New York Ends Gas Rationing

NEW YORK -- Gas rationing in New York City ended at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, reported the Wall Street Journal. More than 85 percent of approximately 800 gas stations within the city's five boroughs are back in service after closing due to power outages and fuel shortages caused by Superstorm Sandy.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg instituted the rationing system, which allowed drivers to fill up on odd-numbered dates if their license plate ended in an odd number, on Nov. 9. Last week, he extended the rationing in order to keep lines at gas stations down as people traveled over the Thanksgiving weekend.

"The odd-even license plate system not only significantly reduced extreme lines, but also eased anxiety and disruptions for drivers at gas stations across the five boroughs," Bloomberg said in a statement.

Only 25 percent of gas stations within city limits were operating when the rationing system went into effect, according to the report.

Fuel restrictions were also placed on Long Island drivers in Nassau and Suffolk counties at the same time, but officials there had already ended rationing.