As NYC and Long Island slowly begin to access the damage left in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, millions are left trying to figure out how to get back to normal routines including traveling to and from work and other parts of the city and the island.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has tried to keep New Yorkers up to date with the latest developments from the MTA and the LIRR. On Thursday, Cuomo announced that "enhanced service on Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and the NYC Subway is now operating in time for the evening rush hour."
According to a notice on the MTA's website, commuter rail, bus and subway fare is free until Friday evening. Both the LIRR and NYC subway are running limited service and some lines are not up to full service.
Long Island Rail Road:
The MTA reported that there would be "limited hourly service" for Friday morning's rush on the Babylon Branch to Penn Station and on the Port Jefferson Branch from Huntington to Penn Station. According to the MTA's website, recovery work is focused on LIRR branches Port Washington, Ronkonkoma, Babylon and Huntington, which are LIRR's four largest branches.
No stops will be made at Kew Gardens and Forest Hills during peak periods, the MTA announced, but will be made during the off-peak.
According to the governor's website, the "LIRR has been running hourly service from Jamaica to Atlantic Terminal, hourly service from Jamaica to Penn Station, hourly service from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station, and hourly service from Great Neck to Penn Station."
NYC Subway and MTA Buses:
The MTA reported that limited service on the 7 and M lines would begin by midnight on Thursday. Gov. Cuomo's website stated that the 7 line between Flushing Main Street and 74th St. in Queens will resume by midnight and that "Limited M service from Jamaica Center along Queens Boulevard, through the 63rd St. tunnel to 34th Street/Herald Square in Manhattan" resumed earlier on Thursday.
According to the MTA's website, subway travelers should expect delays and crowding on trains until full service is restored.
Buses are operation at near normal service, the governor's website announced. "Bus service will be curtailed at dusk in the areas of the city where power is still out," the website stated. "The Brooklyn bus bridge will continue to run past midnight."