Lower Manhattan Update

In the last several hours, there have been briefings from the Mayor, Governor and Con Edison, all providing New Yorkers with the latest developments regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Here is a synopsis of their announcements, as well as information culled from multiple media sources:

Power:

– John Miksad, Senior Vice President of Electric Operations for Con Ed, provided the following updates regarding power restoration in New York City:

– The restoration process is well underway.

– The first underground network, the Cortlandt Network, the area south of the World Trade Center and along West Street to the tip of Manhattan, has been restored today around 2 PM. (Bounded by: West Street, Water Street, Broadway and Liberty Street/Vesey Street).

– That network contains: 2,000 customers (remember, each customer is a building), with the exception of customers (about 2 to 3 percent) whose basements were flooded and could not accept restored electrical service yet.

-They do not expect any other Lower Manhattan networks to be back up before Friday.

– The second network – Brighton beach – in Coney Island should be restored before 4 pm today.

– Con Ed expects that all remaining underground networks – in Manhattan and Brooklyn – will be restored by Friday or Saturday of this week.

– Overall, about 100,000 customers have had power restored; almost 500,000 overhead remaining.

– Regarding the steam system from the Battery to 96th Street, customers from 42nd street north have seen steam restored. Con Ed is working to restore steam to the area south of 42nd Street. No timeline provided for that.

Transit:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced limited subway, Metro North, and LIRR service will resume today.

As of 2:00PM today, the following is an up-to-date service status list of the MTA operating agencies including New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North and Bridges and Tunnels.

Subway Service:

– 1 trains will operate local between 242nd Street (Bronx) and Times Square-42nd Street.

– 2 trains will operate between 241st Street (Bronx) and Times Square-42nd Street, with express service between 96th Street and Times Square.

– 3 trains are suspended.

– 4 trains will operate in two sections making all local stops: Between Woodlawn (Bronx) and Grand Central-42nd Street• Between Borough Hall and New Lots Avenue

– 5 trains will operate express in Brooklyn between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Flatbush Avenue.

– 6 trains will operate local between Pelham Bay Park and Grand Central-42nd Street.

– 7 trains are suspended.

– 42nd Street Shuttle S trains will operate between Times Square and Grand Central.

– A trains will operate in two sections making all local stops: Between 168th Street (Manhattan) and 34th Street-Penn Station• Between Jay Street/MetroTech and Lefferts Blvd.

– B and C service is suspended.

– D trains operate in two sections: Between 205th Street (Bronx) and 34th Street-Herald Square making all local stops• In Brooklyn, between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Bay Parkway making express stops between Pacific Street and 36th Street

– E trains are suspended.

– F trains operate in two sections making all local stops: Between 179th Street (Queens) and 34th Street-Herald Square

– In Brooklyn, between Jay Street-MetroTech and Avenue X

– G trains are suspended.

– J trains operate between Jamaica Center and Hewes Street making all local stops.

– L trains operate between Broadway Junction and rockaway Parkway making all local stops.

– M trains operate between Myrtle Avenue-Broadway and Metropolitan Avenue.

– N trains operate between Ditmars Blvd. (Queens) and 34th Street-Herald Square making all local stops.

– Q trains are suspended.

– R trains operate in Brooklyn between Jay Street-MetroTech and 95th Street making all local stops.

– Both the Franklin Avenue and Rockaway Park S shuttles are suspended.

Ferry Service:

– The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey reports that Hudson River ferry service will restart tomorrow at 7 AM from New Jersey to the World Financial Center, offering commuters an alternative means of travel into and out of Lower Manhattan.

– The first ferries will run between New Jersey and New York from 7 AM until 6:30 PM Thursday tomorrow, starting from Paulus Hook, Weehawken and Hoboken North at 14th Street and going to the World Financial Ferry Terminal in Battery Park City.

– For further information, customers should go to nywaterway.com.

– For up to date information on Port Authority facilities follow them on Twitter @PANYNJ. For further information for New York State, visit http://www.governor.ny.gov/stormwatch. For New Jersey, visit www.ready.nj.gov. 

Bridges and Tunnels:

– Hugh L. Carey Tunnel: Closed

– Queens Midtown Tunnel: Closed Robert F. Kennedy Bridge: Open

– Henry Hudson Bridge: Open

– Throgs Neck Bridge: Open

– Bronx-Whitestone Bridge: Open

– Verrazano-Narrows Bridge: Open

– Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge: Open

– Cross Bay Veterans Memorial: Open northbound to Broad Chanel; Open southbound to Rockaways but subject to period closures for emergency equipment

– The four East River bridges are to be restricted to vehicles with three or more people for Thursday and Friday, 6AM to midnight. The HOV restrictions apply coming into Manhattan, not going out.

– The same HOV restrictions are in place for the Triborough and Henry Hudson bridges and Lincoln Tunnel.

Additional Details:

– The NYPD had 80 light towers up last night in areas with power outages and the goal is to have 100 more for tonight.

– There are about 6,300 people in 76 evacuation shelters. In days ahead, the Ciyy will begin consolidating the number of shelters.

– NYC EDC has 40,000 square feet of space at the Brooklyn Army Terminal that’s now available for use by businesses. Businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy should contact NYC Business Solutions by calling 311 or going to http://www.NYC.gov .

– All NYC Schools will remain closed for students tomorrow and Friday, but teachers and administrators will come in on Friday.

– Do not cut down or remove trees yourself; leave it to the professionals. Stay out of all City parks until they are safe.

– New Yorkers should throw away any food, including packaged food, that was touched by flood water.

– New York City tap water is safe to drink.

– If you’re without power, don’t use generators or grills indoors; the result could be carbon monoxide poisoning.

– The New York City Marathon will go on.

– The Knicks/Nets game has been postponed.

(Updated 10/31/2012 @ 4:40pm) – For the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, as well as on our website!