Mass transit services in the Tri-State area are gradually being restored for the Tuesday morning commute following a severe winter blizzard that brought up to two feet of snow to various regions from Sunday through Monday afternoon. This storm has impacted numerous transportation services, including the New York City subways, buses, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Metro-North, New Jersey Transit, and ferries.
The Long Island Rail Road plans to resume limited service at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, with operations on the Ronkonkoma, Huntington, Babylon, Oyster Bay, Montauk, and Port Washington branches. Specifically, Montauk service will be restricted to trains running between Speonk and points west, while Oyster Bay trains will operate westbound during the morning rush with add-on eastbound service thereafter. Westbound trains will start at 4 a.m., with eastbound services commencing at 5 a.m. The Port Washington and Ronkonkoma lines will run on an hourly basis, while the Babylon and Huntington branches will operate every half hour. The Port Jefferson Branch will see trains running every 90 minutes, and Oyster Bay Branch services will be available every two hours.
Meanwhile, Metro-North Railroad will run an enhanced Saturday schedule on the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines, providing about two-thirds of the regular weekday service. The Hudson Rail Link bus service will also restart alongside shuttle services replacing the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry.
In New York City, some express subway trains will continue to operate on local tracks during the morning rush, with modified subway service in the Rockaways featuring shuttle trains between Euclid Avenue and Rockaway stations. NYC Transit is making efforts to restore service on the Staten Island Railway as promptly as possible.
New York City buses are currently running under a winter weather schedule with routes subject to possible detours and delays due to road conditions. The use of longer accordion-style buses has been suspended, with standard 40-foot buses utilizing chained wheels instead.
The previously imposed ban on empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on MTA bridges and tunnels was lifted at noon on Monday, allowing for smoother transit.
New Jersey Transit will operate on a Presidents’ Day holiday schedule with some modifications, except for the Atlantic City Rail Line, which will stick to its regular weekday schedule. Adjustments have been made for the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, and Raritan Valley Lines due to Amtrak’s ongoing snow clearing efforts.
While several mass transit services are facing challenges, the gradual restoration of operations is a promising sign for commuters facing a snowy Tuesday morning. Customers are encouraged to stay updated on potential delays and service changes as recovery efforts continue.