New Jersey Transit officials announced contingency plans on Wednesday in the event of an engineer strike on May 16.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is negotiating for a higher salary for its members.

Kris Kolluri, who has led NJ Transit for just over 100 days, laid out a contingency plan if engineers decide to strike.

Some 350,000 commuters rely on New Jersey Transit every day. However, if a strike happens, officials say they will focus on moving essential workers. They asked anyone who has the option to work from home to do so.

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Kolluri also said the agency is laying out this contingency plan two weeks in advance to give commuters time to find alternatives.

"Our first priority is to enhance the bus service where we can to make sure we get our riders to their destinations. Second, we will have four park-and-rides through the state that will have supplemental bus service to move people from Secaucus, Hamilton, Woodbridge and the PNC Center on the parkway," said Kolluri.

The union rejected NJ Transit’s recent offer to bump the average salary by 2027 up to $172,000.

Kolluri took time during his news conference to criticize the union for threatening a strike. He said that if NJ Transit gives the engineers what they want – a salary increase of more than $50,000 – it would negatively impact commuters and lead to fare hikes.

If the engineer union decides to strike, it will be the first time in 42 years.