Nyc Weather Forecast Snow Storm Triggers MTA Preparations and Wide Service Changes
The MTA announced sweeping operational changes as part of the nyc weather forecast snow storm, rolling out personnel and specialized equipment after a joint news briefing and a tour of the Subway Operations Control Center with MTA Chair Janno Lieber and Mayor Mamdani. Commuters are being urged to prepare for significant service adjustments across all transit agencies.
Nyc Weather Forecast Snow Storm and MTA's citywide preparations
it would suspend all scheduled weekend track and infrastructure projects so crews can focus on storm response and has staged 35 specialized snow-fighting vehicles across the boroughs. To protect exposed sections of the system, crews will run debris and de-icer trains over the 220 miles of exposed outdoor tracks, and staff will deploy personnel and equipment throughout the network.
Subways and buses: running local and swapping fleets
Most New York City subway service will run local to accommodate snow-clearing operations. The MTA is pulling all longer articulated "accordion" buses from service and replacing them with 40-foot standard buses equipped with chained wheels. Bus routes will be curtailed or adjusted on a route-by-route basis depending on local road conditions.
Commuter rails: LIRR and Metro-North adjustments
Commuter railroads will activate switch heaters and send trains fitted with special third-rail "shoes" to scrape away ice. The LIRR will run a standard Sunday schedule on the morning of February 22, though evening modifications are possible on the Babylon, Port Washington, Huntington, West Hempstead, and Oyster Bay branches to allow for snow equipment deployment. Monday's service levels will be determined overnight based on storm severity.
Station waiting rooms will remain open 24/7 systemwide starting at 6: 00 a. m. Sunday. While Sunday will see a regular schedule, Monday will shift to an hourly service schedule, with branch lines operating on weekend schedules. Connecting services, including the Hudson Rail Link bus and the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry shuttle buses, are suspended.
Bridges and tunnels: truck ban and possible walkway closures
To prevent accidents and jackknifed vehicles, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will ban empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks from 7: 00 p. m. Sunday through 10: 00 a. m. Monday. The ban affects the Bronx-Whitestone, Cross-Bay, Henry Hudson, Marine Parkway, Robert F. Kennedy, Throgs Neck, and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges. Pedestrian walkways on several of these bridges may also close depending on wind and ice conditions.
Access-A-Ride and on-the-ground rider guidance
Access-A-Ride paratransit service will continue 24/7, though customers are advised to expect delays. Drivers have been instructed to follow severe weather protocols and to exercise extra patience before declaring a customer a "no-show. " The MTA emphasized that crews will concentrate on clearing terminals and high-traffic routes.
How to Stay Informed
With conditions expected to evolve
The agency's immediate next steps include active storm-response deployments and schedule updates overnight; Monday's service levels will be set based on the storm's severity.
