Lower Manhattan Update – 11/2/12

The Downtown Alliance is producing a twice a day email to provide you with all of the updates that could affect your home or office in Lower Manhattan with information from various agencies including New York City, New York State, MTA, Port Authority, Con Ed and more. If you would like to subscribe, please click here.

GOVERNOR CUOMO & MTA CHIEF LHOTA ANNOUNCEMENTS, NOVEMBER 1, 6:15PM

Crews are closer to restoring subway service between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Two of seven tunnels (4/5 and F) are ready to run once power is back.
Limited M service began this afternoon from Jamaica Center along Queens Boulevard, through 63rd St. tunnel to 34th St.
Bus routes supporting the Staten Island Ferry will be restored as soon as conditions allow and ferry service resumes.
7 train service between Flushing Main Street & 74th St. in Queens, will begin by midnight tonight.
Holland Tunnel will be open to buses tomorrow — please leave your car at home and take the bus.
Amtrak will provide Acela Express & NE Regional modified service on NE Corridor between BOS & DC via NYC.
Cuomo sent letters to utilities explaining they have license from state to operate. Utilities could be subject to monetary penalties if they do not perform, the state expects performance.

FOOD AND WATER DISTRIBUTION

Additional sites will be added as information becomes available. Times for distribution this weekend will also be added shortly. Please check back for updates. Go here for locations: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html.

VIA THE ASSOCIATION FOR A BETTER NEW YORK

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is accepting financial donations to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. One hundred percent of donations will be dispersed directly to relief efforts and organizations. Donations can be made online at www.nyc.gov/fund and checks can also be made out to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City with Hurricane Sandy in the memo line and sent to: Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, 253 Broadway, 8th Floor, NYC, NY 10007. For any further information please call 212-788-7794.

The Red Cross of Greater New York expects this to be a large, costly relief response across several states, one that continues for several days, and they are asking for our help now. The best way to donate is to make a financial gift. Visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift enables the Red Cross to get prepared and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected.

Historic Battery Park took the full force of Hurricane Sandy as it hit Lower Manhattan on Monday evening. The park survived an unprecedented storm surge of 13.88 feet of sea water. The Battery Conservancy’s most urgent challenge is the loss of their offices at One New York Plaza — completely submerged in flood waters. The Battery Conservancy is seeking temporary office space and financial support. Visit The Battery Convservancy’s website for more information. You can also support all of the city’s impacted parks through the City Parks Foundation.

CON EDISON

Con Edison crews have restored electricity to more than 320,000 customers since Hurricane Sandy’s departure.

The utility said although it has restored power to some areas of Manhattan, more than 100 buildings may still be without electricity due to basement flooding or damage to local equipment.

As of 5 a.m. today, Con Edison reported approximately 570,000 customers out of service. That included 226,000 in Manhattan, 84,000 in Queens, 35,000 in Brooklyn, 54,000 in Staten Island and 31,000 in the Bronx. In Westchester County, the company reported 140,000 customers out of service.

VERIZON

Verizon, headquartered in Lower Manhattan, has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers, or WECCs on Staten Island, New York, at Monmouth University in New Jersey, and at two locations in Toms River, N.J. These stations will provide public access to device charging and will also offer computer work stations. There will also be wireless phones and other devices available for visitors to use in order to contact family and friends.

And at any of Verizon’s stores in the Northeast that are open, the company is offering free device charging and free domestic calling to local residents. The company said that it’s continuing to re-open stores throughout the area and it’s continuing to restock inventory of device and accessories at the stores to meet its customers’ needs.

Other wireless carriers have also sent emergency trucks into areas where their customers are without power and wireless service. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said yesterday that AT&T is sending satellite trucks and charging stations into New York City to help customers affected by the superstorm.

LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD RESTORATIONS

Babylon Branch: Restored hourly service to Penn Station

Huntington Branch: Restored hourly service to Penn Station

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. Details of restored service:

Babylon Branch to Penn Station

Starting with the 12:35 AM departure from Babylon on Friday morning the LIRR, will be operating limited hourly service 35 minutes after the hour going to Penn Station.  Eastbound, the hourly service will start with the 12:04 AM departure from Penn Station and continue at 4 minutes past the hour. See full hourly Babylon Branch schedule at www.mta.info.

Port Jefferson Branch service between Huntington and Penn Station

Starting with the 12:35 AM departure from Huntington on Friday morning the LIRR, will be operating limited hourly service 35 minutes after the hour going to Penn Station.  Eastbound, the hourly service will start with the 12:00 AM departure from Penn Station to Huntington, and continue at the top of the hour. See the LIRR’s full hourly Port Jefferson Branch schedule (from Huntington) at www.mta.info.

Ronkonkoma Branch to Penn Station

Limited hourly train service between Ronkonkoma and Penn Station is continuing with westbound trains departing Ronkonkoma 37 minutes after the hour.  Eastbound trains depart Penn Station 8 minutes after the hour. See the LIRR’s full hourly Ronkonkoma Branch schedule at www.mta.info.

Port Washington Branch service between Great Neck and Penn Station

Limited hourly shuttle train service between Great Neck and Penn Station is continuing with westbound trains departing Great Neck every 45 minutes past the hour and eastbound trains departing Penn Station every 14 minutes past the hour. Customers are advised to be dropped off at the Great Neck Station, as limited parking is available. See the LIRR’s full hourly Port Washington Branch schedule (from Great Neck) at www.mta.info.

Two of four East River tunnels are not in operation at this time. In restoring the limited LIRR service to Penn Station, the LIRR is only able to use two of four tunnels, which we share with Amtrak and NJ Transit.  Amtrak is continuing their work of pumping the flood waters out of their tunnels.

At the direction of Governor Cuomo, fares are not being collected on LIRR trains today and Friday.  All LIRR customers are advised to hold onto their October monthly and current weekly tickets; they will remain valid for travel through Monday, November 5.

With the restored Ronkonkoma and Port Washington (from Great Neck) hourly service today, the LIRR carried approximately 10,000 customers to Penn Station this morning. Despite some crowded conditions on some trains, The LIRR met the demand for service and no customers were left on platforms.

LIRR employees are continuing to work around the clock to address power, signal and track issues so that we can restore additional service as soon as possible.

METRO NORTH RESTORATIONS

Hudson Line: Service between Croton-Harmon and Grand Central Terminal on the Hudson Line will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

New Haven Line: Service will resume between New Haven and Stamford/Grand Central Terminal.

Harlem Line: Full service between Southeast and Grand Central Terminal will be restored Friday morning.

Service on the Harlem Line was extended from Mount Kisco through to Southeast Station, beginning Friday. Trains operated on a very limited schedule Friday.

NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT RESTORATIONS

#7 Service between Flushing Main Street and 74th St. in Queens has begun.

In addition, Limited M service from Jamaica Center along Queens Boulevard, through the 63rd St. tunnel to 34th Street/Herald Square in Manhattan has begun.

More extensive restoration of normal service depends upon Con Edison’s restoration of feeds for Joralemon and Rutgers tubes, plus networks from those tubes up to 36th St. This would enable the New York City Transit to restore service on the 4, 5 and F lines, as well as to re-establish some service over the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges. Restoration of these feeds would allow for robust Sixth Avenue service. Once power is restored, since the tracks are dry and signal testing has been completed done, the only thing that would remain would be to run a few test trains. Service could be restored within two hours. In addition, NYCT was prepared to establish a #5 shuttle train between Dyre Avenue and East 180th Street in the Bronx, but is unable to do so because there is no station power.

NEW JERSEY TRANSIT RESTORATIONS

New Jersey Transit rail service, which has been suspended since Hurricane Sandy, will resume limited service on Friday, Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday night. But service to New York Penn Station will remain suspended, with trains terminating in Newark.

Three lines will be running, all of them on special schedules:

Northeast Corridor trains will resume between Trenton and Newark Penn Station.

The North Jersey Coast Line will run between Woodbridge and Newark Penn Station, but service between Bay Head and Woodbridge will remain suspended.

The Raritan Valley Line will resume between Raritan and Newark Penn Station, but service between High Bridge and Raritan will remain suspended.

PATH service remains suspended.

NYCT BUS

Buses operated near normal service Thusday with routes diverted as conditions required. In addition to weekday school closed requirements, buses operated the Atlantic, Jay Street and Hewes Street subway replacement shuttles and augmented M5 and M20 service in Manhattan where displaced subway customers were riding.

Bus service will be curtailed at dusk in the areas of the city where power is still out as was done yesterday, for the safety of pedestrians and passengers. The Brooklyn bus bridge will continue to run past midnight.

Access-A-Ride began fulfilling scheduled appointments as of noon today. Thirteen of the 14 carriers are providing vehicles to assist in the evacuation effort.

Bus service will continue to operate the same service levels, as will the subway support service. Normal routes will be restored as soon as conditions allow, including routes supporting the Staten Island Ferry when ferry service resumes.

AIRPORTS

LaGuardia Airport opened both runways today at 7:00 a.m. Carriers are providing limited service but are continuing to ramp up operations throughout the day.

JFK International opened a third runway today and the airport is fully operational. Airlines are continuing to restore full flight schedules; however, flight service will vary by carrier.

Newark Liberty International is fully operational and airlines continue to increase service.

Stewart International Airport is operating normally.

Teterboro Airport is open for service during daylight hours, with both runways operating.

AirTrain JFK has resumed limited service. Service is available between Jamaica Terminal and Federal Circle, and from Federal Circle to Howard Beach Station. Port Authority buses will provide shuttle service between Federal Circle and the passenger terminals. In keeping with the State of New York’s transit emergency status, AirTrain JFK fares are suspended Thursday, November 1, and Friday, November 2.

AirTrain Newark continues to operate at full service taking passengers to the NEC where they can take Amtrak (limited services) to Newark Penn Station and Philadelphia. AirTrain Newark fares are suspended Thursday, November 1, and Friday, November 2.

PORT AUTHORITY BRIDGES, TUNNELS ETC.

The George Washington Bridge, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing and Lincoln Tunnel remain open.

Motorists are advised that the City of New York is not allowing vehicles with fewer than three passengers to cross the Lincoln Tunnel and enter Manhattan between the hours of 6 AM and midnight.

The Holland Tunnel remains closed until further notice.

All PATH service is suspended until further notice.

Greyhound Bus service into and out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal resumed today. Commuter bus carriers continue to add service, and all PABT retail tenants are open for business. Passengers are urged to check with carriers before leaving for the bus terminal.

World Financial Terminal ferries are running between New Jersey and New York from 7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., starting from Paulus Hook, Weehawken and Hoboken North at 14th Street and going to the World Financial Ferry Terminal in Battery Park City.

OTHER

New York City, including the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), is coordinating a set of services to assist small businesses in recovering from Hurricane Sandy. For more information, please call 311 and ask for NYC Business Solutions.

FDR Drive is now open northbound from the Battery to Dyckman Avenue and southbound from East 125th Street to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Alternate Side Parking (street cleaning) regulations will be suspended on Friday, 11/2. All other parking regulations, including parking meters remain in effect.

High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) restrictions are in place for all vehicles entering Manhattan between 6 am and midnight on Friday, 11/2 via the following Bridges/Tunnel: Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, Queensboro/59th Street, RFK Triboro, Henry Hudson, and the Lincoln Tunnel. Vehicles must have at least 3 occupants.

The Staten Island Ferry is back — it will depart from St. George at noon, followed by half-hourly service in both directions.

East River Ferry Service has resumed.

The City is making scheduled garbage collections as storm conditions permit. Recycling collections are suspended. All recycling should be stored until further notice. The Department of Sanitation is handling hurricane debris clean ups citywide.