Current status of travel in the Northeast

(WWLP) - Hurricane Sandy has caused chaos with respect to transportation here in the Northeastern U.S. While conditions here in western Massachusetts are fine, if you're planning on leaving the area anytime soon, be aware of major delays and closures.

NORTHEAST-WIDE :

The major airports along the Eastern Seaboard have re-opened, however many flights have been cancelled (a total of more than 20,000 since Sandy began), be sure to check the status of your flight before you head to the airport.

Amtrak service in the Northeast is “modified” between Boston and New Haven, and between Newark and points south. There is no direct Amtrak service into Manhattan at this time. Modified service into New York is expected to begin on Friday.

Vermonter trains 55 and 56 from Washington, DC to St. Albans, Vermont (which passes through Springfield), have been cancelled.

It is worth noting that if you plan on traveling on the roads to southern Connecticut or beyond, finding gas for your car may be a challenge as the lack of power has closed many stations, and caused long lines at the few that are open.

MASSACHUSETTS :

All major Massachusetts highways have re-opened.

All MBTA subway lines are fully operational. All commuter rail service is operational.

CONNECTICUT :

Ban on travel on Connecticut highways has been lifted, however several highway on and offramps, particularly in Fairfield County, remain closed due to debris blocking the roadway. Visit the website of the Connecticut Department of Transportation for a real-time map of roadway problems.

Commuter rail service on the New Haven line of the Metro North Railway has been restored. However, due to limited services on several New York-based lines, you should expect more crowded trains than normal.

NEW YORK:

“Transportation Emergency” in effect for New York State, as many parts of the infrastructure in southern New York State remain damaged or closed for safety reasons.

Road travel into Manhattan from all directions is restricted to vehicles with three or more occupants. Vehicles with fewer than three occupants are also banned from all East River crossings. This includes the Brooklyn Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge, the Queensborough Bridge, the Queens Midtown Tunnel, and the RFK (Triborough) Bridge. The Holland Tunnel remains closed in both directions.

Subway service in Manhattan is not operational south of 42nd Street. See the website of the MTA for alternative bus routes that service the areas normally covered by Subway lines for Lower Manhattan.

Metro North service on the Hudson, Port Jervis, and Pasack Valley lines remains suspended. Harlem and New Haven Line service has been restored. Expect extremely crowded trains on those open lines.

Long Island Railroad service is running, but limited.

NEW JERSEY :
Major interstates in New Jersey are open, as is the Garden State Parkway. Many surrounding roads are closed, however, pay close attention to detours.

NJ Transit commuter rail service and Newark Light Rail service remains completely suspended until further notice, and there is no timetable for restoration.

Most bus service into New York has been restored, but bus service in the Atlantic City area remains largely non-operational.