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[KevinKorell]

MTA website:

New York City Transit

Confronted by heavy snow, strong winds and blisteringly cold temperatures, bus and subway personnel are busy working to keep ahead of the second severe winter storm of the year. Customers are reminded that as conditions worsen, some services will be delayed and may even be suspended.

Throughout the day, more than 800 workers were assigned to shoveling and salting subway station platforms and stairways. To ensure safety in the system’s 468 stations, clearing snow and ice from stations is a top priority; but customers are reminded to be cautious, walk carefully and use handrails when climbing or descending stairs.

Throughout the subway system, more than 1,700 track and signal personnel are on duty at strategic locations, available to address any problems that may arise and to keep track switches clear of ice and snow build-up. Snow-fighting equipment is prepped, fueled and ready to go while four of the subway system’s six de-icers – retired subway cars modified with tanks and other specialized equipment to spray de-icing fluid on the third rail - are already in operation.

Despite all of the work that is being performed, the possibility exists that service on some outdoor lines -- the Dyre Line 5, Sea Beach N, Brighton Q, and Rockaway A -- may be suspended if it is determined that deteriorating weather conditions could allow a build-up of ice and snow significant enough to stall trains. Elevated lines do not have the problem of snow build up as the flakes fall between the track ties. While the underground portions of the system remain unaffected during snowstorms, there are nearly 220 miles of outdoor track throughout the boroughs.

The Department of Buses is also keeping a close watch on weather conditions, and local buses are being equipped with chains for increased traction. More than 50 pieces of snow-fighting equipment will be deployed along bus routes, and maintenance personnel are ready if needed. Depending on observed ridership and road conditions reported by bus operators and supervision, service may be cut back as much as 20 percent.

Due to conditions, Paratransit customers may also experience additional travel and wait times. Customers may want to reconsider travel, unless medically necessary. For our Access-A-Ride paratransit service, a dashboard storm monitoring system is in place to track immobilized vehicles and customers. NYC Transit has also coordinated a procedure with New York City first responders and the Office of Emergency Management for rescuing customers on immobilized vehicles or those who develop medical needs during storms. Also in place is a new paratransit-specific Storm Action Plan that includes processes for curtailing all non-medically essential service.

In order to enhance our communications with customers, MTA has taken steps to ensure 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 are urged to monitor this website regularly as well as television and radio reports for service updates.

MTA customers can get up-to-the-minute service updates through the service status box on the alert home page. Customers can also sign up for service email and text alerts by visiting Useful Links on the alert home page.

[CNJRoss]

Metro Magazine, 1/23:

N.Y. parks subway cars underground to avoid frigid temps

By Charles Seaton, director corporate communications, New York City Transit




New York City is not a place known for an over-abundance of free parking spaces and when the weather turns especially nasty even MTA New York City Transit’s subway fleet must be moved to alternate spots for overnight storage.



Normally, subway cars not needed for overnight service are parked in one of the system’s 14 outdoor subway yards, like the 207th Street Yard in Manhattan’s Inwood section or Brooklyn’s Coney Island Yard. But extremely cold, snowy or icy weather requires trains be parked underground along the express tracks of lines around the system. Deep snow, frigid temperatures and icy buildup on the third rails are liable to trap trains inside the yards, rendering them useless when needed and also making it far more difficult to clear the yards of snow.

New York City Transit has a cold-weather plan developed to protect the system against harsh weather and trains are parked underground when:
• Temperature is 10ºF or less, or
• Freezing rain and/or icing, or
• Snow accumulation of 5-feet or more is forecast.

While customers benefit by having warm, comfortable trains ready for the next rush hour, the other side of the coin is the requirement that express service end early.

Continue.

Comment: I suspect "Snow accumulation of 5-feet or more is forecast" is a typo and should be "Snow accumulation of 5-inches or more is forecast."
- Ross