Resumes service to Lower Manhattan
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service returned to Lower Manhattan on December 3rd for the first time since Superstorm Sandy left millions of gallons of corrosive salt water in several subway stations and under river tubes. Service was extended from 34th Street to Whitehall Street, easing the burden on the Lexington Avenue 
Line. Service remains suspended between Jay St –MetroTech and Whitehall Street until further notice.
The resumption of service to the Whitehall Street station restores a vital link to midtown's west side for Staten Islanders. While service has been restored, it is still very limited. Only the middle track at the station is being used, and all customers will use the downtown platform – both to board the Uptown and detrain at the station.
Click here to view Service Restoration Notice [PDF]
Escalator service at this deep station has been partially restored. Two escalators, leading from a landing above the platform to the mezzanine located at the south end of the station nearest the ferry terminal entrance, are now in operation, one operating in each direction. The escalator at the north end of the station (Stone Street entrance) had previously been removed from service for replacement and remains out.
The two escalators which lead from the station mezzanine to the plaza near the Ferry Terminal building are still out of service. Both sustained extensive damage in the wake of the storm, and crews continue to work around the clock to get those machines back on line. Anyone who has difficulty climbing stairs is urged to consider using the Rector Street station instead.
Work continues to fully restore train service between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn
After several days of operation, pumps finally managed to draw down the millions of gallons of water that had surged in from New York Bay during Hurricane Sandy. In all, eight of the MTA's under river subway tunnels experienced significant flooding but none as severely as the Montague Tube, which had water from track to ceiling for a distance of nearly a mile.
Extensive work still remains before trains can once again use the Montague Tube. More than 300 signal relays were damaged, along with the central instrument house, track switches, stop motors, wiring. Debris had been washed into the tube and the force of the inrushing water from the 14-foot surge that hit lower Manhattan was enough to bend metal. After removing the water, crews spent several days cleaning the tube of muck and sea water debris left behind by Sandy. Crews continue to make headway in replacing relays and replacing damaged switch equipment, replacing wiring and other components.
The Montague Tube carries Line trains between Manhattan and Brooklyn and since service has been suspended between Downtown Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, thousands of riders daily have been shifted over to the already crowded Lexington Avenue Line. Through service to Brooklyn on the is expected by late December.
Full Service is Our Goal
Along with the Rockaway Line across Jamaica Bay and Broad Channel, lower Manhattan was the hardest hit in the system with South Ferry expected to be out for several months. MTA New York City Transit has come a long way and our workers should be proud of their accomplishments but it isn't surprising that no one will be completely satisfied until service is operating just as it did prior to Sandy's arrival.
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