MTA Winter Storm Alert: Subway, LIRR & Bus Service Changes You Need to Know for February 25, 2026

WINTER STORM DISRUPTS SUBWAY AND BUS LINES A powerful winter storm sweeping across the Northeast has forced the MTA to modify subway, bus, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North schedules through February 25, 2026, with riders urged to check real-time alerts before traveling. Crews are salting platforms, clearing yards and deploying de-icing trains, but limited service, suspended express runs and scattered station closures remain in effect. KEY IMPACTS FOR COMMUTERS • Subway: Reduced frequencies on most numbered lines after 10 p.m.; 4 and 5 express trains running local in Manhattan and Brooklyn. • Buses: Detours on 50+ routes, especially in hilly sections of the Bronx and Staten Island. • LIRR & Metro-North: Hourly service outside peak periods; late-night trains may be cancelled. • Accessibility: Elevators at exposed outdoor stations may close temporarily for safety. TIPS TO AVOID DELAYS 1. Use the MTA app or OMNY tap-and-ride readers to bypass ticket vending machine lines. 2. Board the first open car—shortened trains mean some platforms won’t serve every door. 3. Allow at least 30 extra minutes if you must make a timed connection. MODERN FARE GATE PILOT EXPANDS DURING STORM LULL Even as crews battle snow, NYC Transit is pressing ahead with its modern fare gate pilot. New swing-style barriers that replace the 1990s turnstiles debuted at Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av and are set to appear at 15 more stations by spring. The wider gates aim to speed boarding, reduce fare evasion and improve accessibility for riders with luggage, strollers and wheelchairs. RIDERSHIP REBOUNDS—BUT WEATHER TESTS MOMENTUM January statistics showed average weekday ridership climbing past 4 million for the first time since 2020, driven by office-return policies and tourism surges. However, the multi-day storm threatens to erase some gains as remote work spikes and weekend trips are postponed. Transit analysts project a 12 percent dip in February farebox revenue unless normal service resumes by Monday. SERVICE CHANGES ON 4 AND 5 LINES EXTENDED Separately, the agency confirmed that track-replacement work on the 4 and 5 will continue into early March, overlapping with storm recovery. South Bronx and East Harlem riders should expect overnight bustitution and platform crowding during the evening rush. WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE MTA IN 2026 • Climate Resilience: A $7 billion capital program funds tunnel drainage pumps and elevated substations to blunt future floods. • Fare Policy: A proposed 3 percent fare hike remains on the July board agenda but could be delayed if ridership softens. • Technology: Real-time bus crowding data will expand citywide, and open-gangway R262 subway cars enter testing this fall. BOTTOM LINE The MTA’s ability to balance urgent weather response with long-term modernization is under the spotlight. Riders who stay informed, use digital tools and adjust travel times can cut frustration while the agency works to keep New York City moving during one of the season’s toughest storms.