Long Island Rail Road Strike Prompts Alternative Travel Arrangements

With Long Island Rail Road service halted due to a workers’ strike, New York transit authorities have organized alternative travel solutions for commuters unable to work from home. However, officials have cautioned that the contingency plan will not accommodate all the passengers dependent on the railroad.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (M.T.A.) is offering complimentary shuttle bus services starting Monday morning. Buses will operate from six locations on Long Island to two subway stations in Queens. During the evening rush, buses will also run in the opposite direction.

“Don’t let the bosses bully you into undermining your friends and neighbors working on the railroad,” John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union, stated.

Buses from Bay Shore, Hicksville, and Mineola L.I.R.R. stations, along with Hempstead Lake State Park near the Lakeview station, will shuttle commuters to the A train at Howard Beach-JFK Airport. Meanwhile, buses from Huntington and Ronkonkoma will transport riders to the F train at Jamaica-179 Street.

The buses heading to Queens are scheduled to run every 10 minutes from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Afternoon shuttles returning to Long Island will operate from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Limited services are available in the non-peak direction from Suffolk County stations.

For those in Nassau County, the regular Nassau County bus service, known as NICE, will transport passengers to the No. 7 train in Flushing or the Jamaica Bus Terminal for the F train. However, there is uncertainty about the cooperation of NICE bus drivers, who are forbidden from striking but might refuse overtime work.

Starting Monday, parking at Citi Field in Queens is available for $6, enabling access to the No. 7 train at Mets-Willets Point. Despite these efforts, gaps remain across the railroad’s 126 stations. The shuttle buses can accommodate approximately 13,000 riders in each direction, while the railroad usually serves over 270,000 riders daily.

The M.T.A. has advised that shuttle services should prioritize workers with no alternate means of travel. Many commuters are expected to drive or be dropped off at subway stations in Queens and Brooklyn, though additional parking will not be provided at these locations. Officials have warned that the rail service suspension might increase traffic congestion on the Long Island Expressway and the Northern State and Southern State Parkways.

Refunds will be issued to commuters holding monthly rail passes for the days without train service.

Stefanos Chen, a Times reporter, covers New York City’s transit system.