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Travel ban starting Sunday evening on NYC roads due to blizzard
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Feb 22, 2026
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By
Catalina Gonella
Published Feb 22, 2026
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Drivers must stay off the roads in New York City from 9 p.m. Sunday through noon on Monday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, declaring a state of emergency due to the blizzard slamming into the region.
The travel ban restricts most vehicle traffic on streets, highways, and bridges. That includes cars, commercial trucks and e-bikes. Exemptions are in place for essential workers and emergency responders. Citi Bike will also be shut down after 8 p.m. Sunday. Alternate side parking will be suspended on Monday.
At a press conference on Sunday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to comply with the travel ban, and avoid ordering delivery.
“ We are asking New Yorkers to avoid all non-essential travel, please for your safety, stay home, stay inside, and stay off the roads,” he said. “Hazardous conditions put delivery workers, drivers and restaurant staff at risk. If you can do so, please look out for your fellow New Yorkers and prepare meals at home until the weather improves.”
DoorDash said it was suspending deliveries to keep its workers safe and off the streets.
The winter storm is expected to drop as much as 24 inches of snow in parts of the city late Sunday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The worst of the blizzard was expected to begin around 6 p.m. The weather service warned of “dangerous to impossible travel” with low visibility, especially on Monday morning.
Mamdani said a violation of the travel ban would constitute a Class B misdemeanor, but that the city’s focus will be on compliance rather than punishment.
Long Island and Westchester are also under travel bans beginning at 9 p.m., Governor Kathy Hochul said. In New Jersey, commercial vehicles are banned from many highways starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, and highway speed limits have been temporarily lowered to 35 mph. Connecticut also declared a state of emergency and restricted commercial vehicles traveling on highways starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Public transit was also cutting service. Long Island Rail Road service will be reduced on select branches as early as 7 p.m. Sunday, and will be fully suspended by 1 a.m. The Metro-North Railroad will run hourly service on the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines and weekend service on the Connecticut and Wassaic branches. The Staten Island Railway will run every half hour on Monday, with no express service.
NJ Transit planned to halt bus, light rail and Access Link service Sunday at 6 p.m. Rail service will be suspended at 9 p.m.
Tagged
new york city
public safety
transportation
weather
Catalina Gonella
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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