BETHESDA-BOUND TRIPPER BUS BREAKS DOWN IN NEW JERSEY

A Tripper Bus traveling from New York City to Bethesda last night broke down en route, according to a passenger.

The intercity bus discharged its passengers at a New Jersey rest stop while awaiting assistance.

"Never again," wrote the disgruntled passenger, who said there were 3 hours to go on the already-delayed trip.

Tripper Bus travels between downtown Bethesda and New York City.

VAMOOSE BUS TO RESTORE BETHESDA - NYC BUS SERVICE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31

Vamoose Bus has announced it will restore bus service between downtown Bethesda and New York City tomorrow.

Which is pretty impressive, given that their route travels directly through and into the states hardest hit by Sandy.  The company says to expect some delays, especially due to closures on the New Jersey Turnpike.

But bus service it is, and a good bargain if you need to get to NYC to visit family after the storm tomorrow, for example.  Great work by Vamoose, and the men and women who have been working around the clock to keep roads open for the rest of us: police, firefighters, road crews, rest stop employees, and many more - thank you!

HURRICANE SANDY WILL HIT MARYLAND, DC TONIGHT - UPDATE, STATS - 23' WAVES IN NJ, SNOW FALLING IN WEST VIRGINIA

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

SANDY UPDATE

Hurricane Sandy is strengthening, and has just begun the northwestern turn that will bring it ashore this evening.  Sandy is likely to hit the New Jersey coast, where waves of 23' have been measured this morning.

By the time that happens  - during the late evening rush hour or later - expect 4-8 inches of rain, and winds of 40-60 MPH throughout.  There is a flash flood warning in effect, as well as a high wind warning.

Plan to stay indoors this evening, and stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for Sandy updates.

Here is the latest data on Sandy:

LOCATION:  385 miles SSE of New York City

WINDS:  85 MPH

MOVING:  NW at 20 MPH

Latest developments:

+Bethesda Circulator service canceled today

+Suburban Hospital ED open; surgeries as scheduled

+17" of rainfall over the Chesapeake Bay as of 7 AM, according to Weather Channel

+Currently snowing in Beckley, Bluefield West Virginia, and in Marion, Virginia

+Coast Guard on rescue mission after ship in path of Sandy radios distress call off Atlantic Coast

+Flood warning for Philadelphia and suburbs

+N end of Atlantic City boardwalk collapsing

+Ocean City, MD fishing pier damaged, in danger of collapse