MTA expands contingency bus plan as LIRR strike looms
Union workers could walk off the job as early as Saturday if contract negotiations fail to produce an agreement.
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With just four days remaining before a potential Long Island Rail Road strike, the MTA is broadening its emergency transportation strategy as commuters brace for major disruptions.
Union workers could walk off the job as early as Saturday if contract negotiations fail to produce an agreement. For riders like Oakdale resident Michelle Battista, the uncertainty is already unsettling. “This would really affect me,” she said, noting she relies on the Ronkonkoma branch to get to work.
To prepare for a possible shutdown, the MTA has expanded its shuttle bus contingency plan. Originally designed with five pickup locations across Long Island, the system will now include a sixth site in Bay Shore, offering weekday, peak‑hour buses to subway stations in Queens.
Some commuters, however, doubt the buses will be a reliable substitute. Holbrook resident Jack Hartman said he would likely abandon public transit altogether. “I don’t know that I could count on the timing of the bus and subway and everything else they’re putting in place,” he said. “I’d probably drive.”
Local businesses are also bracing for the fallout. At Bella Pazza Pizzeria near the Babylon station, owner Aldo Gervasi said ongoing construction has already cut into customer traffic. “If they go on strike, that’s a second hit for businesses around here that depend on commuters,” he said.
Negotiators met Monday but failed to reach a deal. MTA officials say they have offered a revised proposal, while union leaders insist progress has been minimal.
The LIRR Commuter Council is urging riders to prepare for the worst. “Start planning now,” said council chairman Gerard Bringmann. “If you’re going to drive in, know where you’re going to park when you get there.”
The two sides are scheduled to meet again Wednesday.
