It's been about a year, time for the MTA's inconvenient truth

As you'll recall, late last December this area had a whopper of a snowstorm. Legendary in fact. You'll also recall the utter ineptitude New York City responded with. Here in New Jersey there were problems yes but nothing like the hash the Big Appletini made of the blizzard. One story that stood out in helping explain the level of failure was that of the A Train stuck over by the Aqueduct and Rockaway Boulevard stations. Seven hours they sat. Waiting, not knowing, stuck inside. In a blizzard.

New York City Transit President Thomas Prendergast has looked over the reports of the past year, he's heard the experts and analyzed the data. He explained to a City Council hearing on winter preparedness what the data showed:

"We forgot about that train."

That answer is so Jeff Spicoli Johnny hears Ray Walston's voice as the timeless Mr. Hand in Fast Times at Ridgemont High "I Like that. That's nice. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to leave your words right up here for all my classes to enjoy, giving you full credit of course, Mr. Prendergast."

It won't happen again said Mr Eggonface as the MTA is now instituting 'Advocates' whose only job will be to care for the well-being of any stranded passengers. Kind of like a concierge when your train takes the ziggy. So problem solved and you can all go to sleep knowing a society of advocates have got your back.

Don't give them pepper spray.

Newark is an island this morning...

No PATH service further west than Journal Square currently this morning and NJ Transit trains are operating on a weekend schedule and are delayed.

Here is your Boxing Day 2010 Snowstorm weather related issues:

NJ Transit
*Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has been restored with trains operating every 20 minutes.

*Northeast Corridor train #7821, the 7:14am departure from New York Penn Station up to 20 min. delay.

*Rail service is operating on an enhanced weekend schedule Tuesday, December 28. To plan a trip, use 1/17/11 (MLK Day) as your travel date.

PATH

*Train service on the JSQ to 33rd street via HOB line is operating on a 15 minute schedule, train service on the JSQ to WTC line is operating on a 30 minute schedule

*PATH service remains suspended at Newark Penn Station. NJT trains are cross-honoring between Newark and New York.

*New Jersey Transit Passengers looking to make a connection in Newark with Path please stay on New Jersey Transit to New York or Hoboken. Path trains are not operating out of Newark.

*As of 05:00 AM on 12-28-10, Path train service is suspended from Newark to Journal Square in both directions. Path anticipates running a 10-minute schedule on all other lines starting around 06:00 AM.

A post storm roundup of delays, closings and odd schedules

No doubt a lot of places are either closed or are certainly impacted by the up to 20 inches of snow from the blizzard yesterday and last night. Today the up to 55 mph winds will blow that mess around. Some travel and business updates:

*PATH service is only running between Grove Street and World Trade Center and between Grove Street and 33rd Street via Hoboken.

*NJ Transit bus service remains suspended with no estimate on when it will return, NJT officials said this morning.
Meanwhile, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is suspended between Pavonia-Newport and Marin Boulevard stations, with limited service elsewhere.

*Newark Light Rail is operating on a modified schedule with trains every 20-30 minutes.

*River Line is suspended between Walter Rand Transportation Center and Waterfront Entertainment Center stations due to snow accumulation. Service is operating normally between Walter Rand Transportation Center and Trenton.

*Jersey City garbage pick-up schedules are being pushed back a day due to trucks not being able to get on the roads because of the blizzard last night, officials announced this morning.

*The city’s senior citizen stand-alone food congregant sites are also closed today due to the blizzard.