NYC Daily: Blizzard cleanup, transit updates, trash delays, and a Washington Square Park investigation
New York, NY – February 24, 2026 – Post-blizzard recovery continues: schools reopen, transit delays linger, and trash pickup/parking shifts.
Top local headlines
- Schools reopened Tuesday as the city moved from a travel ban to a hazardous-travel advisory.
- Subway and commuter-rail service came back unevenly, with lingering delays and partial restorations.
- Trash pickup and recycling schedules shifted as plows and salt trucks stayed the top priority.
- Police investigated a Washington Square Park snowball incident that sent officers to the hospital.
Storm recovery: roads, schools, and city services
After the region’s major blizzard, city leaders ended the travel ban at midday Monday, February 23, while keeping a hazardous-travel advisory in place into the night. New York City public schools returned to in-person instruction today, Tuesday, February 24, following a rare ‘old-school’ snow day.
Transit: improving, but expect delays
Transit crews continued clearing switches, outdoor tracks, and bus routes, and riders were urged to check real-time service status before leaving. The Long Island Rail Road restarted limited service on several branches Tuesday morning, with additional restoration expected as trains are de-iced and track debris is cleared.
Sanitation: trash first, recycling later
With snow operations still dominating staffing and equipment, regular collection was disrupted. The city said collection would resume on Wednesday evening (February 25), prioritizing trash and compost. Recycling pickup is expected to restart next week, with normal schedules projected to be back by Monday, March 2.
Washington Square Park: investigation continues
Police said several officers were treated after being struck by snowballs during a large gathering in Washington Square Park. Officials asked the public to help identify people seen in viral videos, and urged New Yorkers to keep winter celebrations from turning dangerous.
Sources
https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/02/transcript–mayor-mamdani-announces-lift-of-travel-ban–nyc-publ.html
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2026/02/23/city-public-schools-to-reopen-tuesday–over-some-objections
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2026/02/23/mta-keeps-trains-and-buses-running-amid-blizzard
https://abc7ny.com/18643060/
https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/nyc-trash-collection-delayed-after-snowstorm-alternate-side-parking-suspended
https://apnews.com/article/f10453245ed0b9eeda41f66b5ce2e928
