travel bans in wny

Current WNY travel bans and advisories

A State of Emergency has been declared in Erie County. More info here.

Cleanup efforts continue Wednesday. Residents are being reminded by county officials not to drive in ban areas. It will hinder the work of heavy equipment operators working to clear the areas of snow.

CLOSURES (PER NITTEC ):

• Rte. 5 Eastbound - Closed at Tifft Street to I-190 (3.2 miles).
• Rte. 5 Westbound - Closed from I-190 to Tift St.
• Rte 400 Southbound - Closed from I-90 to Olean Rd. 
• Rte 400 Northbound - Closed from Olean Rd to I-90 (15.0 miles).
• Rte 219 Northbound - Closed from Rte 39 to Ridge Rd.
• Rte 219 Southbound - Closed from I-90 to Rte 39.
• I-90 Westbound - Closed from Exit 46 (Henrietta) to PA line.
• I-90 Eastbound - Closed from PA line to Exit 46 (Henrietta).
• Ramp I-290W to I-190S - Closed
• I-290 Eastbound - Closed at Exit 6 (Sheridan Drive) to I-90 (1.9 miles).
• I-190 Southbound - Closed from Exit 16 (I-290) to I-90

ADVISORIES:

• Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming and contiguous counties - State of Emergency
• Northern Cattaraugus County - Travel Advisory
• Genesee County - Travel Advisory
• Town of Newstead - Travel Advisory
• Village of Akron - Travel Advisory
• City of Dunkirk - Travel Advisory
• Town of Boston - Travel Ban
• Eden - Travel Ban
• Sloan - Travel Ban
• Corfu - Travel Ban
• Darien - Limited Travel Ban
• East Aurora - Travel Ban
• Aurora - Travel Ban
• Alden - Travel Ban
• West Seneca - Travel Ban
• Orchard Park - Travel Ban
• Cheektowaga - Travel Ban south of Genesee Street
• Village of Lancaster - Travel Ban - until 6 a.m. Wednesday
• Village of Depew - Travel Ban - Transit, Walden and Broadway shut down. More than 100 cars stranded
• City of Lackawanna - Travel Ban
• Town of Marilla - Travel Ban
• Town of Elma - Travel Ban
• Town of Evans - Travel Ban
• Town of Hamburg - Travel Ban
• Village of Blasdell - Travel Ban
• Buffalo - Travel Ban in South Buffalo, everything south of Clinton Street

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Travel ban lifted in Erie County as road conditions improve, warmer weather settles in

A travel ban has been lifted in New York’s Erie County, days after it was put into place as a deadly blizzard swept across the region, at times reducing visibility to zero.

The ban, which was implemented Friday, expired at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, officials said.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told reporters Wednesday night that the roads were in good enough condition to lift the ban.

“It has been 6 days,” Brown said. “Some people have not been able to restock groceries, to restock medications, to get to medical appointments, and being able to lift the travel ban safely now will allow people to do those important things.”

Most streets in the city are passable, Brown said, and he expected crews to have made a pass down the center of every residential street by the end of the night.

Though the ban has been lifted, a travel advisory was in place for Erie County as cleanup continues and a county-wide state of emergency remained. Brown asked people to be cautious and avoid driving unless necessary.

More than 450 pieces of equipment were on Buffalo streets plowing and hauling snow, and many traffic signals were still not working, he said.

The storm dumped upwards of 20 inches of snow in parts of New York — including nearly 52 inches at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

The powerful storm plunged much of the United States into a deep freeze, creating life-threatening conditions as more than 1 million homes and businesses were left in the dark, and wreaking havoc on flight schedules during the busy holiday travel week.

At least 76 people died in the storm, according to an NBC News tally. Erie County accounted for 37 of the deaths, 29 of which were in Buffalo.

Weather-related deaths were also reported in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Illinois and Vermont.

In Buffalo, officials said it was possible the number could rise.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said Wednesday night that police have cleared the backlog of calls relating to welfare checks, stranded motorists and reports of bodies.

Search and rescue teams were returning Thursday to check locations where bodies had been reported but could not be confirmed — either because of the amount of snow or the vagueness of location, Gramaglia said.

"We believe there were some credible 911 calls that contained more information ... low single digit numbers, that's again why we're going to concentrate our efforts on hitting those areas," he told reporters.

In Erie County, 17 of the people who died in the blizzard were found outside and four were in a vehicle , according to County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

Several people died because of a delay receiving emergency services or from cardiac events related to shoveling or blowing snow. Of the deaths, nine were people who died because they had no heat in their homes, he said.

Poloncarz said in a tweet Wednesday night that 500 National Guard members have conducted nearly 850 welfare checks on residents who had longterm power outages.

Power was being restored to New York, and by early Thursday, about 400 customers in the state were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us .

In Buffalo, where more than 20,000 customers were without power at one point during the storm, only three had no electricity Wednesday night, according to Brown, the mayor.

On Wednesday, city offices, facilities and roadways opened, as temperatures rose into the 40s across parts of New York.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which has been closed since Friday , reopened Wednesday.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday night that all major state highways in western New York, including the Erie County portion of Interstate 190 and several state routes, would reopen at midnight.

“I am extremely grateful to all the highway maintenance workers, first responders and emergency service staff who continue to work tirelessly to help their fellow New Yorkers," Hochul said in a statement .   

The temperature is expected to continue climbing to the low-50s in the Buffalo region by Friday, and will help melt the accumulated snow, according to the National Weather Service .

Claire Cardona is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital.

Saturday brings more snow, leaving some areas buried under 6 feet

On Friday, the National Weather Service expected snow totals of around two feet. Now, on Saturday, snow totals have already reached 77 inches in Orchard Park (6.4 feet) and 73.7 inches (6.14 feet) in Hamburg.

While NWS is reporting only 3.3 inches in Tonawanda, as of Erie County's 6 a.m. update, the expectation is that the snow is now moving northward, and areas that were not hit as badly Thursday and Friday can expect more snow Saturday.

• Lake Effect Snow Warnings are still in place through Sunday for several counties including Erie and Niagara
• Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for Wyoming, Allegany, Orleans, and McKean (PA) counties through Sunday.
• A State of Emergency in Erie County continues indefinitely
• A Travel Ban is in effect for most of Erie County— but has been downgraded to just an advisory in several locations.

Erie County Travel Ban

As of 3 p.m. travel ban is in effect for the City of Buffalo south of William Street, Hamburg, Evans, Eden, Boston, Orchard Park, Aurora, Wales, Marilla, Elma, West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, and Alden. All other parts of Erie County are under a travel advisory.

"We are making progress in the city of Buffalo, but there is still a long way to go. We have had a snow ban set up for an extended period of time, as you know, in South Buffalo, dumping over four feet of snow," Mayor Byron Brown said.

Another eight to 10 inches are expected through 1 a.m. Sunday in the City of Buffalo.

"So we are coming to the end, hopefully, of this event, if the forecasts that we've received are correct," Brown added.

Erie County continues to provide updates every few hours on their YouTube channel.

“The vast majority of Erie County residents have done the right thing and stayed off the roads,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said in a tweet Friday. “Unfortunately, it only takes one to two vehicles to tie up plow and first responder crews. Please stay home.”

WNY Travel Bans & Advisories

Niagara County: No travel advisories are in effect and there are no plans to institute any, according to Niagara County Director of Emergency Services Jonathan Schultz.  

“We will continue to closely monitor the storm and be prepared to take any actions regarding travel and safety should they be deemed necessary,” Schultz said in a statement.  

Genesee County: No travel advisories are in effect, but the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to stay home so that emergency personnel can travel more easily.

 “Please remember that even if it is not snowing where you are, the destination you are traveling to may have poor visibility and heavy snow accumulation,” Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron said in a statement posted to Facebook. “The best and safest option for you and your loved ones is to stay home until the snowstorm passes.”  

Chautauqua County: No travel advisories are in effect, but officials are reminding Chautauqua County residents to postpone or cancel non-essential travel, drive slowly, keep 200 feet behind snow plows and keep an emergency kit and cell phone with them if driving, according to a Thursday news release .  

“With this storm, drivers should be prepared for areas of snow-covered roads and poor visibility,” Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone said in a statement. “If you must travel, drivers are urged to slow down and use caution when traveling on slick or snow-covered roads.” 

You can find more information for your county by clicking here:

• Erie County - http://www2.erie.gov/
• Niagara County - http://niagaracounty.com/
• Chautauqua County - http://chautauqua.ny.us/
• Cattaraugus County - http://www.cattco.org/
• Orleans County - http://www.orleansny.com/
• Wyoming County - http://www.wyomingco.net/
• Allegany County - https://www.alleganyco.gov/
• Genesee County - http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/

NFTA & Colleges

As of Saturday morning, the NFTA says buses are not running in Erie and Niagara counties, except for Paratransit but the NFTA is asking riders to reschedule if possible.

Erie County Community South Campus is being used as a snow dump by the county, and North Campus is being utilized for staging rescue crews.

National Guard Deployed & State Efforts

Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed the National Guard to assist in Erie County's efforts.

The National Guard has arrived at @ErieCountyNY 's Emergency Operations Center. They are being sent out to pickup and deliver people whom require dialysis. Thanks @GovKathyHochul for calling them up to help with the response efforts. pic.twitter.com/jPlxXk8biF — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) November 19, 2022

In advance of the storm, Gov. Hochul on Thursday urged residents in Western New York to stay home

“We’re expecting upwards of two to four feet. It’s not just the volume, two to four feet the first night, we could possibly see anywhere from four to six feet between now and Sunday. It is the rate of snow that is most concerning,” Hochul said.

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Welcome to Erie County, NY

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz » ERIE COUNTY, CITY OF BUFFALO UPDATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AS OF SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

ERIE COUNTY, CITY OF BUFFALO UPDATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AS OF SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Modified: November 19, 2022 10:50am

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• 2011 Transition

ERIE COUNTY, NY—Effective immediately (Saturday, November 19 at 6:30 a.m.), the city of Buffalo and Erie County are implementing a Travel Ban for the entire city of Buffalo based on current and expected weather and road conditions.

This updated map shows the current travel restrictions for Erie County, with red-shaded areas having a Travel Ban and yellow-shaded areas having a Travel Advisory.

County and city officials are urging residents to follow these travel restrictions to prevent additional blocked roads from vehicle accidents or stranded vehicles, and to allow snow removal crews, tow trucks and first responders to do their work.

Link to updated map .

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Road Closures And Travel Bans Update In Western New York

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If you’re headed to work this morning, you may be wondering if you are able to take the 219, and the answer is a bit complicated. 

Listen to Clay & Company On 106.5 WYRK

On Monday morning, the Erie County Commissioner of Emergency Services, Dan Neaverth Jr., held a press conference, clarifying the current travel bans and travel advisories as we head into the work week. 

You can watch the full press conference below. 

Many people are wondering about one road in particular: the 219. 

According to Dan Neaverth Jr. and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Route 219 thruway to Springville opened at 12 AM on Monday. 

However, that does not mean you will be able to get onto the road. 

Last week, we found out that the troopers and plow operators have to coordinate who opens the barrier via key. 

Brad Walters from Lancaster told us that those arm barriers “are actually chained and padlocked in the up position, [and] the thruway troopers and DOT plows have the keys to drop them manually and relook them in place.”

Soon, those arm barriers will be opened, but as of 6:25 AM on Monday, many travelers reported that those arm barriers are still in the locked position, preventing any driver from merging onto the 219.

Other travel bans and advisories to be aware of are listed below. 

Travel Advisories:

• West Seneca
• Orchard Park

Travel Bans:

• South Buffalo (South of Williams St.)

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A New York Bill Seeks to Reduce Natural Gas Use. Here’s What to Know.

Legislators and activists are rallying to squeeze the NY HEAT Act into the state budget by the April 1 deadline.

By Hilary Howard

Reporting from Albany, N.Y.

A bill gaining traction in Albany aims to break New Yorkers’ reliance on natural gas in hopes that they will seek out greener alternatives.

Efforts to shoehorn the NY HEAT Act into a packed state budget are underway, with supporters contending that swift action is necessary because of the pressures of climate change and opponents say the proposed law should be set aside and more carefully considered. The deadline to finalize the budget is April 1.

But what does the bill propose, exactly? Here’s what to know.

What would it do?

The NY HEAT (New York Home Energy Affordable Transition) Act seeks to limit a requirement known as the “obligation to serve,” where utilities automatically provide gas to new customers who request it, and to curb the expansion of gas infrastructure.

Gas companies must provide free hookups to new customers within 100 feet of the pipe system. Existing ratepayers subsidize the work.

Getting rid of the so-called 100-foot rule would save ratepayers about $200 million annually and encourage utilities and new customers to explore other energy options.

What’s the goal?

The bill’s broader aim is to accelerate a shift away from natural gas and help limit emissions from the burning of fossil fuels that cause global warming.

“Current law is slanted toward natural gas,” Michael Gerrard, an environmental law professor at Columbia Law School, said. “This new law will level the playing field and take away some of that preference.”

More than half of New York’s greenhouse gases come from buildings and transportation, and in New York City, buildings account for about 70 percent of these emissions .

The Climate Act , signed into law in 2019, requires New York to decrease greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. NY HEAT seeks to contribute to those goals.

“We are in a race against time,” said Liz Krueger, a Democratic senator sponsoring the bill, “not because of the mandates of our legislation, but because of the reality that the world is in crisis and at risk of self-destruction.”

What’s not to like about that?

Those who oppose NY HEAT have raised concerns that the rush to include the bill in the budget could result in future problems with the reliability of energy infrastructure.

“If you remove service to a neighborhood, you’re inevitably going to impact service in surrounding areas, because it’s an interconnected energy system,” said Randy Rucinski, chief regulatory counsel for National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, which provides energy in western New York.

Opponents also fear the proposal will cost jobs in the gas industry without offsetting the losses in the still-emerging green energy sector.

Alternative energy should be “readily available and affordable across the state before proposals like the NY HEAT Act are considered,” said Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO.

One of the bill’s goals is to cap energy bills for customers; although it does not say specifically how this would be accomplished, some opponents argue it could hurt efforts to conserve energy.

“What is your incentive to turn off the lights when you walk out of the room? Or to use energy-efficient lightbulbs and refrigerators?” said Daniel Ortega, executive director of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy , a coalition of business and labor interests.

Because of these concerns, some critics want the bill studied further. “We should have this conversation in an open way in which every single aspect of the energy industry is taken into consideration,” Mr. Ortega said.

What do supporters say?

“The autopilot of gas hookups must stop,” said Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, a Democratic sponsor of NY HEAT who represents Albany and parts of Albany County.

Gas will still be an option, Ms. Fahy added. But the bill does intend to accelerate green development.

One way it will do this is by encouraging entire neighborhoods to shift to renewable energy sources in unison, said Jessica Azulay, executive director of the nonprofit Alliance for a Green Economy.

As people transition away from gas, “the same unions and the same workers that build gas pipes can build water pipes for thermal energy networks to supply people with clean heating and cooling,” Ms. Azulay said.

And the possibility of a cap on energy bills is an enticement for many New Yorkers, said Sonal Jessel, policy director at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a nonprofit group based in Harlem.

NY HEAT will not drive gas companies out of business, Professor Gerrard of Columbia University said. “These are still regulated utilities that are entitled to a rate of return,” he continued.

Where does the bill stand in budget talks?

Last year, the Senate passed NY HEAT but the Assembly did not. This week, the Senate passed it again.

It is up to the Assembly — most members of which now support the bill — and the governor, who has shown interest in parts of it , to reach a consensus on its inclusion in the budget.

If the bill does not become part of the budget, it could still become law, should the Assembly decide to vote on it later this year.

Hilary Howard is a Times reporter covering how the New York City region is adapting to climate change and other environmental challenges. More about Hilary Howard

Politics in the New York Region

Targeting Trans Athletes: A proposed ban on transgender women playing on women’s sports teams  has turned a Long Island county into the latest battleground for conservatives who have put cultural issues at the center of a nationwide political strategy.

Illegal Donations: A Chinese business titan pleaded guilty to federal charges that he made more than $10,000 in straw donor contributions to political candidates  — including, a person familiar with the case said, to a New York congressman and Mayor Eric Adams.

A Cannabis Mess: Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered officials to come up with a fix for the way New York licenses cannabis businesses  amid widespread frustration over the plodding pace of the state’s legal cannabis rollout.

N.Y. Budget: Both of New York’s legislative chambers have announced their budget proposals. They have until April 1 to hash out a spending plan  with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who unveiled her proposal in January .

Covid Deaths: Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was subpoenaed to appear  before a House subcommittee to answer for his administration’s handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, a development that could further damage his chances at a political comeback.

Redistricting: After rejecting a congressional map proposed by the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission  and seizing control of the drawing process, Democrats adopted new district lines  that would improve their chances of winning the House majority in November, but not drastically.