Ian's effects on transportation: the latest on PBIA flights, Brightline, Tri-Rail, Palm Tran

Stephany Matat, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read

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Hurricane Ian live updates Wednesday: With 155-mph winds, eyewall moving onshore

Hurricane tracker: Where is Ian headed?

Hurricane Ian: What Palm Beach County residents need to know Wednesday

Palm Beach County transportation entities shifted gears to shut down or reduce  services while the county feels the outer bands of Hurricane Ian.

Brightline announced a limited schedule with 12 departures for Wednesday and the closure of the Boca Raton railroad crossing. You can see the schedule by clicking here.

Essential guest services are open, but no baggage service or onboard service will be open until the storm has passed.

For Thursday, Brightline spokesperson Vanessa Alfonso said the rail line will have a modified schedule with its first southbound departure from West Palm Beach at 6:48 a.m. and its first northbound departure from Miami at 7:48 a.m.

Tri-Rail is still operating normally on Wednesday. For and Thursday, the commuter rail service has not made adjustments to the service schedule. The commuter rail line is encouraging passengers to verify bus service, like Palm Tran, to reach their ultimate destination.

Tri-Rail spokesperson Victor Garcia said the company is still monitoring operations for Tri-Rail and that its stations have crews ready in case of any malfunctions or operational issues. So far, there have been no obstructions or problems in its routes.

Palm Tran shut down operations on Wednesday and says it will not operate on Thursday, according to Joseph Harrington, a company spokesperson.

Joe Barker (far right) manages to book a flight to Atlanta at the Palm Beach International Airport Wednesday September 28, 2022. Barker said, "My flight has been canceled 3 or 4 times this morning. I'm heading to California."
Joe Barker (far right) manages to book a flight to Atlanta at the Palm Beach International Airport Wednesday September 28, 2022. Barker said, "My flight has been canceled 3 or 4 times this morning. I'm heading to California."

Palm Beach International Airport encourages passengers to keep track of their flight status with their airlines. FlightAware has reported 41 cancellations and seven delays at the airport as of Wednesday afternoon.

The airport has not responded for comment on operations for Thursday.

A fair amount of flights have been cancelled or delayed at the Palm Beach International Airport as hurricane Ian makes its way north along the west coast of Florida Wednesday September 28, 2022.
A fair amount of flights have been cancelled or delayed at the Palm Beach International Airport as hurricane Ian makes its way north along the west coast of Florida Wednesday September 28, 2022.

Hurricane Ian: What is open, closed Wednesday in Palm Beach County

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The Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Turnpike Enterprise announced Wednesday morning that SunPass walk-in centers or call centers, including the call center in Boca Raton, would be closed Wednesday. There are centers open in Miami, Doral, Milton and Niceville.

The centers offer guidance to Sunpass holders who are evacuating to other states, like Georgia and North Carolina, who have not suspended tolls. Residents may call SunPass for issues such as if the reader doesn’t catch the device due to rain or if a resident is driving with a different car than what’s registered.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane Ian: Palm Beach County airport, transportation updates