Commuters wait to buy Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) tickets at New York's Pennsylvania Station, the nation's busiest train hub, which will be closing tracks for repairs causing massive disruptions to commuters, in New York City, U.S., July 9, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
(Long Island, New York) – Long Island Rail Road riders could be facing a major travel nightmare this weekend if the MTA and several rail unions fail to reach a last-minute contract deal.
A strike could begin just after midnight Saturday, and the MTA is warning riders that if workers walk off the job, LIRR service may stop completely.
The dispute is centered on pay. The two sides have already agreed on retroactive raises covering the last three years, but the final year of the contract remains the sticking point. Union leaders want a 5% wage increase. The MTA is offering a smaller base raise with added lump-sum payments, which the unions argue does not go far enough.
The MTA says the gap is small enough to settle, but the clock is running out. If there is no deal, about 300,000 regular weekday riders could be forced to find another way into the city.
Transit officials are preparing shuttle buses, but they admit the plan will not replace full LIRR service. The buses would only run during peak commuting hours and would connect some Long Island stations to subway stops in Queens.
Riders from Ronkonkoma and Huntington would be directed toward shuttle service into Queens, where they could connect to subway lines into Manhattan. Other buses would run from places like Bay Shore, Hicksville, Mineola and Hempstead Lake State Park toward subway access near Howard Beach.
Nassau County riders may also need to rely on NICE buses, subway connections, carpooling or drop-off points near major Queens subway stations.
The MTA is urging anyone who can work from home to do so, warning that roads, buses and subway transfer points could become heavily congested if the strike goes forward.
For Long Island commuters, the message is simple: have a backup plan ready before Saturday.
