With the Long Island Rail Road’s first strike in over 30 years looming, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority released its plan for commuters if train service is indeed forced to stop.
The MTA said Thursday nearly 300,000 regular LIRR riders should work from home, if possible, but limited bus service would make connections with the New York City subway in the event of a strike.
Five unions representing more than 3,700 LIRR workers, including engineers and ticket workers, could go on strike as soon as September 18. They are demanding a pay raise to keep up with the cost of living, but the MTA argues they are already the highest paid railroad workforce in America, earning an average of $160,000 per year with overtime.
Commuter alternatives in case of LIRR strike
If the unions authorize a strike, the MTA says buses will run every 10 minutes between three LIRR stations and the subway in Queens during peak hours, Manhattan-bound from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Long Island-bound from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, for essential workers and those who cannot work remotely.
The buses would run from:
- Bellmore Station (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport (A)
- Hicksville Station (LIRR) to Mets-Willets Point (7)
- Ronkonkoma Station (LIRR) to Mets-Willets Point (7)
“We have to prepare for the worst, which is why we are rolling out a plan for limited shuttle bus service,” MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara said.
Nassau County commuters should use Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) buses to reach the subway at Flushing-Main Street on the 7 line or the Jamaica Bus Terminal, according to the MTA.
“The biggest thing is going to be the uncertainty, because whether you drive or you’re going to take this bus service to the subways, you can’t time anything and everybody is on a schedule,” Gerard Bringmann, a member of the LIRR Commuter Council, said.
The MTA also recommended these subway stations as alternatives for commuter drop-offs, but noted parking is not available.
- Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue (A)
- Kew Gardens Union Turnpike (E)(F)
- Mets-Willets Point (7)
- Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard (A)
- Parsons Boulevard (F)
- Sheepshead Bay (B)/(Q)
- Woodhaven Boulevard (J)
In the event of a strike, riders would be issued prorated refunds on September monthly tickets, pending MTA Board approval, the agency said.
Hochul does not say if she’ll ask White House to intervene
Farmingdale Village’s mayor is among those most nervous about the potential strike’s impact. Farmingdale Station is the closest to Bethpage Black, which is hosting the Ryder Cup in two weeks.
“We are going to have close to 25,000 a day using our train station,” Mayor Ralph Eksrand said.
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images 
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is working to prevent the strike, but would not say if she is seeking help from the Trump administration, which could delay the potential work stoppage for several months.
Hochul previously blamed President Trump for ending negotiations too early between the MTA and LIRR unions.
“I want the conversations to occur in a meaningful and productive way because we have over 300,000 people who rely on this system of transportation. But if the worst scenario occurs, I want this entire community to know that this was initiated by the Trump White House,” the governor said on Wednesday.
The unions plan to announce the result of their ballots on Monday, which could leave just three days to avert a strike.
“Nearly three-quarters of the unions have already reached a deal with the MTA. The 25% or so that’s still holding out, put the commuters first,” Long Island State Sen. Steven Rhoads said.
For more information about the MTA’s LIRR strike plan, click here.
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