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MTA Shutdown Complete

Posted by
on August 28th, 2011 at 12:58 am

Well as I sit here riding out the storm on Long Island, the MTA sent out word a little over an hour ago that they have completed their shutdown. Details courtesy of the press release I received:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has now completed the shutdown of its subway, bus and rail network, with equipment and facilities secured and employees returned home or safely positioned for the storm.

This safe and orderly process began at approximately noon today when final runs began on scheduled services, and finished with the relocation of equipment to higher ground, sandbagging of facilities and securing of crossing gates, among many actions taken to protect infrastructure. As of 10 p.m. the MTA’s Bridges and Tunnels remain open but closures are expected and will be posted on mta.info.

The MTA’s focus now turns to preparing for the safe and timely restoration of service when conditions allow. Even if damage is minimal, this will be a lengthy process, and potential widespread flooding, mudslides, washouts, fallen trees and downed power lines could dramatically complicate the situation.

“I’m extremely proud of the MTA’s dedicated employees, who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and orderly suspension of service and shutdown of our vast transportation network today,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder. “Our next goal will be a safe and orderly restoration of service. This is going to be a very difficult process, beginning with assessment of the storm’s damage. Safety will continue to be our first priority.”

To best prepare for restoration, the MTA’s agencies have thousands of workers on standby throughout the 5,000-square-mile territory. In anticipation of road closures, personnel have been positioned at key locations so that workers would be in place when conditions allow the restoration process to begin.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA Recap Of Hurricane Irene Plans

Posted by
on August 26th, 2011 at 8:43 pm

Just a short time ago, the MTA sent out a press release recapping their service plan for Hurricane Irene. Here are the details:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reminds customers that all MTA services will begin an orderly shutdown at about 12 noon tomorrow in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Irene. These actions are consistent with the MTA’s Hurricane Plan, designed to protect the safety of customers, employees and equipment, and ensure the fastest and safest possible restoration of service after the storm. In addition, the MTA is suspending certain fares and tolls in order to facilitate evacuations.

Details of the MTA’s service plan for Hurricane Irene are as follows:

Preparation/Evacuation:

• In order to facilitate the mandatory evacuations in New York City and Long Island, the MTA will suspend collection of certain fares and tolls.

o Tolls are suspended at the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge.

o Starting at 8 p.m. today:
 Toll collection will be suspended on the Verrazano-Narrows, Throgs Neck, and Bronx-Whitestone Bridges.
 Fares will be suspended on buses throughout the city.
 Fares will be suspended for subway and rail passengers at stations in mandatory evacuation areas.

• Those who wish to evacuate using MTA services should seek out existing services and routes. In addition, the Long Island Rail Road is operating special shuttle trains between Far Rockaway and Valley Stream to assist in evacuation efforts. Additional crews will be available to augment bus service tomorrow morning.

• Pets will be allowed on board MTA vehicles. Dogs must be leashed and, if possible should be muzzled. Cats and other pets should be in carriers.

• Scheduled weekend construction projects have been cancelled to allow for potential evacuation and suspension of service. All MTA construction sites are being secured, with cranes lowered.

• MTA stations and rail terminals are not designated shelters and will be closed in the event of a service shutdown. Those in need of assistance will be directed to nearby shelters.

Safe and Orderly Shutdown:

• Subways, buses, LIRR, Metro-North, and Staten Island Railway will begin shutting down service at about 12 noon tomorrow. People who need to travel are encouraged to do so as soon as possible and not wait until the last train or bus is departing. Those who do not need to travel are advised to stay put until the storm has passed.
o Details on the last LIRR trains to run are here: http://bit.ly/nVljTK
o Details on the last Metro-North trains to run are here: http://bit.ly/opXOfw

• Restrictions or closures at MTA Bridges and Tunnels are likely. MTA bridges will close if winds reach sustained speeds of 60 mph, but this does not preclude them from closing sooner if high winds are coupled with other weather-related conditions including flooding. Each of MTA’s seven bridges and two tunnels will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• There will be no scheduled Access-A-Ride pickups after 12 noon on Saturday but Access-A-Ride will be working with NYC OEM to provide vehicles for the evacuation for disabled residents. There will be no Access-A-Ride service on Sunday, August 28 or Monday morning, August 29.

• The MTA is working with law enforcement across the region to protect infrastructure during a system-wide shutdown.

Safe and Orderly Restoration:

• As soon as conditions allow following the storm, MTA personnel will evaluate damage and begin implementing its plan to restore service as quickly as possible while protecting the safety of all involved.

• Even with minimal damage this is expected to be a lengthy process that will impact service following the storm. MTA riders are urged to call 511 and stay tuned to mta.info and local news broadcasts before traveling.

• State helicopters will be deployed to assist the MTA in assessing storm damage

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Some MTA Fares & Tolls To Be Suspended

Posted by
on August 26th, 2011 at 6:18 pm

Literally just a few minutes ago, the MTA has sent out word that Gov. Cuomo has announced the suspension of certain fares & tolls to help facilitate evacuations. Here are the details:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that in order to facilitate the mandatory evacuation of residents living in low-lying Zone A areas and the Far Rockaways, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will suspend certain fares and tolls.

“The only approach to a storm of this magnitude is to act preemptively. Waiving fares may be the factor that convinces some people to leave promptly when they might otherwise be tempted to stay and confront this hurricane,” Governor Cuomo said.

The fare and toll suspension is effective in the following areas:

• Tolls are already suspended at the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge.

• Starting at 8:00 PM today, the following changes will go into effect:

o Tolls will be suspended on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

o Fares will be suspended on buses throughout the city.

o Fares will be suspended for subway and rail passengers at stations in the mandatory evacuation area.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 08-26-11

Posted by
on August 26th, 2011 at 6:09 pm

All service diversions scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled due to Hurricane Irene. As far as ones for starting on Monday, I will report when I get word.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Metro-North To Start Shutdown At Noon Tom.

Posted by
on August 26th, 2011 at 6:05 pm

Late this afternoon, the MTA Metro-North Railroad announced it will begin a service shutdown at noon tomorrow due to the expected landfall of Hurricane Irene. The agency sent out a press release which lists the last trains that will be in service tomorrow on the respective branches:

Metro-North’s storm preparations have begun and normal train service will continue through Saturday at noon.

Beginning at noon on Saturday, Metro-North will begin shutting down its service in advance of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irene. The shutdown will be as orderly as possible and early enough so that all trains en route will be able to complete their runs.

Metro-North urges its customers: Don’t take chances and don’t wait until the last minute to make sure that your family is safe and secure.

Grand Central Terminal and all outlying Metro-North station buildings will be closed for the duration of the service suspension. In preparation, train equipment is being moved out of low-lying locations known to be prone to flooding, such as the east end of the yard in New Haven and Highbridge and Mott Haven yards in the Bronx. In addition, the wooden crossing gates at grade crossings systemwide will be removed and secured. These gates are susceptible to high winds. All routine track work and capital construction work has been suspended.

Below is a list of the last trains to operate on Saturday:

Hudson Line:

Northbound: The 11:45 AM train from Grand Central, due Poughkeepsie at 1:35 PM.

Northbound: The 12:20 PM train from Grand Central, due Croton-Harmon at 1:28 PM.

Southbound: The 11:40 AM train from Poughkeepsie, due Grand Central at 1:21 PM.

Southbound: The 12:00 PM train from Croton-Harmon, due Grand Central at 1:07 PM.
____

Harlem Line:

Northbound: The 11:48 AM train from Grand Central, due Southeast at 1:18 PM.

Northbound: The 11:55 AM train from Grand Central, due North White Plains at 12:43 PM.

Southbound: The 11:34 AM train from Southeast, due Grand Central at 12:40 PM.

Southbound: The 12:08 PM train from North White Plains, due Grand Central at 1:03 PM.

Wassaic Branch:

Northbound: The 1:21 PM train from Southeast, due Wassaic at 2:05 PM.

Southbound: The 10:26 AM train from Wassaic, due Southeast at 11:06 AM.
____

New Haven Line:

Eastbound: The 12:07 PM train from Grand Central, due New Haven at 1:54 PM.

Eastbound: The 12:10 PM train from Grand Central, due Stamford at 1:17 PM.

Westbound: The 12:03 PM train from Stamford, due Grand Central at 1:09 PM.

Westbound: The 11:56 AM train from New Haven, due Grand Central at 12:43 PM.

Westbound: The 11:30 AM and 11:56 AM trains from New Haven will make all stops to Grand Central.

New Canaan Branch:

Eastbound: The 12:57 PM train from Stamford, due New Canaan at 1:14 PM.

Westbound: The 12:27 PM train from New Canaan, due Stamford at 12:43 PM.

Danbury Branch:

Northbound: The 12:11 PM train from South Norwalk, due Danbury at 1:02 PM.

Southbound: The 10:43 AM train from Danbury, due South Norwalk at 11:31 AM.

Waterbury Branch:

Northbound: The 11:34 AM train from Bridgeport, due Waterbury at 12:37 PM.

Southbound: The 10:19 AM train from Waterbury, due Bridgeport at 11:12 AM.
____

Port Jervis Line:

Outbound: The 1:14 PM out of Penn Station/1:25 out of Hoboken due Port Jervis at 3:53 PM

Inbound: The 10:46 AM out of Port Jervis, due Hoboken at 1:19 PM and Penn Station at 1:35 PM.
____

Pascack Valley Line:

Outbound: The 12:20 out of Hoboken/12:14 out of Penn Station due Spring Valley at 1:37 PM.

Inbound: The 11:37 AM out of Spring Valley due Penn Station at 12:41 PM. and Hoboken at 12:28 PM.
___________

To prepare for Hurricane Irene:

Check www.mta.info for updates and service changes.

West-of-Hudson Customers: For NJ TRANSIT travel information and current service status, please visitwww.njtransit.com

Call the Customer Information Center at 212-532-4900 which will have an upfront message giving you the current status of our service.

Listen to radio and television news. During any storm or emergency, we are in touch with the news media, giving updates on the status of our train service.

Use Metro-North Train Time or CooCoo services for real-time train status and schedule information.

Stay tuned here for any latest updates as I receive them.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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