NJ TRANSIT AND NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AUTHORITY ANNOUNCE STATUS UPDATE FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Governor Sherrill and NJ TRANSIT Announce Newark Light Rail and River LINE to Resume on Sunday Schedules 4 p.m.; Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Resume on Weekend Schedule at 6 p.m.; all Rail, Bus and Access Link Services Remain Suspended Until Conditions All

February 23, 2026

NEWARK, NJ – NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority have released the following status updates for Monday, February 23. Newark Light Rail and River LINE will begin to resume service in the 4 p.m. hour, operating on Sunday schedules. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) will begin to resume service in the 6 p.m. hour, operating on a weekend schedule. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is in the process of returning speed limits to normal on the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.

 

"I want to thank NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority crews who are working tirelessly around the clock to restore our transportation systems for the millions of New Jerseyans who rely on them," said Governor Mikie Sherrill. "We are pleased that light rail services are set to return later today. I am confident that these dedicated men and women will continue their efforts in the aftermath of this historic snowstorm until all systems are fully operational.”

 

“Our first responsibility is for the safety of all who use our transportation resources. As we begin to recover from this blizzard, the likes of which we have not seen in 30 years, I applaud NJ TRANSIT, NJDOT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority for being thoughtful, methodical and strategic in bringing the system back to operation in a way that prioritizes the safety of its customers,” said Acting NJ DOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Priya Jain.

 

“The safety of our customers, motorists and the employees working around the clock to restore service and clear our state’s roadways remains our highest priority,” said Kris Kolluri, President & CEO of NJ TRANSIT and Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to assess the storm’s statewide impacts on highways and the transit system. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our teams over the past 24 hours, I’m pleased to announce the gradual resumption of transit service, beginning with our three light rail lines later today, as well as the continued improvement of conditions on the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.”

 

NJ TRANSIT

Newark Light Rail and River LINE will begin to resume service in the 4 p.m. hour, operating on Sunday schedules. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) will begin to resume service in the 6 p.m. hour, operating on a weekend schedule. All rail, bus and Access Link services remain suspended until conditions allow for safe resumption. Crews continue clearing train station platforms, parking lots and other rail infrastructure. Bus and Access Link personnel continue with snow removal at garages and facilities, while continuing to monitor roadway conditions to determine a safe resumption time.

 

New Jersey Turnpike Authority:

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is in the process of returning speed limits to normal on the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. Speed limits, which had been reduced to 35 mph through the storm, will increase gradually section-by-section as the cleanup proceeds.

 

The Parkway south of the Driscoll Bridge in Middlesex County was hardest hit by the storm. A statewide travel ban that prohibited travel on the Parkway has expired, but motorists are advised to limit the use of that section of the Parkway to essential travel only while Turnpike Authority crews continue the cleanup.

 

The Turnpike, which was not included in the travel ban, is mostly clear down to the blacktop in the travel lanes, but cleanup will continue through the night on entrance and exit ramps and at toll plazas. Drivers should continue to exercise caution.

For rail, bus and Access Link services, NJ TRANSIT continues to assess the impacts of the storm to determine when it will be safe to resume service. 

 

Customers should continue to monitor service alerts, njtransit.com, the NJ TRANSIT mobile app or their individual line account on X (formerly Twitter) for the latest service updates. 

 

During a service suspension, customers may see trains operating. However, those cars are operating without passengers to keep overhead wires and tracks free of snow and ice. Motorists should always abide by railroad crossing gates and pedestrians should only cross at designated pedestrian crossings even during a service suspension as equipment may continue to move throughout the railroad.

 

Information for NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway:

@GSParkway

For the latest on travel conditions, including current alerts and dozens of live camera views of the Turnpike and Parkway, drivers should visit www.njta.gov and choose the “Trip Planning” drop-down on the homepage.  Roadway information is also available by calling 511 from a hands-free device. 

For more information: 511nj.org

Information for NJ TRANSIT Customers:

 

About the New Jersey Turnpike Authority

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority operates two of the most heavily traveled toll roads in the United States, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. More than 634 million passenger and commercial vehicles traveled on the Turnpike Authority’s toll roads in 2025. 

 

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 264 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

 

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This document and others are available for translation on njtransit.com.