New York City and its suburbs are bracing for a possible strike by workers on the Long Island Rail Road, the busiest commuter rail system in North America. Contract negotiations were taking place Friday aimed at reaching a deal that would avert a walkout by locomotive engineers, machinists, signa lmen and other train workers. A strike would force the roughly 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday to either work from home or find alternative routes into New York City from its Long Island suburbs. That means more cars on traffic-choked highways and longer work commutes. A strike was temporarily averted in September when President Donald Trump’s administration agreed to help. Those efforts ended without a deal, giving both sides 60 days — ending 12:01 a.m. Saturday — to again try to resolve their differences before the union was legally allowed to go on strike or the agency could lock out workers. Five labor unions representing about half the train system’s 7,000-person workforce warned this week that Saturday’s deadline was approaching. Neither the unions nor the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) shared details about the status of negotiations on Friday, but officials briefed on the transit agency’s preparations said they had begun “laying up” trains after 6 p.m. — essentially meaning they were repositioning the locomotives in anticipation of a strike. However, both sides remained at the negotiating table into the evening. The LIRR is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying about 250,000 customers each weekday. LIRR workers last went on strike in 1994, for about two days. Workers nearly walked out in 2014 before then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo reached a deal with unions. The MTA, which oversees the LIRR and other area transit systems, has said it will provide free but limited shuttle buses during the morning and afternoon rush hours. The agency says the shuttles will depart from six designated LIRR train stations to subway stops in Queens. See below for a map of what the shuttle bus service will look like: The MTA started messaging customers who use the Train Time app, encouraging them to complete all travel before midnight Saturday. Posters warning of a strike have been posted above Long Island roadways and at LIRR stations for much of the week. Gov. Kathy Hochul has urged LIRR riders to work from home, if possible, as the free shuttles are meant for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute. The Democrat, months earlier, slammed the LIRR unions for “greedy asks” that threaten to “destabilize the local economy.” Hochul called into the negotiations over the phone on Friday. According to a spokesperson, the governor said “getting a deal requires both sides to work together, including labor. Nobody wins in a strike – riders will suffer and thousands of workers will lose out on wages they need.” The state comptroller’s office estimated that a strike would cost $61 million a day in economic impact, especially with Memorial Day weekend approaching. The timing of the potential strike would also impact fans getting to and from weekend events like Bruce Springsteen at Madison Square Garden, or the Yankees-Mets Subway Series at Citi Field (both events are scheduled to end with some time to spare, but extra innings in the latter could complicate matters). It also could affect fans looking to watch the Knicks continue their playoff run at MSG. While LIRR President Rob Free at a Friday press conference urged riders to make backup travel plans, there have been signs of progress in negotiations this week, even with just hours remaining until the deadline. Dispute over wages Months ago, the MTA had proposed to the unions a 9.5% wage increase over three years, in line with what the system’s other unionized workers have already agreed to. The unions, however, held out for another yearly salary increase of 6.5%, for a total raise of 16% over four years. But following Wednesday’s closed door meetings, Gary Dellaverson, the MTA’s chief negotiator, said the agency offered the unions what it said would effectively amount to a 4.5% raise in the fourth year of the contract. That offer, he said, was in line with what federal officials had recommended and would come in the form of lump sum payments rather than wage increases, as the union sought. However, the union has remained steadfast in getting 5% in that fourth and final year. New York 23 hours ago Still no deal in place with LIRR strike deadline approaching, as negotiations continue Commuter Alert May 14 Track fire halts LIRR service at NY Penn Station; impacts possible through Friday morning Long Island May 13 Clock ticking on possible LIRR strike as sides suggest progress in talks “The difference between those two positions is not unbridgeable,” Dellaverson said in a news conference. “It is describable simply in terms of money. There are no longer any complexities involved with the parties.” Kevin Sexton, a spokesperson for the unions, acknowledged earlier in the week that there was “positive movement” toward a settlement but dismissed the notion that a deal was close as “far-fetched.” “We would like to reach an agreement that reflects the rising cost of living,” he said. “Anything short of that amounts to a cut in real wages.” Spokespersons for MTA didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment Thursday, but the union said the two sides were expected to continue talks through Friday evening, if necessary. Commuters brace for the worst Susanne Alberto, a personal trainer from Long Island, said she’s already made plans with her Manhattan clients to hold virtual sessions in the event of a shutdown. She said the union likely has the upper hand, even if she believes raises should be based on job responsibilities and not made across the board. “The MTA is going to cave, and they know that,” Alberto said. “Why don’t they just do it now instead of waiting until virtually millions of people get inconvenienced?” Rob Udle, an electrician who takes the LIRR at least five days a week, said he’ll likely use his vacation days rather than navigate the “nightmare” of commuting into Manhattan if the rail service shuts down. A union member, he sympathized with the unions’ affordability concerns, but said he didn’t agree with their strongarm tactics. “I get it, the cost of living is going up and stuff like that,” Udle said while waiting at Penn Station for a train home. “But they shouldn’t hold everybody hostage to do it. There’s a better way. 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