After escaping what was expected to be “the worst blizzard in the city’s history,” the travel ban in New York has been lifted, transportation systems are returning to limited service, and closed roads have been reopened.
New York City residents were not happy with the closures, criticizing officials’ severe warnings about “the worst storm in history.”
Approximately 4-6 inches of snow has fallen on the Big Apple, according to the National Weather Service.
In a new conference held Tuesday morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that drivers can get back on the road in the Hudson Valley, Nassau County, and New York City, but warned to use extreme caution when driving.
The governor also announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will resume partial services on Tuesday and full services on Wednesday.
City roads are empty as people remained at home after Cuomo’s warning.
The travel ban for Suffolk County, around 50 miles east of NYC, remains in effect since it saw around 16 inches of snow. Long Island was much harder hit than NYC, with some areas reporting more than a foot of snow.
In neighboring New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie also lifted the ban on travel throughout the state, however, transit train service remains suspended.
Buses are running in the southern part of the state and are expected to resume service in the northern part on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, the blizzard has hammered states northeast of New York, hitting Connecticut and Massachusetts, with hurricane speed winds and blinding snow.
Over 25 inches of snow has fallen around 60 miles west of Boston, and all of Nantucket Island lost power due to water floods and 78 mph wind gusts.
