NJ Transit Strike Threatens to Paralyze Rail Commuting

The NJ Transit Strike may begin on May 16, halting all train operations and leaving over 350,000 daily riders without regular service across the region. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Transit officials have urged commuters to prepare for major disruptions. Emergency plans include expanded bus routes, shuttle services, and ferries, but these will serve only a fraction of current demand.

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NJ Transit Strike Sparks Urgent Contingency Measures

The Port Authority and MTA have added buses at Midtown and ferries in Rockland and Orange. NJ Transit will offer Park & Ride from four locations starting May 19, only during peak weekday hours.

Although a strike is imminent, NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will meet in Washington for final mediation led by the National Mediation Board. Both parties still have an opportunity to avoid the shutdown.

BLET Chairman Tom Haas urged passengers to contact NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri, asking him to settle the contract with engineers before the deadline. Pressure from the public may influence negotiations.

NJ Transit Strike May Overwhelm Limited Alternatives

Only train engineers are involved in the labor dispute. Bus operations remain unaffected due to a separate agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union representing 5,500 workers.

Kolluri emphasized that the ATU deal demonstrates NJ Transit’s readiness to negotiate fair contracts. However, he warned that replacement transport will only serve about 20% of rail commuters.

NJ Transit will cross-honor rail tickets on bus and light rail lines. Light rail and paratransit Access Link will continue regular operations. The agency also plans to boost bus capacity into New York City.

To help affected travelers, the MTA will honor West-of-Hudson tickets and support ferry transfers starting May 12. Metro-North ferries and Hudson Link buses will accept tickets from suspended lines.

The Port Authority advised travelers heading to Newark Liberty Airport to expect delays and use available bus lines. A free NJ Transit shuttle will connect Newark Penn Station to the AirTrain P4 terminal every 20 minutes from May 16.

Officials stress the urgency of creating backup plans. Working remotely is strongly recommended, and full service may not resume until both sides reach a lasting agreement.

Source: gothamist.com

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