MTA Announces All-Agency Preparations Ahead of Winter Weather on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14

1-3 Inches of Snow May Fall Across Region

Wind Speeds May Climb to 35mph on Parts of Long Island

With winter weather forecast to hit the New York metropolitan area on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today advised customers of steps being taken to ensure the safety of customers and continuation of operations.

MTA employees will be deployed throughout the operating region spreading salt and clearing surfaces of snow, keeping signals, switches, and third rails operating, and attending to any weather-related challenges.

Those who travel are urged to allow extra travel time and be cautious on station staircases and platforms, as well as when boarding and exiting trains. For service updates, customers should monitor service on mta.info, the TrainTime app, and the MTA app.

Summaries of actions being taken by MTA agencies follow.

New York City Transit

While the underground portions of the subway system remain unaffected during snowstorms, there are nearly 220 miles of outdoor track throughout the boroughs. The Rockaway , Sea Beach , Flushing , Brighton and Dyre Av lines are particularly vulnerable to snow and freezing precipitation. NYC Transit's Department of Subways has a fleet of emergency response equipment including debris trains and de-icer trains ready to deploy and respond to icy conditions.

Crews are monitoring switches and tracks to ensure they are working properly, along with salting and clearing snow from elevated station platforms, exposed stairs and subway entrances.

Field personnel are staged at critical locations including stations and yards, ready to deploy and respond to snow conditions.

Articulated buses have been taken out of service for the duration of the upcoming winter weather and replaced by 40-foot standard buses. All divisions have extra personnel on duty closely monitoring service, clearing the snow and ready to respond to issues that arise during the storm.

NYC Transit has 35 snow-fighting vehicles in its fleet, that have been strategically staged ahead of the storm and operate on predetermined routes to quickly reach terminals, lay-over locations and other highly trafficked areas. Certain areas will be salted in an effort to prevent any stuck buses.

Bus service will be adjusted based on road conditions around the city and service curtailments on a route-by-route basis are possible. Bus managers have technology that tracks headways and service in real time allowing them to make service-related decisions more efficiently.

Customers are encouraged to check the MTA app or mta.info for the latest service information and updates.

Access-A-Ride will operate on a normal schedule. All providers have been reminded to follow the Severe Weather Plan, which includes advising drivers to be vigilant and look for passengers sheltering in doorways and other shelter situations before declaring a No-Show during extreme weather conditions.

Long Island Rail Road

Regularly scheduled Long Island Rail Road service is planned for this weekend. Long Island Rail Road crews will be out across the service territory working to keep trains moving with equipment on hand to be able to respond quickly as conditions warrant. Crews will also proactively de-ice station walkways and platforms.

De-icing trains will be running to keep third rails clear of snow and ice, while crews are strategically positioned throughout the system helping to keep switches clear and operable. In addition, switch heaters will be activated to prevent track switches from freezing using natural gas burners and electrical heating elements.

Metro-North Railroad

Regularly scheduled Metro-North Railroad service is planned for this weekend. In preparation for winter weather, snow-fighting equipment is winterized, tested, and strategically positioned at facilities around the system.

Protective heat circuits have been verified to be operational, air brake lines purged of any moisture to prevent them from freezing, and electric trains have been fitted with special third rail shoes to prevent snow from accumulating. Switches - the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another - use electric switch heaters to melt snow.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels

Weather forecasts and meteorological consults are being considered while planning for operational period activations, operational posture, and deployment of resources. Electronic weather sensors are functional at all facilities, and the B&T Operations Command Center has the ability to actively monitor weather conditions including wind and temperature.

Construction and Development (C&D)

C&D Emergency Management has informed the C&D Safety team and Business Units (BUs) about the upcoming snow event, high winds, and extreme cold weather. All projects are to prepare for snow removal and complete the inclement-weather preparedness checklist to ensure project readiness.

Ways to Stay Informed

mta.info - The definitive source for real-time arrival information and service change information for each line or route in the MTA system. Customers can find current statuses on mta.info and upcoming planned service changes using the lookup tool at mta.info/alerts.

MTA app - Customers who use the comprehensive MTA smartphone app will see real-time train, bus and rail arrival times, and can chat with our customer care team all in one place. The app is available in the Apple Store and in Google Play.

TrainTime app - The MTA's TrainTime app is the essential companion to navigating the commuter rail system. Customers can plan their trip, purchase tickets, check train status, and chat with customer service, all in one app. The app is available in the Apple Store and in Google Play.

Email Alerts - Customers can sign up for email alerts tailored to their specific commutes and travel times. They can also sign up for MTA newsletters like The Weekender, a weekly newsletter that covers major weekend planned service changes. Customers can sign up here.

511 - Customers who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.