Gov. Chris Christie's office has announced that preparations have begun to potentially shut down NJ TRANSIT rail, light rail and bus service as of Monday, in advance of Hurricane Sandy.

According to a press release from the governor's office, shutting down NJ TRANSIT services will take at least 12 hours. During the shutdown, all buses and trains will be moved out of areas at risk of flooding.

The shutdown is precautionary, and it is still unsure how long service will be suspended for, the release said.

NJ TRANSIT will cross-honor all rail, bus and light rail tickets starting at 12 a.m. Monday continuing through 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Customers with NJ TRANSIT tickets will be able to use those tickets for other forms of transportation to get to their destination, including PATH, PATCO and private bus carriers. Depending on the severity of the storm, the cross-honoring time frame could be extended, if necessary, the release said.

According to the press release, a complete shutdown of NJ TRANSIT service for 36 hours was put into place last year during Hurricane Irene, which prevented any employee or customer injuries and enabled the transportation agency to restart service without any equipment losses.

NJ TRANSIT has reported taking the following steps to prepare for Hurricane Sandy:

Rail and Light Rail Operations

• NJ TRANSIT’s maintenance forces continue inspecting culverts, drainage pipes and rights-of-way to ensure they are clear of blockages that could exacerbate flooding and disrupt service.
• NJ TRANSIT rail and light rail crews and equipment are on standby to respond to downed trees, wires and flooding.

Bus and Access Link Operations

• NJ TRANSIT Bus and Access Link maintenance and support staff will be on standby 24/7 to respond where needed.

Customer Service

• Customer Service Field Offices will extend their hours of operations if necessary.
• The Transit Information Office (TIC) – NJ TRANSIT’s call center, is also prepared to extend its hours if necessary.

TRAVEL ADVICE

• For the latest travel information, customers should listen to broadcast traffic reports, visit njtransit.com or access our Twitter feed at @NJ_TRANSIT prior to starting your trip. 
• In the event of service delays or adjustments, including the suspension of service, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone, PDA or pager.  (If you are not yet a My Transit subscriber, we encourage you to sign up at www.njtransit.com/mytransit)  Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555.   
• Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
• Build additional travel time into your trip to a station, terminal or bus stop.
• Stairs, floors and platforms can be slippery, so please use caution when walking along wet surfaces or any outdoor surface exposed to the weather. Use extra care when boarding or exiting buses and trains.
• Report slippery or unsafe conditions to bus operators, train crews or to NJ TRANSIT staff.