With the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service halted due to a worker strike, New York transit officials have set up alternative travel options. These measures are aimed at commuters unable to work remotely, but they fall short of accommodating all passengers.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began offering free shuttle bus services on Monday morning. These buses run from six locations on Long Island to two subway stations in Queens as well as in reverse during the evening rush hours.
Buses from Bay Shore, Hicksville, and Mineola LIRR stations, alongside Hempstead Lake State Park near Lakeview station, are transporting passengers to the A train at Howard Beach-JFK Airport. Meanwhile, buses from Huntington and Ronkonkoma direct commuters to the F train at Jamaica-179 Street.
These buses to Queens operate every 10 minutes from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Afternoon shuttles back to Long Island are scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. There are limited buses for non-peak directions, like going away from the city in the morning or heading towards the city in the evening, at some Suffolk County stations.
Nassau County residents can use the standard Nassau County bus service—NICE—to access the No. 7 train in Flushing or the Jamaica Bus Terminal for an F train. It’s uncertain if NICE bus drivers, prohibited from striking but able to refuse overtime, will fully support these plans. John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union, discourages drivers from altering routes, emphasizing solidarity with rail workers.
Starting Monday, commuters can also park at Citi Field in Queens for $6 to board the No. 7 train at Mets-Willets Point. This scheme, however, covers only a fraction of the railroad’s 126 stations. Shuttle buses have a capacity for about 13,000 riders each way, whereas the railroad accommodates over 270,000 daily. MTA suggests these buses be reserved for essential workers sans other travel options.
MTA officials predict increased congestion on the Long Island Expressway, Northern State, and Southern State Parkways as many commuters might opt for driving or getting dropped off at Queens and Brooklyn subway stations. However, there’s no additional parking at subway stations.
The MTA will refund monthly rail pass holders for business days lacking train service.
Stefanos Chen reports on New York City’s transit system for The Times.