Potential NJ Transit strike on Friday has Gov. Phil Murphy "preparing for the worst"
The clock is ticking ahead of a potential NJ Transit rail strike. The trains could stop running at 12:01 a.m. Friday if locomotive engineers don't get the salary increase they want.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says all options are on the table if engineers walk off the job, including declaring a state of emergency.
"I am still hoping we find some resolution, but I am preparing for the worst. I am headed to a call right now, to an all-hands call, [on] exactly what this is going to look like Thursday night at midnight, if that's what it comes to," Murphy said.
Some New Jersey residents are preparing as if they'll need to come up with alternate plans come Friday.
"I think it's going to be difficult for the state. I think it's going to be hard for commuters, and having the situation in Newark Airport is already a disaster," said Nim Sethi of Warren.
"Me and my wife rely on NJ Transit. [A strike] will throw a monkey wrench into our travel plans," said Burt Esrig of Point Pleasant Beach.
John Gizzi, a regional manager for a business in Newark, said he's trying to make arrangements now, especially for his employees.
"I have folks who report into me, who commute hours to get to their locations, and they just simply don't know what they're going to do. So as a company, we're trying to mitigate that by offering Ubers or changing their work schedules," Gizzi said.
Alternative ways of getting around in case of a strike
NJ Transit has told 100,000 of its rail riders to use Amtrak and PATH trains in the event of a strike and to consider working from home. Overcrowding, the agency says, could be a big issue.
NJ Transit also says commuters can rely on the light rail and ferry service.
For those looking to use commuter buses, the agency is warning that they will likely handle only about 20% of daily train riders, something that's on the minds of commuters worried about overcrowding.
"I guess the concern for us is the spill over. I've heard a lot of people say, for example, they're going to drive over to Willowbrook and Wayne and take the bus from there," bus rider Milan Shah said. "Most buses are full on a regular basis as it is."
In addition, Box Car, an independent bus service, is offering more buses to accommodate commuters.
The MTA has announced it will cross-honor tickets for Metro-North service west of the Hudson. However, it won't cross-honor tickets for its other services and customers will need to pay for a separate ticket. That also applies to Amtrak and private bus carriers.
for a closer look at the contingency plans.
No NJ Transit service to Shakira concert at MetLife
Pop star Shakira is performing at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Thursday and Friday. NJ Transit has already canceled train and bus service to the stadium on both days, because if concertgoers hop on a train there, they may not have a ride back.
"Potentially, the concert running late ... it's a big sold-out crowd ... that you would have the implicit assumption that you'd get a ride home on NJ Transit when in fact, if it's still late, it took a while to empty the stadium, it's possible you're clicking into the strike time," Murphy said.
Another big concert -- Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour -- is scheduled at MetLife in two weeks.
"I might have to prepare to take an Uber, but I know they price gouge a little bit, so I don't know if it's gonna be $100 or whatever. I'm going with two other people, so at least I can split it," concertgoer Halle Barton said.
Coach USA is offering a Megabus option from Manhattan to East Rutherford for both concerts, but .
Others plan to drive themselves.
"Not concerned about traffic. That's the least of the worries. As long as we get there, that's all that matters," concertgoer Bryant Small said.
