Alternate Side Parking Suspended As Snow Storm Barrels Toward NYC

NEW YORK CITY — Alternate Side Parking will be suspended as the city prepares for wintry misery on New York City's roads and the MTA has warned straphangers of potential issues on seven lines that run above ground.

A major winter storm is expected to dump up to 6 inches of snow on the city's metro area starting toward the tail end of Monday's evening rush, MTA officials said.

Alternate side parking will be suspended Tuesday as city sanitation crews prepare to plow snowy streets. Officials asked New Yorkers to stay off the roads.

For New Yorkers taking public transit, MTA officials said underground subway lines likely won't be affected by snow.

But there remain roughly 220 miles of outdoor tracks, with the Rockaway A and S lines, the Sea Beach N, the Flushing 7, Brighton B and Q and the Dyre Avenue 5 all considered vulnerable to snow and freezing precipitation, officials said.

MTA crews will be readying snow- and ice-fighting trains, among other steps, for subways, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road trains, officials said.

Buses will be fitted with chains ahead of Tuesday's rush hour, they said.

Access-A-Ride paratransit will continue to run, but MTA officials warned of delays and wait times.

"Customers may want to consider adjusting or canceling their travel plans," an MTA release states.

Most snow — which could be as much as 5 inches within New York City proper — will fall during the overnight hours and affect Tuesday's morning rush hour, officials said.

City emergency management officials issued a travel advisory running through Tuesday morning as they prepare for the city's first significant snowfall.

"While most of the impacts will occur during the overnight hours, conditions will remain hazardous through the early morning,” said Zach Iscol, the city's emergency management commissioner, in a statement. "We encourage all New Yorkers to use mass transit, allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution tonight into tomorrow morning’s commute."

Light snow is expected to begin about 6 p.m., city officials said. Heavier and steadier snow falling at 1 inch per hour could hit between 8 p.m. and midnight, after which it could transition to snow, sleet and rain.