PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — Philadelphia’s transit agency has announced that it will suspend all services at the end of Sunday’s service schedule due to the approaching storm.

SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said, “We will be suspending all service effective the end of today’s schedule. This will be approximately 12:30 a.m. This will include all services in the city, the buses trains and trolleys. The only exception will be our CCT paratransit service, which will be available for reserved dialysis patients only, as long as safe operations are possible.”

The shutdown includes all of SEPTA’s modes of travel, including the Broad Street and Market-Frankford subway lines, regional rail, the city and suburban bus and trolley routes, and the Norristown high-speed line.

Maloney says making the decision now allows workers to prepare.

“This is a huge impact on a million daily riders and we are fully aware of that,” said Maloney. “One of our concerns is for critical workers (at hospitals). Our recommendation for them is to come in for their workday tomorrow, to come in this afternoon.”

Maloney says it was not an easy decision. “We thought long and hard and went through all of the weather forecasts in fine detail, and see no way we’re going to avoid it. This storm is going to be not only intense, but prolonged.”

Officials expect all service to remain suspended through Monday and will resume service as soon as conditions allow.

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