Today—and likely this entire week—is looking like a “stay in your apartment” kind of vibe.
Due to the massive blizzard currently pummeling the city, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued a citywide travel ban, students are getting their first real snow day in six years, and officials are encouraging New Yorkers who are able to volunteer as emergency snow shovelers.
If you’re planning to traverse the city any time soon–and we, along with officials, highly encourage you not to–you might want to double-check your route.
According to the MTA, there are several changes to service on subways–as well as buses, the LIRR, Metro-North Railroad, and Access-A-Ride–due to the ongoing winter storm, leaving only a handful of subway lines untouched. Here is everything you need to know to about the current subway madness.
The “Safe” List–Who Isn’t Affected
Before we dive into the chaos, here are the only subway lines currently reporting no active alerts:
- Subways: E, R, & S (Shuttle)
- The rest: chaos
If your commute relies on those three, you’re the lucky ones. Everyone else? Keep reading.
Major Subway Service Disruptions (As of February 23, 11:30 am)
🛑 Total Suspensions
- C Train: completely suspended; riders should take the A in Manhattan and Brooklyn
- SIR (Staten Island Railway): service is suspended in both directions
- SF (Rockaway Park Shuttle): suspended–use the B48 bus as an alternative
⚠️ Severe Delays & Reroutes
- A Train: running entirely local in Manhattan and Brooklyn
- D Train: running on the N line from Stillwell Av to 36 St due to signal issues near 20 Av
- N Train: expect severe delays. In Manhattan, trains are running local between Canal St and 34 St-Herald Sq; in Brooklyn, they are local between 59 St and DeKalb Av.
- 1, 5, B, M, W, & SR: all reporting severe delays in both directions
📍 Skipped Stops & Changes
- 2 Train: Uptown trains are running local from Chambers St to 96 St. 241 St-bound trains are running express from E 180 St to Wakefield
- 3 Train: Running local from Chambers St to 96 St.
- 4 Train: Woodlawn-bound trains are running express from 167 St to Bedford Park Blvd. Some Woodlawn-bound trains will terminate early at 149 St-Grand Concourse
- 6 Train: all express trains are running local through The Bronx
- L Train: expect significant extra travel time, especially between Broadway Junction and Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy
- Z Train: no service; take the J instead (which is also currently truncated at Myrtle Av)
Commuter Rail & Beyond
If you were planning on leaving the five boroughs, think again:
- LIRR: service is fully suspended indefinitely
- Metro-North: operating on an hourly schedule only
- Buses: all articulated (long) buses are off the road, replaced by standard buses with chained tires. Expect long waits and major detours
Why Is This Happening?
DSNY has deployed a massive fleet of 700 salt spreaders and 2,200 plows, though the sheer volume of snow is clogging track switches and freezing third rails. See the latest snow total estimates here.
MTA Chair Janno Lieber said on Fox5 that trains are running less frequently to allow “snow-fighting” equipment the space to clear the tracks.
Avoid Unnecessary Travel
The MTA is urging New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel.
Pro Tip: the MTA app and mta.info are your best friends right now. Changes are happening minute-by-minute as crews clear different sections of the line.