Due to the deadlock in negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the union representing employees, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) may initiate a full-scale strike as early as midnight this Saturday (early Sunday morning). The MTA has warned that if the strike goes into effect, all train services on the Long Island Rail Road will be completely suspended. The MTA has already deployed an emergency response plan. For the latest updates, please visit the official website mta.info/lirrstrike or call 511.
MTA will operate several shuttle bus routes to transport Long Island commuters to subway stations in Queens. Please note that these shuttle buses will only operate during peak hours (toward Manhattan: from 4:30 AM to 9 AM; toward Long Island: from 3 PM to 7 PM).
Commuters from Nassau County on Long Island can consider using the NICE bus system for inter-district transfers:
Take the NICE bus to Flushing Main Street for transfer to the 7 train. Or take it to Jamaica Bus Terminal, and walk to the nearby 169th Street subway station for transfer to the F train.
For commuters who are being driven to subway stations by family members, MTA recommends the following stations near major Long Island thoroughfares. Note: there are no parking facilities available near these stations.
A train: Far Rockaway-Mott Av, Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd
E, F trains: Kew Gardens-Union Tpke
J train: Woodhaven Blvd
B, Q trains: Sheepshead Bay
MTA advises all individuals affected by the Long Island Rail Road strike to work from home whenever possible. Severe congestion and delays are expected on the roads, so please avoid all non-essential travel. If commuting is necessary, regardless of the mode of transportation, please allocate extra time for your journey.