According to the New York Times, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that New York's entire subway and bus system will shut down Saturday at noon in preparation of Hurricane Irene. This will be the first time the MTA fully suspends its system in advance for a storm, although there was a system shutdown in 2005 due to a strike. Cuomo also added that the rails (including MTA and LIRR) would shut down and that half a dozen bridges, including the George Washington, Robert F. Kennedy Triboro, Whitestone, and Throgs Neck could be closed too if the wind levels get too high.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bloomberg has ordered mandatory evacuations of low-lying areas in NYC, including parts in Battery Park, Coney Island, and the Rockaways. Morningside Heights is not expected to be evacuated.
The shutdown is likely to last through Sunday, when the hurricane is expected to hit the hardest. Check after the jump for an MTA notice.
