Travel Disrupted As Snow Moves Across Philadelphia Region
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As the latest winter blast picks up in intensity across the region today, the biggest impact point is expected to be Philadelphia International Airport where a handful of flight cancellations are already reported.
This morning, hundreds of flights to Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Tampa, Phoenix and other cities have been cancelled. The FAA also put a ground stop in effect, meaning any flights destined for Philadelphia couldn't depart until the order was lifted around 9 a.m. Inbound flights were delayed approximately an hour and 20 minuets as of 10:45 a.m.
According to flightaware.com's Daniel Baker, the airlines have been working the past few days in anticipation of the storm.
"The airlines have had a large enough opportunity" he says, "and enough time to be able to cancel the flights in the Northeast, get the planes out of the area."
Baker says more than 1,400 flights are expected to be grounded in the coming days and that will definitely impact travel to and from Philadelphia. Most major airlines are allowing ticket-holders to cancel and re-book their flights over the next few days without paying a penalty.
Airport officials are advising travelers to check with their individual airline. Anyone expecting to pick up someone coming in on a flight today is advised to keep an eye on the airport's arrivals via the airport's website or by checking with the airlines.
SEPTA reports trains, trolleys, subways and buses are operating on or close to schedule, although they're urging passengers to watch their footing at the platforms, parking lots and walkways where there may be snow or wet conditions. The organization says its Market Frankford and Broad Street Line Trains will operate all-night but there will be no BSL or MFL OWL bus service. All Regional Rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule starting Tuesday morning.
New Jersey Transit is on time with cross-honoring of tickets and passes for the next couple of days.
And PATCO trains operating on or close to schedule.
On the roads, PennDOT crews have been out since before the first flakes began to fall last night, and they'll be busy through the duration of the storm.
"We are going to have 394 PennDOT and contractor trucks out on the road," says spokesman Gene Blaum, "salting and plowing."
Blaum says PennDOT has plenty of salt on hand for this storm -- and the goal is to keep roads passable.
"Wet is possible," he says, "but when we get a heavy, accumulating storm, where we might get an inch an hour or two inches an hour, motorists need to be prepared that, at times, they're going to be driving on snow-covered roads."
As of 11 a.m., PECO reported about 300 customers without power, mostly in Montgomery County.
Most townships and counties have also declared snow emergencies, including Cheltenham Township, Abington, Allentown, Falls Township, Haverford and Phoenixville.
Stay with CBS Philly and KYW Newsradio for updates.
