Travelers prepare for possible NJ Transit strike as both sides prepare to meet

New Jersey Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen are expected back at the bargaining table Wednesday.

Naomi Yané

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May 6, 2025, 2:24 AM

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Updated 21 days ago

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Commuters and transportation companies are bracing for a possible strike as the May 16 deadline approaches.

New Jersey Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen are expected back at the bargaining table Wednesday. The union is expected to present its counter-proposal.

And as the deadline looms, commuters are thinking of a plan B.

Eric Farrello is a high school senior at Saint Peter’s Prep. He lives in South Orange and goes to school in Jersey City. He’s in Summit visiting friends, and he has his own contingency plan.

"I'll have to start a carpool with me and my friends that live in my town and one of us will probably have to pitch in and drive every so often," Farello said.

A new deal has yet to be reached between New Jersey Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen.

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MORE: NJ Transit officials lay out contingency plans in event of engineer strike

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Last week, New Jersey Transit put out its contingency plans, which it says, “would accommodate an extremely limited number of rail customers,” that’s only about 20%. At the top of the plan, it is asking commuters who have the option to work from home to do so.

New Jersey Transit's contingency plan includes adding very limited capacity to existing New York commuter bus routes near rail stations and contracting private carriers, like Coach USA, to operate bus service from key regional Park & Ride locations during weekday peak hours.

Dan Rodriguez is the vice president of Public Affairs for Coach USA. He says they're ready to take action.

“We will be providing a certain number of buses and if necessary, more to meet the needs as they come," Rodriguez said. "We have done this in the past, we’ve done it with the MTA in New York, and certainly we provide these services for Amtrak as well, when necessary."

A tentative deal was reached in March, but the union later shot it down.

Later this week, both parties are expected back at the bargaining table and the union is expected to present its counter-proposal.

Commuters have just under two weeks to decide what they will do.