How to Navigate Long Island During the Rail Strike

NEW YORK — A major disruption has occurred in one of the country's most heavily used commuter rail systems as the MTA and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) unions failed to reach a contract agreement. This has led to a strike that has left up to 300,000 commuters without service, marking the first such event since the LIRR strike of 1994.

The strike has caused significant inconvenience for daily travelers, but union members have emphasized that their actions are not aimed at harming the public. Instead, they are seeking fair wages from the MTA.

Paul, a locomotive engineer on the picket line at Penn Station, expressed his team’s position: “For the commuters out there, this is not a fight against them. We apologize for this, but unfortunately, this is what it’s come to because the MTA does not bargain in good faith.”

The five unions representing LIRR workers have requested a 5% wage increase, while the MTA has only offered a 3% raise. MTA CEO Janno Lieber addressed the situation during a press conference, stating, “I and my MTA board have been clear that we cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes the MTA’s budget. And we absolutely refuse to make a deal that puts it on riders and taxpayers to fund outside wage increases, which is far beyond what anyone else at the MTA is getting.”

With the strike ongoing, residents are looking for alternative ways to travel between Long Island and Manhattan. Here are some options available:

Shuttle Buses

If working from home is not an option, shuttle buses will be available on a limited basis. These buses will operate during peak hours—specifically from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. for trips to Manhattan and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for trips back to Long Island. The routes connect six locations on Long Island to several subway stations in Queens.

• Bay Shore LIRR station to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, served by the A train
• Hempstead Lake State Park, near the Lakeview LIRR station, to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, served by the A train
• Hicksville LIRR station to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, served by the A train
• Huntington LIRR station to Jamaica-179 St at Hillside Av and 179 St, served by the F train
• Mineola LIRR station to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, served by the A train
• Ronkonkoma LIRR station to Jamaica-179 St at Hillside Av and 179 St, served by the F train

NICE Bus

Several NICE bus routes in Nassau County run into Queens. LIRR customers can use these as an alternative and connect to Flushing-Main Street station, served by the No. 7 train, or the 169 St subway station, served by the F train.

Passenger Drop-off Locations

Passengers can also use the following subway stations close to major highways that lead to Long Island as drop-off points. The MTA notes that these stations do not have parking lots and advises against parking near them.

• Far Rockaway-Mott Av, served by the A train
• Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, served by the E and F trains
• Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd, served by the A train
• Sheepshead Bay, served by the B and Q trains
• Woodhaven Blvd., served by the J train

For a complete list of travel alternatives, additional information is available online.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.