The MTA managed to run full weekday subway service Monday morning despite a winter storm that dumped up to 15 inches of snow across the five boroughs — though riders shouldn’t mistake “full service” for “on-time service.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber made the rounds on local TV and radio Monday morning, touting the agency’s ability to keep trains moving after Sunday’s blizzard conditions. But the reality underground told a different story, with widespread delays hitting every line as crews worked to clear snow and ice from outdoor stations and elevated tracks.
“We’re running regular weekday service, but passengers should expect delays system-wide,” Lieber said during his media blitz. It’s the kind of MTA double-speak that veteran riders know means: yes, trains are moving, but good luck getting anywhere on time.
The storm, which began Saturday night and intensified Sunday, left Central Park with 9.3 inches of snow. Brooklyn and Queens saw accumulations ranging from 8 to 12 inches, while parts of the Bronx recorded up to 15 inches. Staten Island, as usual, got the worst of it — some areas saw nearly a foot and a half of snow.
For the thousands of New Yorkers who depend on elevated subway lines — the 1 train in the Bronx, the N and Q over the Manhattan Bridge, the 7 through Queens — Monday morning’s commute became a test of patience. Snow accumulation on outdoor platforms and third rails slowed trains to a crawl, creating cascading delays throughout the system.
The MTA’s weekend preparation included positioning snow trains — specialized cars equipped with plows and de-icing equipment — along outdoor routes. Crews worked through Sunday night to keep tracks clear, but the agency’s aging infrastructure showed its limitations once again.
“They can prep all they want, but when you have 60-year-old signals that freeze up and third rails that ice over, you’re going to have problems,” said Danny Martinez, a transit mechanic from the Bronx who takes the 6 train to his job at the 207th Street yard. “I left an extra hour early today and still got to work late.”
Bus service faced even bigger challenges, with the MTA suspending several routes Sunday evening as snow made streets impassable. By Monday morning, most bus lines had resumed, but with significant delays as drivers navigated around unplowed side streets and abandoned vehicles.
The agency’s performance during winter storms has improved since the disasters of the early 2010s, when blizzards regularly shut down large portions of the subway system. But Monday’s delays highlighted persistent vulnerabilities in a network that serves 5.5 million daily riders — many of whom have no choice but to take the train regardless of weather.
“I can’t work from home — I’m a home health aide,” said Gloria Rodriguez, waiting for a delayed B train at 145th Street in Harlem Monday morning. “My patients are counting on me, so I’m here no matter what the MTA throws at us.”
The timing of the storm — hitting Sunday night into Monday morning — actually worked in the agency’s favor. Weekend ridership is significantly lower, giving crews more time to clear tracks without disrupting peak service. Had the snow fallen during a weekday rush, the delays would likely have been catastrophic.
Lieber pointed to the agency’s storm preparation as evidence of improved management, noting that crews began treating elevated tracks and positioning equipment days before the first flakes fell. The MTA also coordinated with the city’s Department of Sanitation to prioritize bus routes for snow removal.
But transit advocates question whether the agency is doing enough to address the underlying infrastructure problems that make winter weather such a recurring crisis.
“Running trains during a snowstorm shouldn’t be a heroic achievement — it should be standard operating procedure for a transit system in the Northeast,” said Sarah Chen, a board member with the Riders Alliance. “Other cities manage this without the drama.”
The storm also highlighted ongoing disparities in service reliability across the five boroughs. While Manhattan’s underground lines largely avoided weather-related delays, outer borough riders who depend on elevated and outdoor stations bore the brunt of the disruptions.
Staten Island Ferry service, which suspended operations Sunday afternoon as winds gusted up to 40 mph, resumed Monday morning with delays. The St. George terminal saw long lines of frustrated commuters who had missed their usual connections to Manhattan subway lines.
“First the ferry’s delayed, then the R train’s a mess — it’s like the city forgets we exist until tax time,” said Mike Thompson, a Staten Island resident who commutes daily to his construction job in Queens.
As crews continued working to clear remaining snow from outdoor stations Monday afternoon, the MTA warned that residual delays could persist through the evening rush. The agency’s real test will come with the next storm — and whether Sunday’s preparation becomes standard practice or just another one-off response to crisis.
For now, New Yorkers are doing what they always do: adapting to a system that works just well enough to keep the city moving, even when Mother Nature has other plans. The alternative — a truly reliable transit network that handles winter weather without breaking a sweat — remains as elusive as an on-time train on a snowy Monday morning.
Passengers can check for real-time service updates on the MTA’s website and mobile app, though veterans know the most accurate information usually comes from fellow riders on the platform.
