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Winter Storm Jonas/New York MTA (NYCT, LIRR, MNRR)


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 21 January 2016 - 10:58 PM

Personnel at the Ready for All Agencies


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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 January 2016 - 07:13 PM

NY MTA news release, 1/21:

 

MTA Prepares for First Winter Storm of the Year

 

With a wintry blast that may dump as much as 12 inches of snow in parts of the metropolitan region, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is hard at work to ensure safe, reliable service this weekend. MTA New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels are once again preparing. Personnel will be ready to drop salt and clear platforms and stairs of snow but customers are urged to use extreme caution while navigating the system, especially on outdoor platforms and stairs.

 

The MTA follows well-established plans to keep the region’s transit services up and running during harsh winter weather conditions. MTA personnel will continue to monitor the U.S. National Weather Service and have direct access to a customized weather prediction service that provides regularly updated weather forecasts.

 

From forecast to clean-up, North America’s largest mass transit provider will respond accordingly with an army of dedicated workers and a fleet of heavy equipment built for snow-fighting duty.

“We will make every effort to keep our services up and running so that our customers can get to where they need to be,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “We have a tremendous investment in equipment, manpower and experience. However, we will only provide service as long as it’s safe to do so.

 

There may come a point throughout the winter months when it is no longer prudent to roll out buses or send trains onto some outdoor sections of the lines.”

 

NYCT Subway lines

The Incident Command Center will be activated Friday night at 8 p.m. Personnel will be stationed to communicate with outlying local storm fighting centers, coordinating the overall snow-fighting effort. NYCT has refined procedures at the Incident Command Center upgrading a tool for tracking field reports on snow removal and station conditions, as well as a database of essential resources such as salt, sand, and generators to enable better collaboration and response time.

 

To prevent subway line  trains from being blocked in yards, they will be moved and stored underground in anticipation of heavy snow or ice. This will impact service on lines with express service. In addition, all scheduled weekend work has been canceled. However, if the storm tracks south and snow accumulation is minimal, NYCT may proceed with some work.

 

The Department of Subways has a yellow-hued fleet of snow and ice-busting equipment designed to keep outdoor tracks, switches and third rails clear of snow and ice. Super-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow-blowers, and de-icing cars – retired subway line  cars modified with tanks and other specialized equipment to spray de-icing fluid on the third rail -- are ready for immediate deployment. Based on the current forecast, workers will be held after their regular shifts and additional personnel will be brought in prior to the beginning of the storm. Approximately 1,000 track workers will be deployed during the storm in addition to 800 station workers to keep stairs and platforms clear of snow. Personnel will have access to 262,500 pounds of calcium chloride and 200,000 pounds of sand to melt snow and ice.

 

While the underground portions of the system remain unaffected during snowstorms, there are nearly 220 miles of outdoor track throughout the boroughs. The Rockaway A Subway line S Subway line , Sea Beach N Subway line , Flushing 7 Subway line , Brighton B Subway line Q Subway line  and Dyre Av 5 Subway line  Lines are particularly vulnerable to snow and freezing precipitation. NYCT resources strategically deployed for the storm include:

 

    10 snow-throwers

    7 de-icers

    4 jet blowers

    8 R156 diesel locomotives

    22 heated/insulated work cars

    79 trains placed into service with scraper shoes, which help reduce icing on the third rail

 

NYCT has also added more third rail heaters and snow melting equipment at critical points throughout the system. There are currently 1,084 remote-controlled, and 494 manual third-rail heaters as well as snow melting devices at 500 switch and 700 signal locations to keep trains moving.

 

Non-Rail information removed for brevity.

 

Metro-North Railroad & Long Island Rail Road

Snow-fighting equipment is winterized, tested and positioned strategically throughout both railroads to start operation as soon as snow accumulations begin. Protective heat circuits are verified to be operational, air brake lines are purged of any moisture to prevent them from freezing, and electric trains are fitted with special third rail shoes to prevent snow from accumulating. Metro-North Railroad covers exposed couplers to keep snow out, treats exposed shoes with de-icer, and sprays door panels with an anti-freeze agent.

 

Long Island Rail Road has the following snow-fighting equipment located at various yards around the system ready for deployment:

 

    1 Spreader/Ditcher

    3 Cold Air Blowers to clear main track, yards and third rail

    2 Stabilizer/Brooms used to clear excessive snow from rails

    7 Rail-bound Jets and 2 hi-rail jets (total 9 jet snow blowers)

    2 Pickup Truck Plow/Spreaders

    151 Snowblowers

 

Metro-North Railroad has the following snow-fighting equipment ready to go, located at various yards around the system:

 

    1 Front-end Loader with thrower

    5 Backhoes

    6 Cold Air Blowers

    3 Rail-bound Jets

    2 Tractor Blower/Spreaders

    70 Pickup Truck Plows

    216 Snowblowers

 

Along the right-of-way, switches – the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another – are treated with an anti-freeze agent and lubricated. Long Island Rail Road has switch heaters with natural gas burners at Jamaica Station and electrical heating elements at switches around te system. Metro-North Railroad uses propane switch heaters and activates heating rods. Switches are continually moved by rail traffic controllers to keep them from freezing shut.

 

Extra personnel at both railroads are positioned at numerous locations to pre-salt platforms and stairways before the storm begins and to clear them of snow during and after the storm. Both railroads must consider various service options due to the vast coverage of service areas and severity of the storm.

 

Long Island Rail Road may modify or suspend service if snowfall is heavy, 10-13 inches or more. In ice storms, blizzards, or sustained winds over 39 mph, train service may be severely curtailed or suspended, especially if there are frozen switches or there is a loss of third rail power. Long Island Rail Road has four modified schedules for storm recovery.

 

Metro-North Railroad impact to service is not just determined by the amount of snow that falls, but also by the age of equipment and the condition of infrastructure, especially evident on the New Haven Line where there is 100-year-old catenary and moveable bridges. Service options include reductions of service and temporary suspensions of service.

 

Pertinent information regarding service on both railroads is available via customer email alerts, website updates, station announcements, platform display message boards, as well as message boards at key terminals.

 

Non-Rail information deleted for brevity.

 

To enhance our communications with customers, the MTA has taken steps to insure its communications systems function well during any type of emergency. The current website design allows for the quick posting of service information and includes a special weather page that becomes the mta.info homepage during weather-related events affecting operations.

 

Customers can view the Winter Weather Guide available at http://web.mta.info/coldWeather/The Winter Weather Guide is a handy guide to keep customers informed during periods of inclement weather that may require service changes. The poster provides information about service on each of the MTA’s agencies with a description of the weather condition and how that weather may affect operations.

 

Customers are urged to monitor mta.info regularly as well as television and radio for service updates.

Customers can also sign up for customer alerts by visiting www.mtamyalerts.com.

 

Addendum: Description of Subway line  Snow-Fighting Equipment

 

Snow Throwers - Precise directional snow-throwing equipment. Includes a two-stage impeller and side mounted rotating brushes to throw snow up to 200 feet; can remove 3,000 tons of snow an hour. This is similar to a household snow-blower, just a lot bigger.

 

Jet Blowers - This equipment uses a jet engine to remove accumulated snow from the roadbed and deposit it a distance from the tracks so that it cannot slide back. This piece of equipment is used primarily to keep the yards clear.

 

De-Icer Cars - Equipped with scraper shoes that scrape off ice and also uses pumping equipment to dispense a stream of nontoxic, biodegradable de-icing fluid to prevent ice buildup on the third rail. If ice is permitted to build up, subway line  car power pickup equipment will not be able to draw electric current from the third rail and the train will stop.

 

Work Cars - Heated/Insulated work cars that can be used to carry crews and equipment to snow removal work sites. These cars are equipped with ice-scraping equipment to help keep the third rail clear. These cars are also designated Storm Emergency Train (SET) Riders, which can be used to rescue passengers if stranded.

 

Diesel Locomotives - All Diesel Locomotives are equipped with a small snow plow at both ends to assist in scraping snow and ice off the road bed and transporting the other snow removal work cars. Additional diesel locomotives are also equipped with shoe beams that allow crews to mount scraper shoes for third-rail de-icing



#3 KevinKorell

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Posted 23 January 2016 - 12:33 PM


 


Winter Weather Update


 


NYC Transit and MTA Bus service will begin an orderly shut down of all local, limited and express service at NOON. Access-A-Ride service will also be suspended. We advise customers who do not have to travel to remain at home until the current weather conditions subside and roads cleared for safe operations. 

 

NYC Transit Subway service and Staten Island Railway (SIR) is currently operating on all lines, but given weather conditions we advise customers to remain at home if at all possible. 

 

Crews have been pre-positioned to respond to areas prone to weather related problems, and platforms are being cleared of snow and salted. Our fleet of deicer trains are currently running to keep rails free of ice accumulation and snow build up. Our Snow Thrower and Jet Blower trains are also manned and will be deployed as necessary to remove any snow from the rails. 




20160123_073834_resized%5B1%5D.jpg?itok=
Snow at Prospect Park Subway Station in Brooklyn

20160123_094159_resized%5B2%5D.jpg?itok=
Snow at Prospect Park Subway Station in Brooklyn


Kevin Korell


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#4 KevinKorell

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Posted 23 January 2016 - 12:50 PM

 

.@MetroNorth and @LIRR trains are getting stranded. Tracks are icing over. 4pm will be last inbound or outbound train on Metro-North & LIRR.



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#5 KevinKorell

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Posted 23 January 2016 - 01:06 PM

WABC-TV, ABC-7 in New York, NY, 1/23/16:

 

LIRR, Metro-North, outdoor subways shut down at 4 p.m. due to blizzard

 

All outdoor subways in New York as well as commuter trains will shut down at 4 p.m. due to the heavy winter storm, the city announced.
 

Story



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#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 January 2016 - 03:32 PM

NY MTA Service Advisory (as of 3:30 pm 1/23):

MTA Winter Storm Update
 

A major snow storm is currently impacting the MTA service area.

 

Due to deteriorating road conditions and poor visibility, NYC Transit and MTA Bus have suspended all local, limited and express bus service. Access-A-Ride service has also begun an orderly shut down of service. 

 

Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and above ground NYC Subway service will begin an orderly shutdown of service at 4:00pm due to deteriorating weather conditions and concerns for customer and employee safety. Crews and snow fighting equipment have been dispatched and are working to keep platforms and rails clear of ice and snow. We advise customers if at all possible to remain at home during the duration of this storm.

 

New York City Transit
 

Due to deteriorating weather conditions, and for the safety of our employees and customers, NYC Transit will begin an orderly shutdown of all elevated and open cut (exterior) portions of the subway system. The last trains to leave terminals will depart at 4:00pm. The subway will operate underground only for the remainder of this storm. NYC Transit and MTA Bus local, limited and express bus service is currently suspended. Access-A-Ride service has begun an orderly shut down of service. We advise customers who do not have to travel to remain at home until the current weather conditions subside and roads cleared for safe operations.  

 

read more

 

 

Long Island Rail Road
 

The LIRR will begin an orderly shutdown of train service beginning at 4 PM to ensure the safety of our customers and employees. A Blizzard Warning remains in effect through Sunday afternoon for Long Island and New York City. 

 

The LIRR is currently experiencing systemwide delays as a result of winter weather conditions. On the Port Washington Branch, which operates along Long Island's north shore, customers are advised to anticipate canceled trains while LIRR personnel work to clear snow from tracks and switches.

 

read more

 

 

 


#7 KevinKorell

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Posted 24 January 2016 - 04:24 PM

Sunday update:
 

MTA Winter Storm Update


 
Service has been restored to portions of the above ground NYC Subway network with limited service at this time. Staten Island Railway (SIR) has also resumed service. Crews are out across the system working to assess conditions and clear signals, switches and rails of snow. Snow fighting equipment has been deployed across the MTA rail and subway networks to perform heavy duty removal. 
 
 
Modified NYC Transit and MTA Bus service has resumed following an overnight route by route assessment of road conditions.
 
Metro-North began restoring service at the outlying terminal stations at 12:30pm and plans to be be fully operational in and out of Grand Central Terminal by 3:00pm, operating on a Sunday schedule. Service remains suspended on the Long Island Rail Road.
 
Service will be restored as conditions warrant throughout the day.
 
We advise customers if at all possible to remain at home and avoid travel as clean up efforts continue.
 
MTA Bus Time™ will be available for restored routes. MTA Train Time™ arrivals data remains unavailable at this time on the MTA web site and on third-party mobile apps.


New York City Transit
 


Subway service has been restored to portions of the above ground network hit hardest by this weekend's record snowfall, Service will be limited as we ramp up and most express service is suspended. Staten Island Railway service has also resumed. These service restorations were made possible by crews who worked overnight to clear snow and ice from rails, signals and switches. Some outages remain as crews, assisted by heavy duty snow equipment continue that work. Consult Service Status for the latest service information.
 
Service on NYC Transit and MTA bus has resumed on a modified Sunday schedule. Road Crews backed up by Snow Fighters made a route by route assessment overnight and will continue to monitor road conditions as restoration efforts continue. Access-A-Ride service has resumed scheduled trips.
 
Limited buses are making all local stops, and standard 40-foot buses replace articulated 3-door buses on SelectBus+Service (SBS) routes. 
 
read more


Long Island Rail Road
 


LIRR train service remains suspended until further notice. Many of the LIRR’s yards are still buried in more than two feet of snow, as is the Harold Interlocking in Queens, where all lines intersect before entering the tunnels to Manhattan. Tracks are still impeded by stranded trains in some locations, while frozen switches prevent the Railroad’s snow-clearing equipment from moving through the system to reach the areas they are needed. LIRR personnel will work throughout the day to restore the railroad, focusing on the most heavily-traveled branches first, with a goal of bringing back service for the Monday morning rush.
 
read more


Metro-North Railroad
 


Metro-North has restored service at outlying terminal stations and plans to be be fully operational in and out of Grand Central Terminal by 3:00 p.m, operating on a Sunday schedule.  Grand Central Terminal is currently open for retail customers.
 
Customers should refer to the timetable for Sunday service, Metro-North Train Time or the interactive schedules page.
 
Crews continue to dig out the infrastructure, especially in the Bronx, as they clear snow from our tracks, switches, train yards and stations. Also, employees are checking signals, switches and power systems.
 
For customers traveling southbound to Melrose and Tremont, trains will not stop at those stations.  Please get off at Harlem-125th Street Station and take a train north to Melrose and Tremont stations. This service change will be in effect through tomorrow due to third rail power issues as a result of the significant snow accumulations.
 
read more



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#8 KevinKorell

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Posted 24 January 2016 - 05:15 PM

NBC New York, 1/24/16:


 

Mass Transit Ramping Back Up After Blizzard

 

Despite the historic blizzard that pummeled New York City with what is likely to be the second-most snow to ever hit the five boroughs, the metropolis' mass transit networks are already starting to run again.

 

The lion's share of the city's subway got moving normally again at 9 a.m. Sunday, with the exception of above-ground portions of the A, Q, N and L trains in Brooklyn and Queens, the Franklin Avenue shuttle in Brooklyn and the Staten Island Railroad.

More



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#9 KevinKorell

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Posted 24 January 2016 - 05:18 PM

New York, NY Post, 1/24/16:
 

The great dig begins: LIRR still buried as NYC starts to thaw after Jonas

 
 
As the rest of the region’s mass transit slowly comes back to life Sunday morning, the LIRR was still suffocating under the more than 2 feet of snow dumped by winter storm Jonas, and officials could not say if it would beready for the Monday morning commute.

There's that story.


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#10 CNJRoss

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Posted 24 January 2016 - 06:41 PM

NY MTA Service Status as of 6:30 pm 1/24:

 
NYCT Subway update - MNRR and LIRR same as earier post.
 
MTA Winter Storm Update

 

Service has been restored to portions of the above ground NYC Subway network with limited service at this time. Staten Island Railway (SIR) has also resumed service. Crews are out across the system working to assess conditions and clear signals, switches and rails of snow. Snow fighting equipment has been deployed across the MTA rail and subway networks to perform heavy duty removal. 

 

Modified NYC Transit and MTA Bus service has resumed following an overnight route by route assessment of road conditions.

 

Metro-North began restoring service at the outlying terminal stations at 12:30pm and plans to be be fully operational in and out of Grand Central Terminal by 3:00pm, operating on a Sunday schedule.

 

Service remains suspended on the Long Island Rail Road.  Service will be restored as conditions warrant throughout the day.

 

We advise customers if at all possible to remain at home and avoid travel as clean up efforts continue. 

 

MTA Bus Time™ and MTA Subway Time™ is available for restored bus routes and subway lines. MTA Train Time™ arrivals data remains unavailable at this time on the MTA web site and on third-party mobile apps.

 

New York City Transit

 

Regular subway service has been restored to most of the above ground network hit hardest by this weekend's record snowfall, but express service is suspended. Staten Island Railway service is operating. These restorations were made possible by crews who've worked throughout the day to clear snow and ice from rails, signals and switches. Some outages remain as crews, assisted by heavy duty snow equipment continue that work. Consult Service Status for the latest service information.

 

Service on NYC Transit and MTA bus is operating on a modified Sunday schedule. Road Crews backed up by Snow Fighters continue to make route by route assessments and will continue to monitor road conditions as restoration efforts continue. Access-A-Ride service has resumed scheduled trips.

 






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