NEW YORK — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and NJ Transit are advising passengers to be prepared for service changes as a winter storm moves into the area on Sunday, Jan. 19.
In a press release on statewide storm preparations, the MTA says it is closely monitoring the weather but currently has no changes to its weekend or holiday rail schedules. Additional crews will be deployed to inspect track and switches, or otherwise respond as needed. Bus service is likely to see more issues, with all articulated buses removed from service and buses on routes in the Bronx and Manhattan chained for operation.
New York City is currently forecast to receive 4-6 of snow, with 2-3 inches of snow along with rain on Long Island. Up to 10 inches of snow are forecast farther north.
NJ Transit reports it is similarly continuing with plans to operate on its regular weekend or holiday schedules “for as long as weather and road conditions allow,” but cautions passengers to be prepared for disruptions or cancellations on Sunday, and on Monday, Jan. 20. Personnel will be pre-positioned across its system to deal with rail, light rail, and bus issues.
“Our teams are implementing numerous precautionary measures, including deploying snow removal equipment across the system, and enhancing infrastructure and fleet vehicle inspections,” NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said in a press release. “We are committed to keeping our transit system as safe and accessible as possible, and we encourage everyone to stay informed about service updates and travel only if necessary during severe weather conditions.”
As of 6:45 p.m. ET today (Saturday, Jan. 18), Amtrak has not announced any schedule changes or cancellations in the Northeast. The company has introduced special measures at Washington Union Station to deal with anticipated inauguration crowds.
