Yesterday, a survey revealed the unsurprising news that customers are pretty unhappy with NJ Transit's customer service, rating the service a 4.2 on a scale of 0 to 10. Now, NJ Transit is telling its customers, "Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains are subject to 30-60 minute delays in/out of NY due to power problems in one Hudson River tunnel. Midtown Direct trains are operating to/from Hoboken. PATH cross honoring rail tickets/passes at Newark, Hoboken and 33rd St." D'oh! more ›

Airlines have begun cancelling hundreds of flights to and from New York-area airports as Hurricane Irene draws closer—bad news for travelers trying to get the hell out of Dodge. more ›

NJ Transit riders are in for more delays today: following an Amtrak derailment in the Sunnyside Yard in Queens, NJ Transit is reporting delays of up to 30 minutes on the Northeast Corridor and Midtown Direct lines. more ›

This derailment of a NJ Transit train leaving Penn Station this morning translates not just into problems for NJ Transit and Amtrak—Long Island Rail Road commuters will suffer as well! The MTA said, "As a result of a New Jersey Transit train derailment near Penn Station, LIRR customers should anticipate some cancellations, track changes and delays during this evening's rush hour. NJ Transit and Amtrak will be sharing tracks 15 and 16 at Penn Station this evening as part of an effort to route their trains around the derailment. The LIRR will provide regular LIRR service from Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn and Hunterspoint Avenue in Queens." It couldn't hurt to grab a Staff Pick before you head home. more ›

Unless you seriously love the smell of Auntie Anne's lingering in your hair or paying $34 for a neck pillow that won't inflate properly, it's probably best to avoid Newark Liberty Airport, which is the airport you are most likely to get delayed at. Hope you brought a book! more ›

Yes, air travel can be quite the hassle these days, but it's tough to complain about adorable turtle-induced delays, which are currently holding up flights at JFK. This morning JetBlue tweeted: "JFK is experiencing delays as the airport clears turtles off the runway. #cantmakethisup," and indeed, you can't. more ›

As one rider just Tweeted, "BITE MY LEFT NUT NJ TRANSIT!!!" NJ Transit just suspended service on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line and Midtown Direct lines due to "an Amtrak power supply problem" for the afternoon/evening commute. And it was just at 7:15 a.m. when NJ Transit had to suspend service due to Amtrak's power issues! more ›

Wondering why your coworkers from outside the city are taking so long to get to the office on the first day of summer? Not their fault! A transformer fire in Brunswick, New Jersey, brought Amtrak and NJ Transit along parts of the northeast corridor to a standstill early this morning. more ›

What with the rain falling and the apocalypse nigh, things couldn't get much worse, right? Don't be so naive: this weekend the MTA is shutting down all service on the 7 between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza to address "a recent increase in signal-related delays" caused by "an aging signal system and water-related issues." As always, the MTA in its press release is asking "patience from customers," but for riders of the 7, that's like getting blood from a stone. more ›

This screenshot of the MTA's planned work on the subways is starting to look all too familiar. Again this weekend traveling is looking tough unless you live on the L, the S or the Staten Island Railroad. Here's a look at how your commute is most likely screwed: more ›

Though NYC Transit won't have to organize the "largest shuttle bus operation ever" like they did last weekend, getting around with the subway will still be a hassle this weekend. Some of the changes include: more ›

After an annoying 2, 3 train signal issue at West 72nd Street on Tuesday (it's not so fun being stuck between 42nd and 72nd Street on a 2 train for 25 minutes!), folks who take the 2,3 uptown should know this: NYCT Subway Scoop Tweeted, "Due to NYPD investigation of a customer injury @ 110th St, 3 suspended; downtown 2 via 5 Mott Ave (149th St) to Nevins St (BK)," followed by "Due to NYPD investigation @ 110th St, Uptown 2 & 3 terminating 2 Times Sq & 96th St. Expect delays," and now "Update: injured customer @ 110th St removed by EMS/NYPD, regular 2 & 3 service restored w/residual delays." more ›

Yesterday, the Long Island Rail Road said that it expected service to be normal for the Monday rush, after last Monday's switching tower fire caused the rest of the week's service to be limited—and very frustrating for commuters. LIRR President Helena Williams said, "I appreciate the challenges our customers faced during the past week and I thank them for their patience during what has been a difficult time. I would also like to thank the hundreds of railroad employees who worked around the clock to put the damaged signal and switch system back together while keeping service going and assisting our customers throughout the week." more ›

Poor, poor Long Island Rail Road commuters. Today's commute, like yesterday's, is limited as the agency continues to deal with fallout from Monday's switching tower fire. According to the MTA, "Long Island Rail Road is advising customers to expect significant schedule changes and delays during Wednesday's morning and evening rush hours as a result of damage to a major switching tower at Jamaica on Monday. Since Monday, crews have been working round-the-clock on repairs and continuing to make progress. However, it is likely to take several days to complete repairs." more ›

Yesterday, a fire at a switching tower east of the Jamaica Station sent the Long Island Rail Road into chaos, suspending all lines (except the Port Wasington line) for much of yesterday. By the evening, service was delayed and limited: Usually about 100,000 commuters leave Manhattan during the evening rush, but many waited hours to crowd onto a train. Now the MTA says LIRR service is at "75% of normal capacity" and a return to normal service is "days away." more ›

A little while ago, we received this sad little email from a tipster: "The L train has been stalled at Graham avenue for more than 45 minutes, with the Lorimer platform becoming filled with hot and sweaty people to the point of it being dangerous to be down there." The situation sounds even more gross than usual (though the Journal backs up our belief that the subway platforms have been "at least slightly cooler than the air outside... according to a cursory, highly unscientific survey... with the help of a RadioShack digital thermometer.") more ›

The Port Authority is closing the Lincoln Tunnel's center tube—in both directions— for construction this weekend. Naturally, big delays are expected since this is a big holiday for people to visit to the city (it is Fleet Week) or for people to flee (Jersey Shore, baby!), but the Port Authority says, "Motorists are advised to use alternate routes to New York, such as the Holland Tunnel," but, hey, why not take mass transit if you can? Of course, the Lincoln Tunnel is where the city's best cell service can be found.... more ›

So how is this whole shutting down the longest runway at JFK airport thing going? Last month delays were up by 613 even with decreased arrivals and departures. According to the NY Post, the airline industry folk are saying it's going to get worse! An expert tells them, "Generally, flight activity picks up between March and July, so the delays will only get worse, and that doesn't even factor in weather conditions." more ›

According to the NYC Office of Emergency Management, NJ-bound Lincoln Tunnel is closed to vehicles due to an earlier tractor-trailer accident. A reader sent in the above photo of the scene just before noon today. Detours are currently in place to George Washington Bridge and the Holland Tunnel. We'll update as more information becomes available, but for now: expect delays! more ›

During the first nine months of the year, LaGuardia, Newark, and JFK have maintained the worst record for on-time arrivals among the 31 major U.S. air hubs, according to the FAA. And because so many flights pass through these hubs, nearly three-quarters of all delays in the U.S. could be traced to a problem in New York. The line of planes waiting to land at LaGuardia Airport can sometimes stretch unbroken in the sky for 40 miles, according to one air traffic controller, who tells the AP, "All we can do is take them and space them out as close as FAA rules allow. It's not like you can put more aircraft in there. That's it. We're just maxed out." more ›

It's like white noise at this point — the NY Post's headline reads: "Expect subway service disaster this weekend." Shocking, shocking news. The good news, however, is that the Transit Riders Council, an MTA watchdog group, is finishing up their underground study (results of which will be available in early 2010). For weeks they've "monitored trouble spots and found stations without adequate signs as well as seriously delayed trains." more ›

Having to cram into a crowded subway car has been one thing these past few weekends as the MTA got to work on station and track renovations decreasing service on 18 of its 20 subway lines. But this weekend should be interesting, what with Halloween and the NYC Marathon in the mix. more ›

Questionable behavior is no stranger to disgraced former top cop Bernard Kerik, who is sitting in jail in Westchester County waiting for his trial on corruption charges. But now the judge who revoked his bail is concerned with his behavior. more ›

Move over geese, according to the NYC Aviation website, JFK airport was overcome with turtles today, 78 diamondback terrapin turtles, each weighing 2-3 pounds, to be exact. more ›

The long, long-awaited Fulton Transit Center will be completed in 2014. Well, that's what the MTA thinks—though MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger claims MTA construction chief Michael Horodniceanu "has, at least to me, signed it in blood." Why in blood? Because the project is seven years late. more ›

NJ Transit commuters have been dealing with the brunt of delays after some wires "came down near Metropark in Iselin Monday night," the AP reports. First, NJ Transit trains were delayed by an hour in both directions on the popular Northeast Corridor route (some trains were even canceled), but now the delays are about 15-30 minutes because three of four tracks are now open. Amtrak customers were facing delays of about 20 minutes. It's unclear what caused the wires to be damaged, but we're betting some of those trains were getting a little tense with St. Patrick's Day revelers. more ›

A new report from the business-oriented group Partnership For NYC says that local air traffic congestion cost our economy $2.6 billion last year. Delays that stem from the one-third of nationwide flights that go through New York end up having an impact in causing a delay in three-quarters of the nation's flights. Kathryn Wylde, the head of Partnership, thinks that it's time to modernize air-traffic control and routes that planes use nationwide—a move that would cost an estimated $22 billion. Doing so would allow planes to take full advantage of satellite-based air navigation and no longer only use long and straight arrival paths. She thinks that now is the perfect time with the downturn in the economy giving a breather to the heavy stress on air traffic "for all the wrong reasons," much like the lightening of congestion after 9/11. Wylde feels that the billions costing New York represent a much bigger cause for alarm saying, "Not having the air traffic control system is costing us $1.6, $1.7 billion a year. Put those numbers together (with other cities' costs) and $22 billion is going to look like chump change." more ›

Newark airport had the worst on-time arrival rate in all the land in 2008, according to the federal DOT, which just released its year-end report [PDF] on flight delays. Go EWR! This is the the fourth time in the past six years Newark won the top prize for tardiness, coming in second place in 2007 and 2004. Last year flights to Newark arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time only 62.32% of the time; by comparison, the airline industry's overall on-time rate is 76%. (A 2.6% improvement over '07!) For the record, La Guardia was second-worst and JFK ranked fourth. Airlines blame the delays on congested air traffic in the New York region, which is only exacerbated by inclement winter weather and high winds. The study also found that one of the worst flights you could possibly take in '08 was the consistently delayed ExpressJet Airlines Flight 2019 from Hartford to Newark, which was late 93.3% of the time. Of course, when Newark's the destination, why rush? [Via Star-Ledger.] more ›