[NYC4Life]

NY1

08/26/2011 08:18 PM
MTA Prepares For Extensive Service Shutdown As Irene Approaches
By: Tina Redwine

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stori...ene-approaches

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be halting all service beginning at noon Saturday in response to Hurricane Irene, and officials have yet to announce when things will be back on track. NY1’s Tina Redwine filed the following report.

New Yorkers had never heard this sort of announcement before out of the context of a transit strike.

“The system will begin to shut down at noon on Saturday. All services — bus, subway and the railroads — will begin to shut down at that time,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder.

Walder said the MTA has no choice. He said it will take up to eight hours to get equipment and personnel out of harm's way, and with the worst of Hurricane Irene starting to hit the city sometime Saturday evening, that means starting their last runs at around noon.

“It will protect the safety of our customers, the safety of our equipment and allow us as much as possible to put the services back after the storm,” said Walder.

Walder said it’s too early to tell exactly when that will be, however.

As an example, he pointed to the 13 under-river subway tunnels that connect Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. He said storm surge may leave them flooded, and the agency has just three trains with gear to pump that water out.

Walder said it’s anybody’s guess as to how much service there will be for Monday morning's rush.

Subway riders were taking the mass transit shutdown in stride Friday.

“Stay home, avoid the rain and the pieces of debris flying around and floods, all sorts of stuff when hurricanes come,” said one commuter.

“I’m excited. Get to stay in for the weekend, watch some movies. Hopefully the power doesn't go out,” said another.

Some may wonder about how to get around following the MTA service shutdown.

Starting Saturday at 9:00 a.m., the Taxi and Limousine Commission will let taxis and other for-hire vehicles conduct group rides to handle more passengers using a zone plan.

It's also letting liveries, black cars and commuter vans pick up street hails.

Those with their own cars should know that alternate side rules are suspended and that meter fares will be suspended.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there'll be no restriction on private cars provided the drivers feel comfortable driving in a hurricane.

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