Lower Manhattan is continues to recover from Hurricane Sandy

Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg continue to give daily updates on the progress of New York’s recovery from Hurricane Sandy as well as the Nor’easter that immediately followed. Below is the latest update for Lower Manhattan.  Please click on the links for more information on other areas of the state and city.

Transportation

Almost all of the subway lines are running on their normal schedules with the exception of the 1, A, J, R, Z and S Rockaway Shuttle, which are running on partial service.  Buses too, are running at close to full service. 10 of 11 LIRR branches are back up and operating on weekday schedules with some trains canceled during the AM & PM rush hour periods.  The Long Beach branch is still suspended with bus service offered. All but 3 branches of the Metro-North Railroad have returned to full service. New Canaan, Port Jarvis and Pascack Valley lines operate with partial service.

All MTA Bridges are currently open. The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, formerly known as the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel reopened on Monday, November 12 for limited rush-hour bus service and the Queens Midtown tunnel has reopened to vehicular traffic except trucks.

Click here for the very latest MTA subway and transit updates.

PATH service has been partially restored.  It operates seven days a week between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. from Newark, New Jersey to 33rd Street in Manhattan; click here for the latest Port Authority updates.

Visit the city Department of Transportation website for additional traffic details.

Temporary ferry service between the Rockaways and Manhattan began Monday, November 12,

Alternate side parking regulations are suspended for Veterans Day, Monday, November 12 as previously scheduled and all other parking regulations remain in effect. The company is working with the New York City Buildings Department to expedite the restoration of these customers. For information, click here: http://www.coned.com/es/Energy-Services-Flyer.pdf.

Con Edison

Con Edison has been able to restore power to more than 1 million customers-whose equipment could be restored-since Hurricane Sandy and a Nor'easter hammered New York City and Westchester County. There are still many more customers whose electrical service cannot be restored until their own internal equipment is repaired, tested and certified by an electrician as ready for service. 

Customers can use their mobile devices, as well as computers, to report power interruptions or service problems at www.conEd.com. They also may call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). 

Lower Manhattan Utilities

Recycling collections began on Sunday, November 11th with regularly scheduled Saturday recycling.  Regularly scheduled Monday recycling will be picked up on Monday, November 12, even though the day was originally scheduled as a holiday in observance of Veterans’ Day.

City Public Schools are open, however some students and staff have been relocated due to structural damage that some school buildings sustained in the storm.  Parents should continue to check the status of their schools by clicking here for the school locator search or by going to www.nyc.gov/schools

Current BPC updates are being provided on the Battery Park City Block Party website at www.bpcblockparty.com.

Gas Purchasing System

An emergency executive order was signed by Mayor Bloomberg on Sunday, November 11th establishing an odd-even license plate system for gasoline purchases to reduce wait times and lines at gas stations. This system will remain in effect from until further notice and will operate as follows: Vehicles with license plates ending in an even number or ‘zero’ purchase fuel on even numbered days. Vehicles with license plates ending in an odd number purchase fuel on odd numbered days. Vehicles with licenses plates ending in letters will be deemed as odd numbered plates and can make purchases on odd numbered days. Commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, buses and paratransit vehicles, Medical Doctor (MD) plates and vehicles licensed by the Taxi and limousine Commission are exempt. The use of legal walk-up fuel containers by individuals is not affected by the executive order.

Additional Information

To apply for unemployment benefits or disaster unemployment assistance, those affected by the storm and have lost their job or income should call the Telephone Claims Center (TCC) at 1-888-209-8124, or 1-877-358-5306 if they live out of state. Applicants should answer the questions to indicate they lost their job due to Hurricane Sandy. In order to receive benefits you must apply by February 4, 2013.

Information on disaster relief from the U.S. Small Business Administration is available at any of the City’s NYC Business Solutions Centers, by calling 1-800-659-2955, or by visiting http://www.sba.gov/disaster or http://on.nyc.gov/contactnycbiz.
The Mayor's Office welcomes volunteers in the city's recovery effort. For service opportunities visit NYC Service.

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