Wild Wednesday Weather, Watch Your Commute
MTA Says, Avoid the Subway

Holy Tornado, Brooklyn! Reader Jeanne just emailed us with this observation:

I live in Kensington, Brooklyn and I think that a tornado just passed through. Have you heard any news about a tornado from anyone else? Around 6:30am there were heavy rains, thunder and lightning when all of a sudden the wind got really loud and we could hear stuff smashing into the house. It was all just 30 seconds or so but now there are trees down all over the block.

Check out this photograph she sent as well! If you're in an area where trees have been knocked down, be careful - there may be downed electrical wires, too. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Brooklyn, Staten Island and parts of Queens. We're hearing some buildings' roofs have been blown off in Brooklyn - the FDNY is evacuating them.

This morning's thunderstorms have mostly moved out of the area to the east (towards Nassau County), but they drenched the area, which means one thing: Flooding, and lots of it in the subways. Check out the MTA's subway and bus alerts, as well as ones for LIRR and Metro-North (well, when the MTA.info site is actually working - seems to be overloaded now). Expect delays across all lines of the subway system - be patient.

NYC Transit Authority's Paul Fleuranges even told NY1 that riders should wait an hour, if they can, so the NYCTA can get the water pumped out (on a normal day, the NYCTA pumps out 13 million gallons of water), "Today is the day you give us time to get the subways dry." Roadways are also flooded - slip those galoshes on.

Let us know how your commute was and if there are any subways to avoid or to reconsider.

This is a photograph from muuuusic on Flickr, showing commuters looking for ways to get to work because the Times Square subways weren't working.

Share your photographs, either by tagging them "gothamist" on Flickr or emailing them to photos(at)gothamist(dot)com .

Update 4:40PM:
The MTA just sent us their service plan for the evening rush, which seems more like what will be running...maybe (we can't access the service alert for NYC Transit - everyone's probably trying to figure out how to get home!):

Posted on:8/8/2007 4:40:23 PM

Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system earlier today, there are still extensive delays on some subway lines. We are working to restore full service to all the affected subway lines. This is the current status of subway operations:

- 1 train service is running.
- 2 and 3 train service is running.
- 4 and 5 train service is running .
- 6 train service is running.
- 7 trains are running local only.
- A train service is running.
- B train service is running.
- C train service is running.
- D train service is running.

Service on the Queens Blvd corridor is not expected to return to normal for this evening's rush hour. Currently:
- E Trains are operating in two sections, World Trade Center - Queens Plaza and Parsons Archer - Roosevelt Ave.
Shuttle Bus service is available between Queens Plaza and Jackson Hts - Roosevelt Ave
- F trains are suspended in both directions between the 21st Street - Queensbridge Station and the Jamaica - 179th Street Station.
Shuttle Bus service is available between 21st Street - Queensbridge F Station and Queens Plaza E Station
Shuttle Bus service is running from the 179th Street - Hillside f Station to the Sutphin Blvd. - Archer Avenue E Station
- G trains are suspended in both directions between the Long Island City - Court Square Station and the Bedford - Nostrand station.
G train service is operating between Bedford - Nostrand and 4th Avenue - 9th Street Station.
Shuttle Bus service is available from Bedford - Nostrand G Station to Long Island City - Court Square Station
- V trains are suspended in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills - 71st Avenue Station.
Jamaica-bound customers can also take the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica Station, and transfer to buses or the e train. The Long Island Rail Road is honoring MetroCard.

- S Franklin Avenue Shuttle service is running.
- S 42nd Street Shuttle service is running.
- J train service is running.
- L train service is running.
- N train service is running.
- M train service is running.
- Q train service is running.
- R trains are operating between Bay Ridge - 95th Street and Astoria - Ditmars Blvd Station.
- W trains are suspended in both directions between the Astoria - Ditmars Boulevard Station and the Whitehall Street Station.

Governor Spitzer and MTA CEO Lee Sander held a press conference this afternoon to discuss the subway issues. The MTA was taken back by the intensity of the storm and that drainage issues (which we take to mean city drains in conjunction with MTA drains) contributed to problems. the Daily Politics reports, "Spitzer said some three inches of rain fell in about an hour, overloading a system designed to handle 1.5 inches of rain per hour, in spite of improvements made following a 2004 storm - but also by smoke and wind (a large tree that fell across the tracks knocked out the B and the Q)." Spitzer ordered a review of the MTA's drainage system to take place within 30 days and Sander said, ""I am genuinely sorry that we were not able to inform people as best as we can."

Photograph by js wright on Flickr

And a reader sent us this depressing update from the MTA about LIRR service:

Due to severe weather earlier today, eastbound NYC Transit customers from the Queens Boulevard subway lines are expected to use LIRR service and/or buses. The LIRR will cancel and combine some trains to provide capacity for dedicated shuttle trains stopping at Penn Station, Woodside, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens and Jamaica. Specific announcements will be made at Penn Station. Additional NYC Transit and LIRR personnel will be assigned to key locations to provide customer assistance. See www.mta.info for specific information or read below.

Customers at Penn Station will experience numerous track changes and are advised not to descend to the platform until their train has been posted. Customers should expect lines and delays. LIRR staff and MTA Police will regulate the flow of customers onto trains, but expect
crowding.

If possible, customers should stagger their work hours to avoid travel at peak times.

Good luck with the evening commute. Tell us how it went.

Update 8:30AM:
Via a kind reader who copied the 8:09AM update from the MTA website, which seems to be down, probably due to traffic (MTA, please upgrade your servers for more bandwidth!):

Posted on:8/8/2007 8:09:25 AM

Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system, there are extensive delays on all subway lines. Customers are advised when at all possible to use bus service. The detours are as follows:

The R train is running on the N line in both directions between the Canal Street Station and the DeKalb Avenue Station.

There is no 1 train service in both directions between the Van Cortlandt Park-242nd Street Station and the South Ferry Station.

There is no 2 train service in both directions between the Wakefield-241st Street Station and the Brooklyn College-Flatbush Avenue Station.

There is no 3 train service in both directions between the Harlem-148th Street Station and the New Lots Avenue Station.

There is no A or C train service in both directions between the Euclid Avenue Station and the Jay Street-Boro Hall Station.

There is no E train service in both directions between the World Trade Center Station and the Jamaica Center-Parsons-Archer Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Jamaica-179th Street Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station and the Jay Street-Boro Hall Station.

There is no 4, 5 or 6 train service in both directions between the 149th Street-Grand Concourse Station and the Borough Hall Station.

There is no L train service in both directions between the Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway Station and the 8th Avenue Station.

There is no 42nd Street Shuttle S train service in both directions between the Times Square-42nd Street Station and the Grand Central-42nd Street Station.

There is no J train service in both directions between the Jamaica Center-Parsons-Archer Station and the Broadway Junction Station.

Astoria-bound N trains are running on the D or M lines from the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station to the 36th Street Station.

Nuts: We're hearing that ESU needs to use a boat to rescue a woman on a flooded street who is going into labor!

Update 9:57AM:
NYCT's Paul Fleuranges just told NY1 that the NYCT is slowly coming back and they hope it'll be ready for the rush hour - evening rush hour, that is. We hope. He said the NYCT should be able to do better, but they are trying to do everything they can. Here's the update below and a screenshot (click to enlarge):

Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system, there are extensive delays on all subway lines. Customers are advised when at all possible to use bus service. The detours are as follows:
There is no V train service in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no W train service in both directions between the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard Station and Whitehall Street Station.

There is no Franklin Avenue Shuttle s train service in both directions between the Prospect Park Station and the Franklin Avenue Station.

There is no G train service in both directions between the Long Island City-Court Square Station and the Smith-9th Street Station.

The R train is running on the n line in both directions between the Canal Street Station and the DeKalb Avenue Station.

There is no 1 train service in both directions between the 14th Street Station and the South Ferry Station.

There is no 2 train service in both directions between the Penn Station-34th Street Station and the Brooklyn College-Flatbush Avenue Station.

There is no 3 train service in both directions between the Harlem-148th Street Station and the New Lots Avenue Station.

The A and C trains are running local in both directions between the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Station and the Broadway Junction Station.

There is no E train service in both directions between the 23rd Street-Ely Avenue Station and the Jamaica Center-Parsons-Archer Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Jamaica-179th Street Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station and the Jay Street-Boro Hall Station.

There is no 4, 5 or 6 train service in both directions between the 125th Street Station and the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall.

There is no L train service in both directions between the Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway Station and the 8th Avenue Station.

There is no 42nd Street Shuttle S train service in both directions between the Times Square-42nd Street Station and the Grand Central-42nd Street Station.

Astoria-bound N trains are running on the d or m lines from the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station to the 36th Street Station.

J trains are running with residual delays.

In addition, due to debris on the track at the Church Avenue Station, the B and Q trains are running on the D or N line in both directions between the DeKalb Avenue Station and the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station.

Please expect delays in service system wide at this time.

Update 11:22AM:
The MTA finally updated their site with new info. As many commenters have pointed out, the L is running and other service is coming back (some trains are crowded, some conductors are arguing about where trains are going, 2 hour commutes, buses crowded). Here's a screenshot (click to enlarge) and text below:

Posted on:8/8/2007 11:14:10 AM

Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system, there are extensive delays on all subway lines. Customers are advised when at all possible to use bus service. The detours are as follows:

There is no 1 train service in both directions between the South Ferry Station and the 34th Street Station.

There is no 2 train service in both directions between the Penn Station-34th Street Station and the Atlantic Avenue Station.

There is no 3 train service in both directions between the New Lots Station and the Harlem-148th Street Station.

There is no 4 train service in both directiions between the Utica Avenue Station and the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Station.

5 trains are running shuttle in both directions between the East 180th Street Station and the Dyre Avenue Station.

There is no 6 train service in both directions between the 86th Street Station and the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Station.

7 trains are running with delays.

A trains are running local.

B trains are suspended in both directions between the Brighton Beach Station and the Bedford Park Boulevard Station.

There is no C train service in both directions between the Euclid Avenue Station and the 168th Street Station.

There is no D train service in both directions between the 145th Street Station and the Norwood-205th Street Station.

There is no E train service in both directions between the 23rd street-Ely Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Queens Plaza Station and the Jamaica-179th Street Station.

There is no G train service in both directions between the Long Island City-Court Square Station and the 4th Avenue-9th Street Station.

There is no V train service in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no Franklin Avenue Shuttle s train service in both directions between the Prospect Park Station and the Franklin Avenue Station.

There is no 42nd Street Shuttle S train service in both directions between the Times Square-42nd Street Station and the Grand Central-42nd Street Station.

J trains are running with residual delays.

There is no M train service in both directions between the Broad Street Station and the Bay Parkway Station.

There is no Q train service in both directions between the Kings Highway Station and the 57th Street-7th Avenue Station.

There is no R train service in both directions between the 57th Street-7th Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

Update 12:10PM: (Previous updates are after the jump)
New updates.

Posted on:8/8/2007 11:56:39 AM
Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system, there are extensive delays on all subway lines. Although buses are running with delays, customers are advised when at all possible to use bus service. The detours are as follows:

1 trains are suspended in both directions between the South Ferry Station and the 34th Street Station.

2 trains are suspended in in both directions between the Penn Station-34th Street Station and the Atlantic Avenue Station.

3 trains are suspended in both directions between the New Lots Avenue Station and the Harlem-148th Street Station.

4 trains are suspended in both directions between the 125th Street and the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Station.

5 trains are running shuttle train service in both directions between the East 180th Street Station and the Dyre Avenue Station.

6 trains are suspended in both directions between the 86th Street Station and the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Station.

7 trains are running with delays.

A trains are running local.

B trains are suspended in both directions between the Brighton Beach Station and the Bedford Park Boulevard Station.

C trains are suspended in both directions between the Euclid Avenue Station and the 168th Street Station.

D trains are suspended in both directions between the 145th Street Station and the Norwood-205th Street Station.

E trains are suspended in both directions between the 23rd Street-Ely Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

F trains are suspended in both directions between the Queens Plaza Station and the Jamaica-179th Street Station.

G trains are suspended in both directions between the Long Island City-Court Square Station and the 4th Avenue-9th Street Station.

V trains are suspended in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

S Franklin Avenue Shuttle trains are suspended in both directions between the Prospect Park Station and the Franklin Avenue Station.

S 42nd Street Shuttle trains are suspended in both directions between the Times Square-42nd Street Station and the Grand Central-42nd Street Station.

J trains are running with residual delays.

L trains are running with residual delays.

N trains are running with residual delays.

M trains are suspended in both directions between the Broad Street Station and the Bay Parkway Station.

Q trains are suspended in both directions between the Kings Highway Station and the 57th Street-7th Avenue Station.

R trains are suspended in both directions between the 57th Street-7th Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

W trains are suspended in both directions between the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard Station and the Whitehall Street Station.

In addition, due to a police investigation at the Sterling Street Station, there is no service on Wakefield-bound 2 trains between the Brooklyn College-Flatbush Avenue Station and the Atlantic Avenue Station. Also, Brooklyn College-Flatbush Avenue-bound 2 are trains running on the 4 line from the Franklin Avenue Station to the Crown Heights-Utica Avenue Station.

Update 3:33PM: (previous updates after the jump)
Here's the latest from the MTA (the screenshot is from a little earlier), and the news is that most lines are sort of-kind of back to normal, but with huge delays. We're talking crowded trains when they pull into stations and crowded platforms that make you want to turn back home. Note how the MTA recommends you try to take buses when possible.

Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system earlier today, there are still extensive delays on some subway lines. We are working to restore full service to all the affected subway lines. Customers are advised when at all possible to use bus service. This is the current status of subway operations:
1 train service has resumed with residual delays.

2 and 3 train service has resumed service but with residual delays.

4 and 5 train service has resumed with residual delays.

6 train service has resumed with residual delays..

7 trains are running.

A trains are running local.

B train service has resumed with residual delays.

C trains are suspended in both directions between the Euclid Avenue Station and the 168th Street Station.

D train service has resumed with residual delays.

E trains are suspended in both directions between the Queens Plaza Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

F trains are suspended in both directions between the 21st Street-Queensbridge Station and the Jamaica-179th Street Station.

G trains are suspended in both directions between the Long Island City-Court Square Station and the 4th Avenue-9th Street Station.

V trains are suspended in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

S Franklin Avenue Shuttle has resumed with residual delays.

S 42nd Street Shuttle service has resumed with residual delays.

J trains are running.

L trains are running.

N trains are running.

M trains are running.

Q train service has resumed with residual delays.

R trains are suspended in both directions between the 57th Street-7th Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

W trains are suspended in both directions between the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard Station and the Whitehall Street Station.

A great map from reader Zach that captured what subways were running (around 11AM):

An amazing photo from reader Faith of a Manhattan-bound platform of a Queens subway station (aka, the left behind):

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 8, 2007 5:12 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

Speaking as a professional thread comment arbitrator and facilitator, the high points of this comment thread thus far have been:

1—Commenter #138 refuting commenter #143, who DID NOT YET EXIST, realizing his/her mistake, and not only issuing a gracious and public mea culpa, but doing so IN THE #143 spot.

Sheer wizardry.

2—The sly flirtation aimed by #196/#201 toward #191/#199. I'm assuming that the commenter knows the E.Harlem to DUMBO biker, and I hope the heroic biker has caught on. Of course, I could be wrong, and it could just be more wizardry. either way, bravo.

Well done folks. As for the rest of you, good luck with your commutes. I'm in Amsterdam, where, believe it or not, people bike to work in suits, with kids, and at advanced ages.

However, they don't act like self righteous jerks about it.

Reality Czech, it's easier to convince people to try your great idea if you don't tell them first how stupid they are. Unless, of course, your goal is just to make yourself feel important. "Suck it cause you like it" is a fun expression, but makes you look like a fool when you use it as a debating tactic.

Nick S

#243.. where'd that come from?

guest

Here is the story of my commute this morning:

I live in Brooklyn only about 2 blocks from the Utica Ave station on the 3 & 4 line. When I got to the station this morning, people were milling about OUTSIDE the station (this was about 8:20 am). They said that there was no 3 or 4 train service.

So I walked to Utica Avenue and took a bus towards Williamsburg. I had to wait for a few buses to pass that were full, but then I got a seat on a bus. I got off at Fulton Street, planning to take an A C or E train. Of course, there were no announcements on the bus about where there was or wasn't service, and of course there was also no A C or E service.

I saw some MTA officials standing outside the Fulton St station, so I asked one if I was able to get to Downtown Brooklyn, were any trains running to Manhattan. He did not know.

He said MAYBE I could take the LIRR out to Jamaica and then from Jamaica into Penn Station. I asked him if I did that, were there any trains running in Manhattan. He did not know. So I told him I wasn't taking the LIRR to Manhattan if I could not be sure of trains running from Penn Station.

I tried to call my wife to ask about a ride to Manhattan, but I was not able to get in touch with her.

I decided to take the bus down Utica Ave to Williamsburg, hoping that in Williamsburg I could either get a bus to Flatbush Avenue and walk over the Manhattan Bridge or maybe just walk over the Williamsburg Bridge or something like that (my plan was kind of vague at that time). Again, I got a seat on this bus as well.

I overheard some woman on the bus saying that she was going to get on the M train, and then I saw a train go overhead when I got to Broadway in Brooklyn, so I changed my plan. The bus stopped at Myrtle Ave and the bus driver told people they could connect to the subway, so I got off there.

I went up to the subway station. The express in the station was packed to the gills, but a local train came in next and was pretty empty -- again, I got a seat. I got off at Canal St in Manhattan, which is only 2 blocks from where I work.

I would have gotten to work at about 8:50, instead I arrived at about 9:30 -- not so bad (except for the heat and the humidity).

I have to tell you, though: Its bad enough that the MTA did not provide any sort of buses or increased bus service or bus service to replace trains, but the LEAST they could have done was to provide information to people so they could figure out what their alternatives were.

chrisk

my favorite part of the morning was when i was at vernon/jackson waiting for the 7. Station atttendant came on the PA - "Go to Queens Plaza, the N/W is running". So I do. When we got there, what was the very first announcement? "N/W is not running". The platform for the manhattan bound 7 was so crowded that there was no room to stand. people were waiting on the stairs. i just went home at that point.

guest

Artimus,

we did not say that it rains like that all the time... we said that the subway shuts down because of rain ALL THE TIME. This is absolutely true. If they can't handle a normal day of rain, which they often can't how can they even begin to handle a day like today?

Steven

MTA New York City Transit

Service Alert

Posted on:8/8/2007 7:09:34 PM

Subway service has resumed on most lines following this morning's severe flooding. There are still extensive delays and suspensions on some subway lines. We are working to restore full service to all the affected subway lines. This is the current status of subway operations:

1 train service is running.

2 and 3 train service is running.

4 and 5 train service is running .

6 train service is running.

7 trains are running local only.

a train service is running.

b train service is running.

c train service is running.

d train service is running.

Service on the Queens Blvd corridor is slowly returning to normal, but there are still disruptions.

e train service has resumed with residual delays between World Trade Center and Parsons - Archer.

f trains are suspended in both directions between 71st Street - Continental Ave Station and the Jamaica - 179th Street Station.

Shuttle Bus service is available from Briarwood-Van Wyck Blvd. to Jamaica-179th Street for f train customers.

g trains are suspended in both directions between the Long Island City - Court Square Station and the Bedford - Nostrand Station.

g train service is operating between Bedford - Nostrand and 4th Avenue - 9th Street Station.

Shuttle Bus service is available from Bedford - Nostrand g Station to Long Island City - Court Square Station

v trains are suspended in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills - 71st Avenue Station.

s Franklin Avenue Shuttle service is running.

s 42nd Street Shuttle service is running.

j train service is running.

l train service is running.

n train service is running.

m train service is running.

q train service is running.

r train service has resumed with residual delays between Bay Ridge - 95th Street and 71st/Continental Avenue.

w trains are suspended in both directions between the Astoria - Ditmars Boulevard Station and the Whitehall Street Station.

Due to street closures in Mid-town Manhattan, the following diversions will be used until further notice:

Staten Island-bound X2 and X5

From 57th Street, south on Lexington Avenue to 42nd Street, west on 42nd Street to 5th Avenue, south on 5th Avenue to 34th Street, east on 34th Street to Lexington Avenue and regular route.

Buses should pick up at X1 bus stops on 5th Avenue, there is no stop at 41st Street and Lexington Avenue.

M98, M101, M102 and M103 South-bound

Regular route to East 42nd Street, east on 42nd Street to 2nd Avenue, south on 2nd Avenue to 34th Street, west on 34th Street to Lexington Avenue, south on Lexington Avenue and regular route.

While the frozen zone is in effect, please expect delays in service on the X2, X5, M98, M101, M102 and M103.

Steven

the MTA has a nerve to ask for a fare hike after all this.

mind bogging to say the least.

guest

GOTHAMIST:

Since we all have the option of "hiding guest comments", can you please dump the gray so we at least have the choice TO read them should we want to?? And just make the off button larger. Or just shut us off entirely.

PS, my experience with the subway this morning: every MTA subway stop was telling people to go to a different one "where trains are running", instead of telling people the truth, that nothing was running. Everyone ran in circles and got pissed off, walked across central park, etc, unnecessarily.

ArtimusGone

All of you whining about how MTA couldn't handle the rainfall this morning: this does NOT happen all the time. We got anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain per hour, which was as much as, if not more than, what Hurricane Floyd dumped on the city in 1999. So let up on MTA. Yeah they should improve their pumping capacity, but throwing a semi-anonymous temper tantrum on a blog is not going to help matters.

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19990915/

guest

I understand if the train tracks are flooded that there can be no trains running. But why the hell are there no buses either? I give the MTA an F- for today. God help us if we get another bad storm. I'd hate see what would happen if we had a real disaster someday...

guest

can they not predict it sooner?

Sometimes they can, sometimes they can't. It's not easy to get lots of good data from a tornado.

guest

"THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAD ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR THIS

STORM AT 6:28 AM."

"THE TORNADO PATH WAS DISCONTINUOUS AND STARTED IN BAY RIDGE

SOMETIME JUST AFTER 6:30 AM"

can they not predict it sooner?

guest

Nick S. is another asshole.

dadoc

NOAA/NWS has confirmed EF2 Tornado passed over Brooklyn:

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/okx/pns/tonado_NYC.txt

Dadoc

guest

Here's some more coverage of the storm, from Bay Ridge:

http://rightinbayridge.blogspot.com/2007/08/kansas-right-in-bay-ridge.html

guest

let me clarify, I know the 4,5,6 is running, but how insane is it?

guest

okay, back to the matter at hand people.

Can anyone tell me about the 4,5,6 going uptown?

I'm about to try and go home.

thanks!

Outter Burrougher

According to the MTA's site, last updated at 4:40 there is no R service to Astoria-Ditmars Blvd... the R doesn't go there. The screen capture above has what I assume is the correct information.

JMH

I like how the MTA says people should stagger their work hours.

Yeah, I'll just get in touch with all the other commuters and we'll work out a schedule.