Cuomo Orders Transit Shut Down Beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday

Update, Oct. 28, 10:21 a.m.: Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered transit officials to wind down subway service starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, according to WNYC.

Bus service will continue until 9 p.m.

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City residents planning to travel Sunday by bus or subway should try to get to their destinations by nightfall, or else stay home. 

That was the advice given by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said transit officials could decide to slowly wind down service starting 7 p.m. Sunday as the first effects of Hurricane Sandy hit the city.

"MTA has a plan to shut down because they can’t take the risk that subway or buses will be damaged," Bloomberg said.

At a press conference at the Office of Emergency Management in Downtown Brooklyn on Saturday, officials said that potential storm surge from Sandy was of greatest concern—particularly in Lower Manhattan where two electrical substations are located.

Con Edison chairman and CEO Kevin Burke said the utility was keeping a close eye on the surge, which could be 4 to 8 feet above average tide on Monday night through Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Bloomberg said the forecast track for Sandy was to hit Maryland or Delaware, which could spare the city from the worst effects of the storm. 

Here are some other highlights from Saturday's conference:

• No mandatory evacuations ordered.

• City to open 65 shelters at 9 a.m. Sunday. They will provide shelter, meals and space for pets.

• Sanitation pickups to proceed as normal on Monday.

• East River ferry landings will close starting Saturday night.

• All events in city parks occurring after 2 p.m. Sunday are cancelled.

• All city parks will close at 5 p.m. Sunday.

• Decision on school closures to be made on Sunday.