NJ Transit Shutting Down Operations Until Blizzard Blows By

NJ Transit is temporarily suspending its bus, light rail, and Access Link services starting at 6 p.m. Sunday due to snow and out of an abundance of caution for customer and employee safety.

Services will not resume until conditions safely allow.

NJ Transit will assess the storm's impacts overnight Sunday into Monday to determine when it is safe to resume service gradually.

Rail service adjustments are also expected later Sunday night, with advance notice provided to customers.

A Blizzard Warning has been issued for the entire Garden State with a widespread of one to two feet of snow expected.

"Regardless of exactly how much snow falls, the message is the same: life-threatening travel is expected and crippling impacts to infrastructure could last beyond Monday," according to US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly.

NJ Transit's Emergency Operations Center has undertaken extensive preparations, including "winterizing" rail cars and locomotives, inspecting switches and heaters, and stocking supplies like salt.

Two jet-engine-powered snow blowers are available for track clearing, and all locomotives are equipped with snowplows.

Bus maintenance personnel have checked heating systems and tires, and bus snow-fighting equipment is ready.

Light rail systems have tested switch heaters and stocked necessary supplies, coordinating with municipalities for downtown snow removal. Stations and terminals will be salted, and platform heaters inspected.

Updates on Monday service will be provided as storm impacts are assessed across the state.

On the roadways, commercial vehicle travel restriction will be for the following highways in both directions:

• I-76 (entire length)
• I-78 (entire length)
• I-80 (entire length)
• I-195 (entire length)
• I-280 (entire length)
• I-287 (entire length)
• I-295 (entire length)
• I-676 (entire length)

The commercial vehicle travel restriction applies to:

• All tractor trailers
• Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
• Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
• Recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles

This restriction DOES NOT apply to:

• The New Jersey Turnpike
• The Garden State Parkway
• The Atlantic City Expressway
• Public safety vehicles, sworn and civilian public safety personnel; as well as other personnel directly supporting healthcare facilities or critical infrastructure such as providing fuel or food.

A storm like this hasn’t been seen in years, officials said.

"This will be the first blizzard for much of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts in about four years," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

Forecasters say that coastal counties could see snow accumulations of 18-24 inches and wind gusts as high as 60 MPH. The warning covers 1 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. on Monday.

"Record breaking snow totals are possible," the NWS said. Starting Sunday afternoon, "Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches."

The crossings into NYC have also been restricted as Mayor Zohan Mamdani declared a state of emergency and restricted travel across NYC streets and bridges from 9 p.m. to noon Monday.

The last time the Jersey Shore was under a blizzard warning was in 2022, when a nor'easter dumped 22 inches on parts of the state.

Past nor'easters that have brought blizzard conditions to New Jersey have included the historic storms of 1978 and 1993.

Contains reporting by Caren Lissner