New Jersey Travel Restrictions and NJ Transit recovery after major blizzard
A major blizzard slammed the Garden State Sunday into Monday, prompting Governor Mikie Sherrill to urge all residents to stay off the roads and prepare for potentially life‑threatening conditions. New jersey travel restrictions are in effect practically on the ground as NJ Transit works to return rail, bus and access service with modifications and emergency teams remain on standby.
New Jersey Travel Restrictions: state warning and storm timeline
Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a direct plea for residents to stay off roadways and prepare for potentially life‑threatening conditions after the storm struck Sunday into Monday. New Jersey travel restrictions are shaping how people move across the state while recovery teams assess damage from the blizzard.
NJ Transit positions trains on the North Jersey Coast Line and warns of equipment strain
NJ Transit moved locomotives and railcars into position for the morning rush, with trains rolling down the North Jersey Coast Line empty on Monday. NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri said, "The goal is to get this system back into some shape, so people can get back to work. " Kolluri also noted that extreme winter weather takes a toll on trains, the rails and the switches that keep them moving.
Which services will resume and which lines may stay suspended
Light Rail resumed at 4 p. m. on Monday. Bus service is expected to resume at 4 a. m. Tuesday with potentially localized detours, and commuter rail is scheduled to resume at 5 a. m. on a modified weekend schedule. The North Jersey Coast and Raritan Valley Lines could remain suspended, and the Northeast Corridor Line may have to skip local stops through Union County depending on whether Amtrak completes overnight work on frozen switches.
Storm damage in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and residents left without power
The blizzard dumped huge amounts of snow across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, bringing down trees and utility lines. Tens of thousands lost power, and side streets in some places remained snow‑covered. Freehold resident Lynn Fachler said, "For me, it was like you either got to get our power on or plow, because we don't want to sleep here tonight. " Stephen Ingram added, "We're blocked off, both ends of the street, because of the power lines. "
Crews, State Police activation and warming centers
Work crews from NJ Transit spent much of the night clearing parking lots, staircases and platforms to prepare for the modified schedule. Kolluri said, "Can I tell you it's only been a few hours since the storm ended? So the fact that the fact that we have our system ready to go tomorrow morning is, itself, a Herculean task. So I'll take that for the moment. "
Acting State Police Superintendent David Sirota said the State Emergency Operations Center is at Level 2 activation and will remain staffed around the clock. Search and rescue teams with high‑wheeled vehicles and snowmobiles are on standby. Residents who need warming centers can contact NJ 211 for assistance.
