NJ Transit Strike Contingency Plan: What Commuters Need to Know

NJ Transit Strike Preparedness

• ⚠️ NJ Transit has a contingency plan in case of a potential strike on Friday, which could affect approximately 350,000 commuters.
• 🗓️ The contingency plan is set to begin on Monday, May 19th, but officials anticipate it will only accommodate about 20% of the 100,000 daily rail riders.

Alternative Transportation Options

• 🚆 Amtrak is an alternative for NJ Transit rail riders, though commuters note it is more expensive and likely to be very crowded.
• 🚌 The agency plans to increase the number of buses, offer cross-on-rail tickets, and add four new park and ride locations.
• 🚗 Many commuters are considering driving or taking a bus as their primary alternative.

Impact on Commuters and Past Strikes

• 📈 Commuters express concern about potential crowding and disruptions if the PATH train experiences issues.
• 💥 The last NJ Transit engineers' strike occurred in 1983, which also impacted bus drivers in the same union, leading them to refuse crossing picket lines.

Private Sector Support

• 🚐 Boxcar, a service partnering with motor coach operators, is increasing its bus capacity to accommodate suburban riders heading to Manhattan.
• 📊 Boxcar has doubled the size of its Bergen Bullet route and is adding thousands of extra seats to its Friday and Monday schedules, with further announcements expected.

Additional Resources

• 🌐 CBS New York is providing comprehensive coverage on its website, including alternate routes, contingency plans, and potential effects on Metro North commuters.