Updated Nov. 1, 2012 7:50 AM
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared a transportation emergency on Wednesday night and has waived all the fares for the MTA commuter trains, subways and buses on Thursday and Friday. City residents can also now take advantage of the East River Ferry service.
Officials were alarmed with the traffic clogging New York City on Wednesday.
““The gridlock was dangerous, frankly,” Mr. Cuomo said.”
On Thursday morning, traffic had not improved, particularly on approaches to New York City. An NPR reporter called the city’s traffic the worst traffic situation since 9/11. However, a transit tracking tool produced by WNYC (see end of post), indicates many smooth-moving stretches in Manhattan, the outer highways, and even on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
Already yesterday afternoon, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced a “high occupancy” rule on the four East River Bridges. Gov. Cuomo later placed the same rule on several other bridges and tunnels. All day Thursday and Friday 6 a.m. to midnight, cars entering Manhattan via any East River bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel, Triborough Bridge (Robert F. Kennedy Bridge) and Henry Hudson Bridge must have at least three people in the vehicle.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has repeatedly emphasized that restoring mass transit and power are the city’s two priorities. Below is a regional view of transportation and transit in the Tri-State and metropolitan region. Please add your comments below to help us and other travelers stay on top of the latest updates.
An MTA map shows what subway lines and stations are open as of Nov. 1.
Service began on 14 of the city’s 23 subway lines at 6 a.m. on Thursday, though none operate south of 34th Street in Manhattan. A number of lines have no service: No. 3 and 7 trains and the B, C, E, G and Q trains. There will be subway service within the outer boroughs.
Bus service began in New York City on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and by Wednesday, local, limited-stop and express bus services were all operating nearly close to a normal weekday schedule.
In what Gov. Andrew Cuomo had referred to as a “bus bridge,” the MTA will be running 300 shuttle buses between three Brooklyn locations and Midtown Manhattan: Barclays Center, Jay Street -MetroTech and Hewes Street. Though MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota said in an appearance on WABC on Wednesday that buses will have a dedicated lane, just getting on a bus requires a long wait Thursday morning. At 8 a.m., WNYC reported “hundreds, if not thousands” of commuters lining up at the Barclays Center in hopes of boarding a bus to Manhattan. State Senator Daniel Squadron’s Facebook page has posted “full information on subways and shuttle buses.”
Lhota has said that bus services will be used to “complement and supplement” subway stations and lines that remain closed and that trains on Thursday would be running approximately every 10 minutes. He suggested that people ask their employers if they could come in earlier or later to work, to help spread the load of passengers during the morning hours.
Damage is extremely heavy in Lower Manhattan where subway lines converge. The South Ferry station at the tip of the island and in front of the Staten Island Ferry terminal was filled track-to-ceiling with water after Sandy, as were several of the subway tunnels.
Access-A-Ride began limited service Wednesday. Those who need a ride for medical necessities (dialysis, chemotherapy or radiation) can call 1-877-337-2017.
Ferries will run on two modified routes between 7 a.m.and 6 p.m. A northern loop stops at North Williamsburg, Long Island City, and East 34th Street. A southern loop stops at North Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO and Wall Street/Pier 11. There will be free transfers at North Williamsburg. INY Waterway will continue to operate its free bus service from East 34thStreet on a limited schedule on Thursday and Friday.
The Long Island Rail Road will restore limited hourly service on the Ronkonkoma Branch and on the Port Washington Branch from Great Neck Thursday morning. Long Island riders arriving at Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn will be able to connect to shuttle buses from Barclays Center to Manhattan. Service is free through Friday. October passes are valid through Nov. 5.
The Harlem and the New Haven lines are running normal schedules to Grand Central Station. Service is free through Friday. October passes are valid through Nov. 5.
New Jersey Transit and PATH
NJ Transit bus service on 68 bus routes in northern and central New Jersey and 18 bus routes in southern New Jersey are providing service over the entire routes.
Partial service is restored on 58 bus routes in northern and central New Jersey and on 17 routes in southern New Jersey.
There is no estimated time for the resumption of rail service.
The River Line light rail service starting service at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, operating every 30 minutes between Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden and Trenton Transit Center.
Bridges and Tunnels
All of the bridges operated by MTA Bridges Tunnels are open, except the Cross Bay Bridge.
Mayor Bloomberg has announced a “high occupancy vehicle” rule for using the four East River bridges. All day Thursday and Friday 6 am to midnight, cars entering Manhattan via any East River bridge must have at least three people in the vehicle.
Gov. Cuomo has agreed to put the same high occupancy vehicle rule on the Lincoln Tunnel, Triborough Bridge (Robert F. Kennedy Bridge) and Henry Hudson Bridge.
There will be no restrictions on the George Washington Bridge, which many drivers use as a route to I-95 and Connecticut and points north.
The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (Hugh L. Carey Tunnel), Holland Tunnel and Queens Midtown Tunnel remain closed.
Taxis and Livery Cabs
An executive order signed by Mayor Bloomberg on Tuesday permits cab drivers to pick up multiple passengers. Livery drivers can also pick up passengers anywhere in the city. Cabs and livery cabs are now exempt from high-occupancy rules in effect on bridges and tunnels.
Regarding livery cabs, the Mayor cautioned: “Make sure the car has a TLC license plate.”
Transit Tracker
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