De Blasio: Primary Roads 'In Good Shape'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Yorkers are digging out once again after getting another hit of Old Man Winter.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday for most of the Tri-State area as a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain is expected to fall throughout the day.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that plows and salt spreaders have been out in force since snow began to fall.
He said the city's primary roads are now "in good shape,'' but he's still urging people to stay off the streets.
He cautioned at a midday news conference Wednesday that it is still very icy.
Wintry Mix Of Snow, Freezing Rains Hits New York
Sanitation Commissioner John Dohery said there is still a lot of work to be done.
"The black ice is something that we all have to be aware of and the drivers have to be very careful and even people out walking have to be very careful about how they get around the city," Dohery said Wednesday morning. "People have to be aware, even though the roadway looks like it's down to all blacktop, there may be some icing there."
The New York City Office of Emergency Management issued a hazardous travel advisory for Wednesday, and de Blasio is urging commuters to use mass transit.
Alternate side parking regulations are suspended through Thursday because of the weather, but drivers still have to pay parking meters.
As 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported, walking around in Manhattan was just as difficult as driving.
Jessica was spotted walking in the road on East 17th Street.
"It's easier," she said. "It's back and forth. I'm like in the street, on the sidewalk ... wherever it's clean."
Lisa told D'Auria that it was important to look down when crossing streets at slushy corners.
"It's bad for the little boys and girls. They're going to school," she said. "And old peoples."
De Blasio: Primary Roads 'In Good Shape'
Doherty also said because of the relentless weather, there's a shortage of salt around the Northeast. But he said the city is making preparations to handle whatever comes our way.
"We have sufficient salt for this storm, and I believe we're definitely going to have sufficient salt if we get something over the weekend," said Doherty. "We're starting to look beyond that. We don't want to just look ahead one or two storms; we have to look beyond that, and we're working furiously with the state and even the federal government to see where there is salt available for New York City."
Wintry Mix Of Snow, Freezing Rains Hits New York
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed the Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority to send surplus salt supplies from state stockpiles to New York City and Long Island localities in need.
De Blasio also praised New York City's resilience.
"Nobody likes days like today," de Blasio told reporters, including WCBS 880's Rich Lamb. "But nobody handles days like today better than New Yorkers. So we're going to keep taking the good and the bad and keep moving forward together."
De Blasio: Primary Roads 'In Good Shape'
Con Edison, meanwhile, warned New Yorkers that the wintry weather could lead to power outages.
The utility said snow and ice can bring trees and limbs down onto power lines, causing outages. It also reminded residents to stay away from any downed lines.
"Be aware that if a branch does snap and hit a power line, contact us immediately or your local police department," Con Ed spokesman Sidney Alvarez said.
Outages and downed lines can be reported at Con Ed's website or at 800-75-CONED.
New York City public schools remained open, but school officials said all field trips were canceled Wednesday due to the wintry weather.
Families with busing questions can call the Office of Pupil Transportation at 718-392-8855.
Catholic elementary schools in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island were closed Wednesday, the Archdiocese of New York said.
Catholic schools in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange counties followed their local public school districts decision regarding school closings or delayed openings.
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