N.J. travel ban expires, SEPTA bus service resuming in Philadelphia
A major winter storm blanketed southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Sunday night and Monday. The Blizzard of '26 dumped nearly 2 feet of snow in parts of the region.
Travel restrictions were in effect across all three states, and some public transit services were suspended Monday.
Pennsylvania driving restrictions
All vehicle restrictions and speed restrictions on highways and major roadways have been lifted in the Philadelphia region, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
All tier restrictions on the Pennsylvania Turnpike were lifted shortly around 7:45 a.m.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a disaster emergency declaration Sunday, which will allow the state to adjust resources needed in response to the storm.
New Jersey driving restrictions
A travel ban on most New Jersey roads expired Monday at noon. The state put a travel ban in effect at 9 p.m. Sunday and later extended it until noon Monday. The extended travel ban covered all roads except the New Jersey Turnpike, state police said. All non-exempt vehicles were barred from driving on state, county, municipal and interstate roads while the travel restrictions are in effect.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation also reduced the speed limits on all state and interstate highways to 35 mph and implemented commercial vehicle travel restrictions. The agency says those restrictions will expire at 5 p.m.
Delaware driving restrictions
Driving restrictions in New Castle County, Delaware, have been lifted Monday evening, state police said on social media.
Level 2 restrictions remain in place in Kent and Sussex counties until further notice.
In those counties, travel "is restricted to emergency workers, public utilities, healthcare providers including hospital staff, public and private operators of snow removal equipment, private sector food and fuel deliveries, and those industries, companies and organizations that have been provided a waiver, including businesses with pressing continuity and operational issues," Delaware State Police said.
SEPTA hopeful to restore some Regional Rail service soon
Bus service is beginning to resume in Philadelphia and SEPTA hopes to get some Regional Rail lines back online sometime Monday afternoon, General Manager Scott Sauer said in a press conference.
Sauer said more than 20 bus routes are back on the road and more will be resuming as Philadelphia continues to clear the roads.
Sauer said inspection trains and inspectors are currently along the Regional rail lines looking for hazards. He said SEPTA hopes to have some service restored in the afternoon, though he didn't provide a timeline. The SEPTA GM cautioned that if the Regional Rail does restore service Monday, it would not be on a regular schedule. He said commuters should check the SEPTA app for updates.
Sauer said SEPTA reopened the Center City trolley tunnels, and Access Paratransit service will resume at 3 p.m.
Some NJ Transit service to resume operation
Some NJ Transit lines are in the process of resuming operations after the blizzard caused service suspensions, according to Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
The Newark Light Rail and River Line started running on a Sunday schedule around 4 p.m. Monday, the governor's office said. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail resumed service around 6 p.m. on a weekend schedule.
On Tuesday, NJ Transit rail service (except the Atlantic City Rail Line) will operate on a Presidents Day schedule with some adjustments. The Atlantic City Rail Line will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Bus, Light Rail and Access Link services will also operate on a regular weekday schedule Tuesday. However, commuters should be prepared for possible delays, cancellations or detours.
Sherrill says the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is in the process of returning speed limits to normal on the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. A 35 mph speed restriction was in effect.
