Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday after not reaching a new contract deal with the MTA.
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday, after not reaching a new contract deal with the MTA.
The union representing LIRR workers is pushing for higher pay, but MTA leaders warn that agreeing to those demands could trigger significant fare hikes.
The five unions represent 3,500 workers, including engineers, signalmen and trainmen.
The MTA is now rolling out a contingency plan that includes shuttle buses to help move riders. Some 250,000 commuters are impacted by the shutdown.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. says he is very concerned about the impact of the LIRR strike.
Richards Jr. says the buses and subways will be 'chaos' if the strike continues into Monday.
Angie Carpenter told Eyewitness News the town is trying to accommodate commuters.
The Bayshore station is going to be a staging area for buses, and the parking enforcement has been suspended amid the strike.
Nassau County Executive and candidate for Governor of New York Bruce Blakeman blamed Governor Hochul for the LIRR in a statement issued on Saturday.
"Hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders woke up to chaos because Kathy Hochul failed to do her job. This strike didn't come out of nowhere - Hochul knew this deadline was coming and still allowed commuters, small businesses, nurses, teachers, and tourists to become collateral damage. Hochul can't pass a budget on time, can't keep the trains running, and cares more about bailing out Zohran Mamdani than the commuters stranded on platforms. Hands down, Hochul is the worst governor in America," he wrote.
Big crowds are expected for the Mets-Yankees series this Saturday and Sunday, but because of the strike, there is no LIRR service to and from Citi Field.
The Mets are running a dedicated shuttle service from six locations across the region.
Mets shuttle pickup locations
Roosevelt Field
Walt Whitman Shops
Manhasset LIRR Station
Bay Plaza
Paramus Park
Newport Centre Mall
Other ways to get there:
The 7 train runs direct to Mets-Willets Point, which is the easiest option from Manhattan. Seastreak Ferry offers service from Stamford, Highlands, and St. George.
Commuters from New Jersey can take NJ Transit rail into the city, then connect to the E train toward Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue, or the 1/2/3 to Times Square-42nd Street, and ride the 7 to Mets-Willets Point. Citi Bike docking stations are available throughout Queens and Manhattan. And if you're using a rideshare, designated pickup and drop-off zones are available at the ballpark.
Capacity crowds are expected both days. Plan ahead: leave early, build in extra travel time, and check the MLB Ballpark app before you head out for real-time updates.
