Let The Snow Response Overcompensation Begin
Caught with their pants down during the December 26 blizzard, it’s astounding to see this week as news media and city agencies made a big deal of the measly one to three inches of snow we’re supposed to receive today. It’s as if they think we’ll see their over-the-top response to this itty-bitty snowfall and just forget about what happened two weeks ago.
It’s kind of like banging you boss’ wife, getting busted in the middle of it, and then the next day you pretend to work extra hard. Sure, the boss will buy it. You won’t get fired. Sure…
If you’re wondering what the hell I’m talking about, it has something to do with the six e-mails I received yesterday, as the MTA went into overdrive in its attempt to convince me that it knew what the heck they were doing when it comes to storms.
It started at 5:14 p.m. yesterday, when the MTA Subway and Buses alert system e-mailed me the following, which essentially said that they’re gearing up overnight to ensure regular service this weekend:
Planned service changes for this weekend, late Friday, January 7 to early Monday, Jan 10 are canceled due to the winter storm forecast.
MTA New York City Transit has begun storm preparations to ensure safe travel across the city, including putting chains on bus tires and storing subway cars underground, which may have an impact on some express service tonight. We expect to run normal service on the bus and subway system in the morning, but please monitor www.mta.info
for the latest service updates in our ‘Current Service Status’ box.
We urge all of our customers to take extra care when traveling during the storm, and please allow extra travel time.
Okay, fine. Good. This e-mail was immediately followed by one from the MTA’s Bridges and Tunnels division, informing me that the same goes for lane closures:
In the event of inclement weather all scheduled lane closures will be suspended. Motorists are asked to allow extra travel time and operate at reduced speeds during any weather event. Before leaving home, check conditons at all MTA crossings by visiting mta.info.
Four hours later, just before 9 p.m., I got this one from the Subway and Bus alerts system:
Both dir, B train susp Brighton Bch to Bedford Pk Blvd, due to winter storm watch. Visit www.mta.info for details.
Now this is when I started to be annoyed, as they went from telling me everything would be all right, to now something isn’t all right – and the first snowflakes hadn’t even hit the ground yet. Of course, I still have no idea what the hell this alert means, because, as far as I can tell the B train is operating normally.
Two hours go by, and then Bridges and Tunnels sees fit to remind me:
In the event of inclement weather all scheduled lane closures will be suspended. Motorists are asked to allow extra travel time and operate at reduced speeds during any weather event. Before leaving home, check conditons at all MTA crossings by visiting mta.info.
Got it, buddy. Moving on.
Bus and Subways gets back in touch with me an hour later. Apparently, everything is sorta fine, except not for express, in certain locations that go totally unspecified. Here, take a look:
Both directions,A,E,D,F,N,Q,2,3,4&5 trains run local on various sections of their routes.Winter storm watch plan in effect. Visit www.mta.info for details.
All right, so it may take some readers a little longer to get to work. Maybe I should pass tha– hey, what’s that? Another e-mail? Let’s see:
In the event of inclement weather all scheduled lane closures will be suspended. Motorists are asked to allow extra travel time and operate at reduced speeds during any weather event. Before leaving home, check conditons at all MTA crossings by visiting mta.info.
Ah, jeez Bridges and Tunnels, will you shut the hell up already? I get it! I’m trying to sort this crap out with Subways and Buses.
Wait… MTA, are you screwing my wife? You are so fired.
