LIRR Service To Resume Early Tuesday: Cuomo

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island Rail Road service is slated to resume by early Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Service was suspended Monday afternoon during the blizzard but will resume at 4 a.m. Tuesday, he said.

Residents are still urged to stay home and avoid non-essential travel, Cuomo said.

The LIRR will operate on a weekend schedule through Tuesday, Cuomo said.

"As the storm makes its way through the region, we continue to urge residents to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel and check in with family and friends," Cuomo said. "We understand the subway and commuter rail lines are critical for essential workers who need to get to work and the MTA is confident they can restore service to those New Yorkers early tomorrow morning."

A mix of snow and sleet is possible along the immediate south shore of Long Island from New York City to Montauk Point Monday night, Cuomo said.

LIRR riders should expect delays, he said.

Cuomo warned Monday that road closures could be coming, including the Long Island Expressway.

"It is very dangerous out there and it's only going to get worse," Cuomo said. "Unless you are an essential worker, there is no reason to be out on the roads."

Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Long Island, the Hudson Valley and New York City Monday.

LIRR riders should check here for info on scheduling.

With 12 to 18 inches of snow expected Monday, and up to 30 inches in some areas of the state, the plows were unable to keep up, Cuomo said. The duration of the storm also posed a problem, and might not end until Tuesday night in some areas, he sadi.

All operations were suspended Monday at JFK due to an electrical issue related to the storm, officials said.

"This is a dangerous, life-threatening situation," Cuomo said. "Expect closures. We don't want people stranded. It's going to get very bad, very quickly."

Addressing the pandemic, Cuomo said New York's positivity rate stood at 4.8 percent Monday and continued to decline; 141 deaths were reported Monday. Long Island continues to have the highest percentage of COVID positivity rate at 6.1 percent, Cuomo said.

So far, 1.96 vaccinations have been administered. All vaccinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in state facilities have been postponed but will be rescheduled, Cuomo said.

Concerns remain about emerging new variants.

And, Cuomo said, distrust about the vaccination remains in both the Black and Brown communities, with a higher declination rate in hospitals by members of the Black community rate, he said. To that end, a new public awareness campaign is planned.