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MTA Winter Storm Preparation Plans

Posted by
on January 11th, 2011 at 2:24 pm

As you know by now, yet another major snowstorm is expected to hit the region. The forecasts are calling for a decent amount of accumulation & it is safe to assume that mass transit will be affected in someway if the forecasts come through.

Earlier this afternoon, the MTA held a press conference to discuss their current storm preparation plans. Here are a few details from the conference:

NYC Transit has instituted Plan 4 which is where they expect 5 inches of snow or more & consists of the following:

Subways Storm Control Center in Brooklyn activated.

The operation of maximum length trains on all lines Including OPTO lines.

Underground storage in effect (Train cars normally stored outside are laid up underground mainly on express tracks aka express service not running for the most part.)

The activation of local storm centers.

Ice storm fighting equipment activated.

G.O.s aka service diversions and work trains will be cancelled where needed.

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) initially instituted a Level 3 in terms of plans which is where they have expectations of at least 9 inches. However this morning they upgraded to a Level 4 (mainly due to potential blizzard like winds) which consists of the following:

Ice storm or severe icing conditions that result from sleet or freezing rain may result in track and/or equipment failures; they also make walking outside quite dangerous. A blizzard is a storm that contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow, with continuous winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than a quarter mile. In the event that either occurs, train movement may be curtailed, especially if there are frozen switches or the loss of third rail power for electric trains. Icing can have a greater impact on travel conditions than heavy snowfall and can develop very quickly.

Bridges & Tunnels have instituted a Level 3 service plan & Metro-North Rail Road a Level 4 which consists of the same policies as the LIRR’s.

I will post information as I get it throughout the day & during the storm itself.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Bridges And Tunnels, LIRR, Metro-North, NYC Transit, Service Alerts
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Service Diversions 01-10-11

Posted by
on January 10th, 2011 at 7:34 am

Well the storm that hit the region from Friday & into the weekend packed a very light punch. So most of the diversions that were cancelled probably could have gone on but the MTA did the right thing in canceling just in case.

A new week is upon us & I just updated the Service Diversions page with the scheduled work for this week & beyond in some cases. I suggest printing out a copy before departing to your destination.

If you have an internet capable handheld device, use it to access Transit Blogger’s mobile site. The next update will be on Wednesday or Thursday when the MTA sends me the weekend schedule.

As always, stay safe throughout all of your travels.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions
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MTA Appoints New Head Of Security

Posted by
on January 7th, 2011 at 2:24 pm

Douglas Zeigler
Newly appointed MTA Director of Security Douglas Zeigler. Photo courtesy of the MTA.

The MTA has officially appointed a new Head of Security. Here are the complete details courtesy of a press release they literally just sent out:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the appointment of Douglas Zeigler as its Director of Security.

Zeigler, a 37-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, began his law enforcement career in 1973 and served in a variety of positions including Chief of the Community Affairs Bureau, Chief of the Organized Crime Control Bureau, Chief of the Housing Bureau and Borough Commander for Patrol Borough Queens North. He retired from NYPD in June 2010. Chief Zeigler has a law degree from New York Law School and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

“The safety and security of the millions of people who use our transit system every day is our top priority, and Chief Zeigler is uniquely qualified to lead our multi-faceted security program,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder. “Chief Zeigler brings with him a wealth of knowledge from three decades at the NYPD that will guide MTA security policy and support the continuation of our tight partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement,” Walder said.

Mr. Zeigler, 63, will oversee security for the MTA, including coordinating MTA security efforts with the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, the National Guard, NYPD and State Police, as well as the MTA Police Department, which has jurisdiction in 14 counties in New York and Connecticut, patrolling approximately 5,000-square miles of the MTA’s rail network.

“The MTA’s services are so important to our way of life here in New York, and I look forward to working with the MTA Police and our colleagues in law enforcement to keep our customers safe and our system secure,” said Chief Zeigler.

Zeigler replaces retiring Chief William A. Morange, who is retiring after serving seven years at the MTA. Morange is also a 39-year veteran of the NYPD.

“Chief Morange has enjoyed an unparalleled career in law enforcement, and for the past seven years he played a crucial role in protecting our transit system,” said Walder. “His legacy is a much more secure transportation system, and he will be missed.”

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 01-07-11

Posted by
on January 7th, 2011 at 4:08 am

Normally this post would talk about how I posted the latest scheduled diversions for the weekend & beyond. However with an anticipated snow storm set to hit the region again, the MTA has instituted their Plan 4 snow response which partially includes the cancellation of all scheduled diversions outside of stations already closed.

I have not posted next week’s diversions as I am not sure what will be in place after the storm hits. I will update all of you with information when I receive it from the MTA. Long Island Rail Road riders need to be aware of extra early afternoon service being offered by the LIRR due to the expected storm. Click here for all the information.

If you must go outside this weekend, please be careful & have a wonderful weekend.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions
1

LIRR To Offer Service Due To Expected Storm

Posted by
on January 7th, 2011 at 3:49 am

If local meteorologists are right, our region will be hit with another snow storm albeit not as strong as the one over Christmas weekend. With the angry sentiment still out there from the performance of the MTA & NYC as a whole during the last storm, the much maligned transit agency is taking steps to improve their performance.

Yesterday afternoon, the MTA Long Island Rail Road announced it will be offering extra early afternoon service. Here are the complete details courtesy of the press release I received:

With weather forecasts calling for a winter storm, the Long Island Rail Road has begun storm preparations to ensure safe travel across the region. In addition, the LIRR will be providing additional early-afternoon service Friday, January 7 for customers looking to return home as a result of the forecasted storm. There will be eight additional eastbound trains from Penn Station between 2:10 PM and 3:48 PM. The extra service will include: three trains on the Babylon Branch, three on the Port Jefferson Branch, one on the Port Washington Branch and one on the Far Rockaway Branch.

The extra trains from Penn Station on Friday, January 7 are as follows:

Port Jefferson Branch to Hicksville and Huntington:

• 2:10 PM stopping at Jamaica, Carle Place and all stops to Huntington

• 2:29 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington

• 3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville

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Babylon Branch:

• 2:22 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:00 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:31 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

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Port Washington Branch to Great Neck:

• 3:40 PM stopping Woodside, Flushing Main St., then all stops to Great Neck

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Far Rockaway Branch:

• 3:48 PM express to Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, then all stops to Far Rockaway

xoxo Transit Blogger

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