NJ Transit locomotive engineers walked off the job simply after midnight Friday, as a piece stoppage delivered to a halt a rail service utilized by 350,000 commuters.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union and NJ Transit representatives had been nonetheless assembly by means of Friday night in negotiations hoping to achieve an settlement previous to a possible strike, however no such deal might be reached. At 12:01 a.m., the union went on strike, and all rail service for NJ Transit was suspended.
Considerations over a potential strike had already led to NJ Transit saying it won’t present any rail or bus service to followers heading to the Shakira concert events Thursday and Friday nights at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, main concertgoers to hunt alternative routes to get to the occasion.
So what does this imply for riders? Listed here are solutions to some questions:
When did the NJ Transit strike begin?
After an settlement was not reached for a deal between locomotive engineers and NJ Transit, the strike started at 12:01 a.m. Friday. The impression was felt rapidly, as NJ Transit service ended forward of the Friday morning commute and any weekend journey. (Whereas the strike meant all trains scheduled to begin their runs after midnight wouldn’t run, those who had been already en path to their locations did end their journeys.)
350,000 passengers will probably be impacted by the strike, which might halt NJ Transit rail service and Metro-North service west of Hudson service.
For days, NJ Transit had been telling commuters to earn a living from home if potential with a purpose to restrict journey to “essential” journey.
“NJ TRANSIT strongly encourages all those who can work from home to do so and limit traveling on the NJ TRANSIT system to essential purposes only,” the company stated on its rail stoppage advisory web page within the leadup to the strike.
Are NJ Transit buses operating?
Sure, NJ Transit buses are nonetheless operating — although many traces can anticipate extra crowded circumstances than regular.
NJ Transit is planning so as to add extra buses to routes beginning Monday morning, together with Park & Trip Providers on weekdays throughout the morning and night rush from the next places:
Secaucus Junction to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
PNC Financial institution Arts Heart, Holmdel to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York (Operated by Academy Bus)
Clients ought to go to academybus.com for ticket buy info
Word: NJ TRANSIT tickets, together with Month-to-month Passes, won’t be accepted on Academy buses.
Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH
Woodbridge Heart Mall to Harrison PATH Station
The company says it might add “limited added capacity” to present routes to and from NYC to “enhance peak period service.” These routes embody:
Northeast Hall: 108, 112, 115 and 129 bus routes
North Jersey Coast Line: 116 and 133/135 bus routes
Raritan Valley Line: 112 and 113 bus routes
Morris & Essex Strains: 107 bus route
Montclair-Boonton Strains: 193 and 324 bus routes
Fundamental/Bergen County Strains: 145, 163, 164 and 190 bus routes
Pascack Valley Line: 163, 164 and 165 bus routes
Full particulars can be found at NJ Transit’s web site.
The Port Authority is warning commuters to anticipated crowded circumstances throughout rush hours on the Midtown Bus Terminal and to permit additional time going into and out of New York Metropolis.
Are there different bus choices?
One of many backup plans being provided to commuters is the Academy Bus Line, which may have a contingency plan beginning Monday.
Departures will function each quarter-hour from the Backyard State Parkway, heading to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan throughout rush hour.
The stops are on the Judy Blume service space, the Lincroft park and journey at exit 109, the PNC Financial institution Arts Heart and the Bon Jovi service space. On Route 36, Academy will run bus service from Airport Plaza to Port Authority.
For these utilizing Academy within the space of Manchester, Lakehurst and Jackson, there will probably be common service.
Academy says Wall Road service will probably be offered by way of Route 9 and Route 36.
Does NJ Transit have contingency plans in place for Friday or the weekend?
In a phrase, no.
Whereas PATH and NJ Transit bus service will nonetheless be accessible, the contingency plans from NJ Transit will not be applied till Monday.
So entering into NYC till then might show troublesome for riders seeking to, say, attend the subway collection between the Mets and Yankees, or watch the Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Will PATH service be impacted?
No PATH service will probably be impacted by the strike. PATH is run by Port Authority, a completely separate entity than NJ Transit.
PATH plans to function trains on a standard schedule and warns of the potential for momentary crowding throughout peak hours.
“Those who do not need to ride during peak hours are urged to avoid the system during that time,” PATH stated. The rail service stated they are going to monitor circumstances at stations and be ready so as to add service as wanted if there’s unsafe crowding.
NJ Transit tickets won’t be cross-honored by PATH, nonetheless, so riders should buy tickets.