This just in from Greyhound, which has continued to operate during the storm despite poor conditions:

Earlier today, a large exterior awning outside the Greyhound terminal at 2110 Haines Street collapsed under the weight of snow. There were no injuries or damages. Effective immediately, all Greyhound service has been rerouted to the Baltimore Travel Plaza, 5625 O’Donnell Street. There will be no service in or out of the terminal on Haines Street for at least the next 48 - 72 hours.

We do advise passengers to check our web site, http://ui-blogs.trb.com/cgi-bin/mt/www.greyhound.com, or call 1-800-231-2222 to confirm their schedules in the event of additional inclement weather. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Here's the latest from Baltimore County:

Baltimore County Emergency Management Update Residents Asked To Move Cars From the Street Emergency managers are asking residents to move vehicles from the street, if possible, so that plows can get through once today's winter storm begins. See the "Emergency Operations Alert" at http://ui-blogs.trb.com/cgi-bin/mt/www.baltimorecountymd.gov

Posted by Michael Dresser at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: On the roads
        

The Baltimore Department of Transportation is urging downtown workers to leave their job sites early and get on the road before the coming double-whammy snowstorm begins in earnest so city woekers can continue their snow removal operation.

The city is expecting 10-12 inches between now and tomorrow morning. The Downtown Partnership points out that city's snow emergtency remains in effect. That means all vehicles traveling on city roadways must be equipped with snow tires, all season radials or chains.

Parking along designated Snow Emergency Route is prohibited and the Baltimore police say they will be towing without mercy.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: On the roads
        

Here's the latest from the Maryland Transit Administration. Under these circumstances, I'll pass them along without comment.

Baltimore, MD (February 8, 2010) – The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is asking 

customers for patience as the agency works to provide safe public transit services during the 

season‟s heaviest snowfall. Continuous efforts to keep surfaces clear of snow and ice as well as 

the removal of fallen tree branches on train tracks are labor intensive and require tremendous 

resources.  The following transportation service will be available on Tuesday, February 9, 2010:  

LOCAL BUS 

 Limited service will be provided on the following Local Bus lines: #3, #5, #8, #10, #13, 

#14, #15, #17, #19, #23, #35, #36, #40, #44, #52, #54, and #59.  All other lines will not operate.  

Customers are advised to call the Transit Information Center at 410-539-5000 to confirm the 

status of their bus.  

METRO SUBWAY 

 Metro Subway will operate every 15 to 20 minutes between Owings Mills and Johns 

Hopkins Hospital due to single track operation in some areas.  Parking lots have been cleared, 

but many spaces remained blocked by snow. 

Continue reading "MTA sets Tuesday service plan" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

This just in from the Maryland Aviation Administration:

** Both of BWI's main commercial runways are now open.

** By afternoon, airline carriers at BWI Marshall were flying near-normal schedules, with few reported cancellations.

** Southwest Airlines has announced flight cancellations for Tuesday and Wednesday at BWI, Dulles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other markets. For details, see-- http://www.southwest.com/html/travel_center/midatlantic_winter_storm_beg_5feb.html

** To prepare for the next expected storm, snow-removal crews, both Airport employees and contractors, will be activated on Tuesday. The snow teams will work to remove snow and ice from Airport runways, taxiways, and ramp areas, as well as public roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks.

** With a potentially significant snowfall expected, BWI Marshall Airport customers may want to consider parking under cover in one of the Airport’s parking garages.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

In what might be the most amazing development of the snowy weekend, nobody died on the state's roads, according to Maryland Highway Administrator Neil J. Pedersen.

The typical weekend on Maryland's roads yield several deaths, but the massive snowstorm that buried the region apparently motivated motorists to drive especially carefully.

 "Drivers have been patient. They have been careful," said state Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley.

 Whether Maryland drivers can keep up that streak for long is questionable. Driving speeds on the state's highways were up markedly today as some motorists mistook improved conditions for normal.

Continue reading "No fatalities reported on MD roads this weekend" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: On the roads
        

This just in from the Maryland Transportation Authority:

Tonight’s closure of the Inner Loop I-695 between Quarantine Road (Exit 1) and MD 10 (Exit 2) for barrier wall removal has been canceled due to the recent winter storm. The opening of the left lane of the Inner Loop may be postponed until after Thursday as originally scheduled, pending weather conditions. Updates will be provided as they become available.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 6:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Question: So how do you tell whether you're driving at a reasonable speed on ice and snow in Maryland?

Answer: Look in your rear view mirror. If somebody is tailgating you and blowing his or her horn, you are.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Here's the latest from BWI. The fact the airport opened for arrivals is not a surprise. The reference to departure is -- because there were almost no planes in the airport when the airport opened its runways at about 5 p.m. Here's the 7:30 p.m. release:

BWI Runway Opened at 5:00 PM;

British Airways with First Arrival

Airport Expects Only Limited Flight Operations Tonight

Passengers should contact airlines to confirm ticketing and flights status before coming to Airport BWI

Thurgood Marshall Airport reopened one major runway, Runway 10-28, at about 5:00 PM Sunday for flight operations. The Airport expects only limited commercial flight operations from airlines Sunday evening. The airlines will slowly resume flight operations.

The first arrival Sunday at BWI Marshall was the daily British Airways flight from London Heathrow, which arrived shortly after the Airport’s runway was opened. Several subsequent flights have since arrived and departed at BWI Marshall Airport.

Customers should continue to check with their airlines for current, updated flight information. Those travelers impacted by flight cancellations this weekend are encouraged to re-book flights by telephone or airline website before heading to the Airport.

The airlines will have to position aircraft and flight crews before all flights will resume. BWI Marshall Airport employees and contractors will continue working to clear the Airport’s two other major runways, as well as taxiways and other aircraft movement areas.

With the possibility for further winter weather later this week, those travelers planning to fly in coming days should consider parking under cover in one of BWI Marshall Airport’s two garages.

Posted by Michael Dresser at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Air travel
        

Mass transit service in Maryland is making a slow recovery from the weekend's snowstorm. with light rail offering service to a limited number of stations this afteroon and about 20 percent of  local buses operating on primary routes only.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley said Baltimore's Metro is continuing to run on the underground part between Mondawmin Mall and Johns Hopkins Hospital -- as it did Saturday -- but she said the aboveground stretch to Owings Mills would be closed all day and into tomorrow. She said a bus shuttle may be in place between Mondawmin and Owings Mills until above-ground service can resume.

Continue reading "Transit services coming up slowly (updated)" »

Posted by Michael Dresser at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)