N.Y./N.J.: Gasoline Runs Short, Adding Woes to Storm Recovery

[Alps]

Also please note that the New Jersey Turnpike prohibits carrying gasoline and flammable liquids in containers inside cars on their highway. You can not fill gas cans at the NJTP service areas as a result. They were doing it earlier in the week and the NJSP were ticketing those people leaving the service areas. Nice way to deal with an emergency situation guys.

If I lived in New Jersey, that would be worth a phone call or e-mail to Gov. Christie. 

I actually agree with the rule forbidding transport of fuel in cans inside vehicles on roads functionally classified as freeway, but I think that its enforcement ought to be suspended during this emergency.

Or at the very least, have the police officer AT THE STATION telling people they can't fill them. It's a cheap move.

[Duke87]

I wonder what effect, if any, New Jersey's full-service only law has on the situation there. Any instance of a lack of attendants making lines move more slowly? I know that under normal circumstances stations on the Turnpike have this as a perpetual problem.

What happens in New Jersey when you go to fill a gas can? Do you have to hand the can to the attendant? Presumably they should in that case be telling customers on the turnpike that they can't fill the cans there.
(though I don't particularly see the logic in that ban. Is a gas can on the freeway really that dangerous? Moreso than a gas can on a surface street?)

[Interstatefan78]

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/License_plate_gas_restrictions_take_effect_Saturday_at_noon.html?page=all

You are right about this even Warren County follows the License plate restriction, but in some cases odd numbered plates can go up to a gas station that is currently filling up even plated cars if they are lucky to be filled up with gas.

[NJRoadfan]

What happens in New Jersey when you go to fill a gas can? Do you have to hand the can to the attendant?

You just place the gas cans on the ground and tell them to fill it. To speed filling, you can take off the spout and replace it afterwards.

[mc78andrew]

Gov Christie said at his news conf this afternoon that he turned down the free gas offer from FEMA.  He said it would cause chaos and wanted the gas directed to fueling stations. 

[signalman]

One thing is for sure...If am required to have a hurricane deductible on my home (which i thought was crazy when i moved here over the summer but now I totally get), then all gas stations should be required to have generators so when this happens again we are more prepared.  I know that will raise the cost for signalman's station, but i would be willing to pay a few cents more knowing fuel shortages are less likely in a natural disaster.  That's just me though.   

It sounds like a good idea on paper, but it's far more complex than most realize.  There's more than just the submersible pumps in the tanks and the pumps that dispense fuel.  There is a lot of computer equipment that also needs to be powered and can't be circumvented.  Power loss hasn't been an issue at my station either.  We've had electricity the whole time.  My problem right now is securing deliveries in a timely fashion.  Deliveries are sporadic at best and tanker drivers are waiting in very long lines at terminals.  My last two deliveries came from a terminal in Connecticut, so not only did the driver wait in a long line to get the fuel.  But once he loaded, he had a nearly 3 hour trek to deliver it to my station.  Also, I don't own the station that I work at, I only manage it and thus don't have a say in things that are implemented.  My best advice to the consumer is to curtail usage until things improve.  I know Americans don't like being told what to do or have their normal habits altered, but we all have to share in this crisis.  Things will improve, but it won't be overnight.

[1995hoo]

Hopefully prior to future storms the media might remember to include "fill your gas tank" among their panicked announcements reminding people what to do prior to a big storm. The media here in the DC area were obsessed with water and groceries. Barely heard a mention of gas or using the ATM. People forget that the gas pumps and ATMs require electricity.

Thankfully, we were very fortunate to come through unscathed.

[empirestate]

Hopefully prior to future storms the media might remember to include "fill your gas tank" among their panicked announcements reminding people what to do prior to a big storm. The media here in the DC area were obsessed with water and groceries. Barely heard a mention of gas or using the ATM. People forget that the gas pumps and ATMs require electricity.

They did remember to mention it around here, or at least on the Weather Channel. I filled up less because I'd need to go anywhere, but so that I'd be able to listen to the radio or charge my devices if power went out. In other words, to use the car as a generator.

But the problem comes for people who have to consume fuel as part of their work or commute. Taxis are a huge part of the clientele of any NYC gas station; on a typical day, they're all you see at the pump. After the storm, of course, they were extra taxed with no transit running. Also, people such as the police were also running dry of fuel.

Lots of commuters have been missing work, though the reason isn't always clear to me. One MTA employee I saw on TV said he'd spent two nights in his car in a gas line and was facing two days missed at work because he had no fuel. Now, why he couldn't take transit himself is a mystery to me. I mean, I know that's extra difficult lately, but surely less difficult than spending two nights in your car and missing work twice!

[1995hoo]

Hopefully prior to future storms the media might remember to include "fill your gas tank" among their panicked announcements reminding people what to do prior to a big storm. The media here in the DC area were obsessed with water and groceries. Barely heard a mention of gas or using the ATM. People forget that the gas pumps and ATMs require electricity.

They did remember to mention it around here, or at least on the Weather Channel. I filled up less because I'd need to go anywhere, but so that I'd be able to listen to the radio or charge my devices if power went out. In other words, to use the car as a generator.

....

I had thought about that idea but then realized I didn't need to use the car in that respect because my portable jumpstarter has two cigarette lighter plugs on the front, so I can just plug the phone car charger into that thing. Useful device to have (I mostly use it to jumpstart one of the cars that doesn't get driven often enough).

[jeffandnicole]

Also please note that the New Jersey Turnpike prohibits carrying gasoline and flammable liquids in containers inside cars on their highway. You can not fill gas cans at the NJTP service areas as a result. They were doing it earlier in the week and the NJSP were ticketing those people leaving the service areas. Nice way to deal with an emergency situation guys.

Can you please quote a reliable source stating this actually happened?  I seriously doubt the accuracy of this because even the NJ Turnpike's webpage status update regarding gasoline availability ( http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/service_status.html )specifically mentions the following:

"The sale of gasoline in containers has not been restricted by the Governor's executive order, but the Turnpike Authority will suspend container sales to walk-up customers in certain service areas when they pose a threat to safety."

And:

"Drivers should not park on the shoulders of the Turnpike or Parkway and attempt to walk to the fuel pumps. Cars left on the shoulders are subject to ticketing and towing."

I can understand a driver getting a ticket...but that was for the improper parking of a vehicle on the shoulder of the roadway, not because they got gas in a container. 

[Duke87]

Lots of commuters have been missing work, though the reason isn't always clear to me. One MTA employee I saw on TV said he'd spent two nights in his car in a gas line and was facing two days missed at work because he had no fuel. Now, why he couldn't take transit himself is a mystery to me. I mean, I know that's extra difficult lately, but surely less difficult than spending two nights in your car and missing work twice!

Just because he works for a transit agency doesn't mean he lives somewhere where there is transit service.

And then there's the crowds. With NJ Transit barely running and PATH out of commission, it simply isn't possible for all the commuters from New Jersey to get into the city right now.

[NJRoadfan]

Can you please quote a reliable source stating this actually happened?  I seriously doubt the accuracy of this because even the NJ Turnpike's webpage status update regarding gasoline availability ( http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/service_status.html )specifically mentions the following:

"The sale of gasoline in containers has not been restricted by the Governor's executive order, but the Turnpike Authority will suspend container sales to walk-up customers in certain service areas when they pose a threat to safety."

Its clearly written in the NJTP Rules and Regulations (towards the bottom of page 13): http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/regulationsunofficialversionforWebsite.pdf

The ticketing incident was reported on NJ101.5.

[empirestate]

Lots of commuters have been missing work, though the reason isn't always clear to me. One MTA employee I saw on TV said he'd spent two nights in his car in a gas line and was facing two days missed at work because he had no fuel. Now, why he couldn't take transit himself is a mystery to me. I mean, I know that's extra difficult lately, but surely less difficult than spending two nights in your car and missing work twice!

Just because he works for a transit agency doesn't mean he lives somewhere where there is transit service.

Quite true, but they mentioned his neighborhood in Queens, where there most certainly is.

And then there's the crowds. With NJ Transit barely running and PATH out of commission, it simply isn't possible for all the commuters from New Jersey to get into the city right now.

Crowds I understand. But I doubt that even a multi-hour delay would be less preferable to a multi-day gas line! (Of course, this is the local news. It wouldn't be surprising if something pertinent were missing from this story.)

[jeffandnicole]

Can you please quote a reliable source stating this actually happened?  I seriously doubt the accuracy of this because even the NJ Turnpike's webpage status update regarding gasoline availability ( http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/service_status.html )specifically mentions the following:

"The sale of gasoline in containers has not been restricted by the Governor's executive order, but the Turnpike Authority will suspend container sales to walk-up customers in certain service areas when they pose a threat to safety."

Its clearly written in the NJTP Rules and Regulations (towards the bottom of page 13): http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/regulationsunofficialversionforWebsite.pdf

The ticketing incident was reported on NJ101.5.

I know it's written in the regs...but so is the speed limit, which is hardly adhered to as well.  But the much more recent press release clearly shows that fueling gas containers is being allowed for the time being.

If the source is 101.5, then you might as well say you heard it from a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend, which in many cases passes as news on that radio station.  For what it's worth, I found nothing on their website regarding that story.

[mc78andrew]

My company, which is located in purchase ny in westchester county, hired a fuel truck to come to our office everyday.  We have a lot of commuters from Long Island, NYC and New Jersey that commute up to 100 miles a day round trip.  People were starting to leave work durning the day and wait for hours in lines or they were just getting home very late after waiting in lines near their homes.  It has been driving people nuts. 

They are charging 3.64 a gallon, which is a bargin around here.  It's regular only though, so fuel snobs requiring only premium gas have to go and wait with the masses. 

[Duke87]

NYC and Long Island are joining the alternate day policy. Westchester is not involved in the plan and Connecticut remains seemingly unaffected by this whole drama.

[NJRoadfan]

Here in NJ, the lines are mostly gone as just about every station is open now. Locally, the problems have caused prices to go up, but 10 miles away gas prices are 50 cents a gallon cheaper! Prices should hopefully stabilize next week with supply.

[empirestate]

NYC and Long Island are joining the alternate day policy. Westchester is not involved in the plan and Connecticut remains seemingly unaffected by this whole drama.

One Mobil station near me (Bronx) just started selling again and immediately had a line...not epic like you see on TV, but notable. With the rationing now, you can expect to see lines shift about a mile to the north in non-rationed Yonkers.

I'm still holding onto my tank of gas from pre-Sandy, which I got at the Gulf station on I-87. Surprisingly, it has among the better prices in the area, if you pay cash. I'm going up to Waterbury this weekend, so obviously I'll take Metro North. But I would have done that anyway, just 'cause.

[SteveG1988]

It was declared over in NJ this morning.

[mtantillo]

Over in LI and NYC too (LI as of last week, not sure when for NYC). 

[empirestate]

Over in LI and NYC too (LI as of last week, not sure when for NYC). 

Yesterday, 11/24 I believe. Heard it on the radio on my way into town.