New York City has put gas rationing into effect to try to simplify the gas shortage crisis since Hurricane Sandy made its way through the area. An odd-even license plate system went into effect as of 6 a.m. on Friday for NYC and Long Island.
On Thursday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that NYC would adopt New Jersey's system of gas rationing in hopes that the gas shortage problem will become less hectic.
According to the new rule, license plates ending in odd numbers or letters can buy gas on odd days, such as Nov. 9. License plates ending in even numbers or zero can purchase gas on even days, such as Nov. 10. Emergency vehicles, commercial vehicles, medical doctor vehicles, taxis, and buses are exempt from the rule.
"Last week's storm hit the fuel network hard - and knocked out critical infrastructure needed to distribute gasoline," said Mayor Bloomberg in a conference. "Even as the region's petroleum infrastructure slowly returns to normal, the gasoline supply remains a real problem for thousands of New York drivers. Earlier today, I signed an emergency order to alternate the days that drivers can purchase gas, which is the best way to cut down the lines and help customers buy gas faster."
Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage to gas distributors throughout the region. Due to flooding and power outages, refineries had to shut down and many gas stations were closed. The Buckeye pipeline, a major pipeline that served NYC gas been restored and the city is working to increase the supply of gas throughout the area. The gas rationing system will hopefully speed up the process.
Thousands of New Yorkers were left waiting on gas lines for several hours. Many are trying to fill up their vehicles, some are trying to fill up canisters for generators and some were simply trying to hoard the gas as panic ensued throughout the area. The NYPD had to monitor gas stations around the city as fights were breaking out.
According to the mayor's office, only 25 percent of the city's 800 gas stations are functioning.
Hurricane Sandy caused significant flooding and damage to petroleum infrastructure throughout the tri-state region - causing refineries to shutdown, pumping stations to lose electricity and terminals in the region to close. Since then, the majority of the region's pipeline and critical infrastructure has been restored and power has returned to Buckeye pipeline, a major interstate pipeline that serves New York City.The gas rationing rule will continue until further notice and could last for weeks.
"It now appears there will be shortages for possibly another couple weeks," Bloomberg said, later adding, "If you think about it, it's not any great imposition once you get used to it."
Bloomberg got the idea to ration gas from New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie. The move has proven to be successful in the state.
"I've driven around the state the last two days and I've barely seen any fuel lines any more. There's order, there's plenty of gas," Governor Christie said, according to the NY Times.
However, Bloomberg can't guarantee that this system will be as successful in NYC.
There's no guarantee the odd/even is going to make a big difference," the mayor said WOR-AM's "The John Gambling Show" on Friday, according to the Daily News.
"It's certainly not going to make for more gas. What it will do is to make half the days you won't have to stand in line. And in New Jersey there's some evidence ... that the lines were shorter."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
