New Jersey Transit has warned riders to reach their destinations by the end of Thursday or risk being stranded, as negotiations continue to avoid a rail strike by train engineers that could disrupt the commute of approximately 350,000 people traveling between New Jersey and New York City.
The advisory outlined contingency plans that would take effect if engineers walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Friday. NJ Transit intends to increase bus service, adding limited capacity to New York commuter routes near rail stations and contracting with private carriers to provide service from regional park-and-ride locations during peak hours. However, the agency cautioned that the buses would only accommodate about 20% of the usual rail ridership and advised those who can work from home to do so if a strike occurs.
As the nation’s third-largest transit system, NJ Transit operates buses and trains, providing nearly 1 million weekday trips, including into New York City. A strike would bring an immediate halt to all NJ Transit commuter trains, impacting key routes between New York City’s Penn Station and communities in northern New Jersey, as well as service to Newark airport, which has already faced delays due to other issues.
The primary issue in the ongoing labor dispute is wages. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union claims its members earn an average of $113,000 annually and would reach an agreement if agency CEO Kris Kolluri agrees to raise the average salary to $170,000. However, NJ Transit leadership disputes this figure, stating that the engineers’ average total earnings are $135,000 a year, with some top earners making over $200,000.
If the strike proceeds, it would be the first transit strike in New Jersey in over four decades. This comes after union members overwhelmingly rejected a labor agreement last month. Both parties met with a federal mediation board earlier this week, but no updates have been provided on the status of negotiations.