Nov. 6: Hurricane Sandy Updates From LIRR, Nassau

LIRR Makes Schedule Improvements

MTA Long Island Rail Road will be restoring train service between Ronkonkoma and Riverhead on Tuesday, Nov. 6 with connecting bus service to operate between Riverhead and Greenport. Other schedule improvements for Tuesday include: the restoration of modified service to Hunterspoint Avenue and the addition of Freeport-Atlantic Terminal trains that stop at Freeport, Baldwin, Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Valley Stream, Rosedale, Laurelton, Locust Manor and Jamaica.

The LIRR will continue operating on a modified schedule on all branches except the Long Beach Branch and east of Speonk on the Montauk Branch. The LIRR’s modified service is required since two of Amtrak’s four East River tunnels are out of service from flooding associated with Hurricane Sandy. 

The LIRR is only able to operate at 45 percent of its normal capacity in the remaining two tunnels we share with Amtrak and NJ Transit. Amtrak is continuing their recovery work on the two tunnels.

Customers should anticipate delays of 10-15 minutes due to reduced train capacity in Amtrak’s East River tunnels and heavy passenger loading system-wide.

Trains on the easternmost portion of the system – east of Riverhead and east of Speonk on the Montauk Branch – will not operate since more than half of the crossing gates and signals are still without power.

LIRR employees are continuing to work around the clock to address power, signal and track issues on the Long Beach Branch, on the Ronkonkoma Branch east of Riverhead and on the Montauk Branch east of Speonk so that we can restore additional service as soon as possible.

The LIRR carried approximately 69,000 customers during the AM Peak period today. This represents 77 percent of the LIRR’s regular AM Peak ridership of 90,000 customers.

NICE Bus Service Returns to Regular Weekly Schedule

NICE bus is providing service on all 48 routes on a regular weekday schedule. While signficant progress has been made in reestablishing traffic signals and clearing roads, many routes are operating with detours and there may be delays in your route. Please plan accordingly.

Able-Ride is fully operational.  NICE asks that Able-Ride customers confirm that their intended destination is open for business before confirming appointments. Road conditions, detours and non-functioning traffic signals may delay trips, so we ask that passengers plan accordingly.

NICE bus continues to work with the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management to provide vehicles and operators to help with evacuation logistics and personnel transport.

We will continue to monitor road conditions, closures and detours and adjust service as needed. The most updated information about routes can be found at www.NICEBUS.com or at Facebook at thenicebus.

Nassau Opens Warming Centers

As temperatures plummet across the region, County Executive Ed Mangano has opened additional warming centers for residents to find comfort during the day. The county will continue to identify new locations for warming centers and announce their openings. Mangano has strongly advised all residents without power to utilize his Friends and Family Sheltering Plan or utilize one of the county’s 24-hour shelters.

24-Hour Shelters:

• Nassau County Community College
• Levittown Memorial High School
• Farmingdale High School
  

Warming Locations (Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.):

• Nassau County Senior Center Freeport
• Nassau County Senior Center Great Neck
• Nassau County Senior Center Magnolia Gardens
• Nassau County Senior Center Oyster Bay
• Rockville Centre American Legion, 197 Maple Ave.
• Bethpage Senior Community Center
• Merrick Library
• Bellmore Library
• Bethpage Library
• Freeport Memorial Library
• North Shore Synagogue (hours subject to change)

Warming Centers with Shower Facilities (Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily):

• Cantiague Park is located on West John Street in Hicksville
• The Nassau County Aquatic Center is located in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow
• The Mitchel Athletic Complex is located Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale

Hempstead Town Distributing Clothing, Blankets, Food and Water

Hempstead Town has opened another point of distribution (POD) at Meadow Elementary School in Baldwin, providing clothing, coats, blankets, food and water to residents struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The Baldwin location joins two other PODs currently being manned by town employees and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Oceanside Park in Oceanside and Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore.

The town is providing these supplies at the following locations:

• Oceanside Park – 3800 Mahlon Brower Drive, Oceanside
• Newbridge Road Park – 2600 Newbridge Road, Bellmore
• Meadow Elementary School – 880 Jackson St., Baldwin