m.***

The LIRR is currently reporting delays on multiple branches. The Babylon branch is reporting an 11-minute delay, the Hempstead branch is reporting a 13-minute delay, the Ronkonkoma branch is reporting a 10-minute delay,and the West Hempstead Branch is reporting a 10-minute delay. All other branches are currently on-time.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called a second press conference for 4:30 p.m. Monday to provide further information on the storm and any road or service changes.

-----------------------------------------------------------

***UPDATE 1:45 p.m.***

The LIRR's first delays have struck, as the Ronkonkoma line is reporting a 10 minute delay as of 1:45. All other branches are operating on time.

-----------------------------------------------------------

***UPDATE 1:25 p.m.***

The Governor's office has announced that all tractor-trailer trucks will be banned from roadways beginning at 4 p.m. Word on a full travel shutdown, including the closing of all roadways, is expected shortly after 4 p.m.

------------------------------------------------------------

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced at a press conference early Monday afternoon that the Long Island Rail Road, New York City Subway System and the Metro-North train line would begin suspending service on Monday evening due to the predicted blizzard. State officials are also considering a total travel ban for late tonight, Cuomo said.

“By four or five or six o’clock tonight you want to be home and off the roads,” Cuomo told residents at the press conference. “This is not an evening and a night to be out and about”

The LIRR will operate as closely as possible to its current schedule until 11 p.m., Cuomo said, when service will be suspended. Meanwhile, subway riders will see their trains run as regularly scheduled until roughly 7 p.m. or 9p.m. before service is slowed throughout the rest of the night. Confirmation of these changes is expected after the Governor’s office receives a 4 p.m. weather advisory. All branches are running on time as of 1 p.m.

The MTA also announced that eight extra trains will depart from Penn Station between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. On the Babylon Branch, there will be three additional trains leaving at 2:32 p.m., 3 p.m., and 3:31 p.m. The Port Jefferson Branch will also have three additional trains, with one at 2:08 p.m., 2:29 p.m. and 3:31 p.m. The Port Washington and Far Rockaway branches will each have one additional train, leaving Penn Station at 3:40 and 3:48 p.m., respectively.

Cuomo also said state officials were discussing the possibility of closing roads as well.

“We are considering a complete travel ban to take effect at 11 p.m., we will make a decision on that after we receive new forecasts and predictions at 4 p.m.,” he said. “This would be a safety precaution, and it is never an easy decision. We understand that closing the roads can be a major inconvenience, but if roads stay open people can get stuck and that can lead to a very serious situation.”

Cuomo said the decisions to alter service had to be made in order to ensure the safety of both the public, and the equipment they use to travel to work each day. Tom Pendergast, chairman and CEO of the MTA said the MTA would be following a predesigned emergency plan.

Page 1 / 2