Gov. Murphy Urges NJ To Stay Home, Lifts Nor'easter Restrictions

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy said on Tuesday he's lifting some travel restrictions in New Jersey for the nor'easter — which he said dropped an "impressive" 35 inches of snow in parts of the Garden State — even though the storm is expected to continue into the evening.

Murphy and state Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti begged drivers to stay off the roads to allow emergency crews to clean up.

The governor also warned that temperatures are expected to drop, which could cause black ice. Coastal areas are still at risk of flooding.

"We still have work to do," Gutierrez-Scaccetti said, saying that even highways that are cleared need to dry.

Murphy said the storm was one of the biggest in at least 11 years – and maybe 25 years – and that more could still fall before the day is over. Read more: Who Got The Most Snow? NJ Town-By-Town Nor'easter Snow Totals

As many as 1 to 3 inches still could fall by evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Murphy said that some NJ Transit train and bus lines were back up and running on limited schedules, with South Jersey lines up and running sooner than those in Central and North Jersey.

The Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Raritan Valley lines have returned to service.

Murphy also said that the state's six coronavirus vaccine mega-sites remained closed on Tuesday, but that people with appointments have already gotten emails to reschedule. He suggested that people who had appointments at other sites contact the sites to reschedule.

The state lifted commercial vehicle restrictions at noon, including for tractor-trailers and for vehicles towing other types of vehicles, Murphy said.

State troopers have responded to 743 accidents and 1,362 motorist aid calls during the storm, Murphy said.

Murphy said he's waiting for the National Weather Service to confirm how the storm compares to past storms in terms of snowfall, and that it may be among the top 3 storms with the biggest impact in the last 25 years.

"We [have to go back to] 1996 to get a storm with the same level of ferocity as this one," he said.

Murphy also gave a rundown of NJ Transit and other public transportation changes.

Murphy said that most rail and bus lines in South Jersey have gotten running while "things are going to take a little more time getting back to normal" in Central and North Jersey. He said the best way to check the status of a specific commuter rail line was to go to njtransit.com.

He said most light rail lines are running on holiday schedules and that the Newark Light Rail was likely to return to service sometime in the afternoon.

PATH service has resumed in most of North Jersey except for Newark.

Murphy said that in a "positive surprise," there were no more than 5,000 houses without power at any time during the storm, despite the high winds. Tuesday morning, he said, 2,000 houses remained without power.

Coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations

Murphy also gave coronavirus statistics in the state, including some positive trends.

He said that in the last day, 71 more fatalities were confirmed in New Jersey. But 3,367 new positive cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours.

The total death toll from the virus in New Jersey is now 19,455.

Hospitals in the state are currently treating 2,892 covid patients, with 516 in ICU and 366 on ventilators, he said.

"Each of those numbers, importantly — and those are the ones we have to watch like a hawk — continue slowly but surely to head down," he said.

But he added a note of caution. "Absent what impact these [virus] variants may have," he said, "that is very, very good news. And obviously, we're watching the whole scene, especially the variants, like a hawk."

He said that during the storm on Monday, 254 patients were released from hospitals after battling the virus, and 297 were admitted.

He said 824,028 vaccinations have been administered statewide, most the first dose, some the second.

Read more:

• Sea Foam Hits Streets In Point Pleasant Beach Nor'easter (VIDEO)
• Icy Water Floods Highlands In Nor'Easter Snowstorm
• Nor'easter Impacts In Ocean City: Flooding, School Closures
• Route 35 In Belmar Closed Because Of Flooding
• Truck Stuck In Snow Closes I-78 West In Bedminster
• Route 1 Edison Closes Because Of Downed Wire
• Crash Slows Traffic On I-295 Near Route 70 In Cherry Hill
• 3,000 Homes Without Power In Manchester Amid Storm

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