NYC Subway Service Falters After Blizzard

- The blizzard, which began on Sunday, February 22, 2026, prompted the MTA to suspend all scheduled weekend track and infrastructure projects to focus on storm response. A key concern was the 220 miles of outdoor tracks vulnerable to snow and ice. - To combat the storm's effects, the MTA deployed specialized equipment, including de-icer trains and snow-fighting vehicles. For safety on icy roads, longer articulated buses were removed from service and replaced with standard 40-foot buses fitted with snow chains. - As the storm intensified, some express subway services were shifted to local tracks, and by Tuesday, February 24, the C line and parts of the Staten Island Railway were still suspended. Ridership on the subway on Monday was less than 1 million, about 22-23% of a typical day. - The Long Island Rail Road completely suspended service at 1 a.m. on Monday, February 23, and began resuming limited service on six branches at 4 a.m. on Tuesday. Metro-North also operated on a reduced, hourly schedule on Monday. - Outdoor subway lines were particularly vulnerable, including the A/S in the Rockaways, the N (Sea Beach), 7 (Flushing), B/Q (Brighton), and 5 (Dyre Ave). In the Rockaways, a shuttle train service was implemented to connect with the A train at Euclid Avenue. - The decision to curtail service is influenced by past events; the historic Blizzard of 1888 paralyzed the city's elevated train lines, which was a major catalyst for building the underground subway system. - In January 2015, the subway system shut down for a snowstorm for the first time in its 110-year history, a decision made to more easily restore full service later. - The city issued a hazardous travel advisory and, for a time, a travel ban for non-essential vehicles to keep roads clear for emergency responders and sanitation crews.