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Snowstorm Slams Northeastern U.S.; Public Transit Was Prepared
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A nor’easter stormed into the northeastern U.S. the morning of Feb. 9, leaving metropolitan areas including New York City and Boston with eight inches or more of snow.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, center, led a  briefing on the state’s response to the storm that day, joined by Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Interim Executive Director Ronnie Hakim and Kevin Wisely, director of the state’s Office of Emergency Management. (Photo courtesy of the New York Governor's Office)
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Hakim noted that the MTA began its preparations before the storm struck, allowing for a relatively smooth-running morning rush hour. “We had thousands of extra MTA staff out in our system, doing everything from running snow removal machinery, sweeping, salting, making sure our stations and our platforms are in good condition for our customers as well as being able to respond to developments as they arise,” she said.
In Boston, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) temporarily suspended service on several rail lines Feb. 9 and reported moderate delays on bus lines but most operations had returned to normal by the morning of Feb. 10. 
The agency deployed snow clearing equipment overnight to prepare the system for the next day’s service and noted system upgrades such as a new heating system that keeps snow and ice from building up on rail switches. MBTA informed its customers by posting real-time service updates on its Twitter feed.
New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) advised its users to follow status updates online or by text or email. Through preparation and the support of roaming crews for snow removal at stations and railyards, NJ Transit maintained regular weekday service on a majority of the system, with some rail and bus delays and route changes due to the weather and localized road conditions.
Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Pittsburgh’s Port Authority of Allegheny County noted minor issues.
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