NJ Transit Strike Looms: Thousands of Commuters Face Travel Chaos

New Jersey Faces Transit Strike: Commuters and Concertgoers Brace for Disruption Thousands of New Jersey commuters face significant travel disruptions as a strike by NJ Transit engineers looms. The strike, set to begin at midnight, will bring train services to a complete halt, affecting hundreds of thousands of daily riders. NJ Transit has implemented a contingency plan, deploying extra buses to key locations, including Secaucus Junction, Hamilton Rail Station, and the PNC Bank Arts Center. However, the additional bus service will only accommodate approximately 20% of the usual train ridership, leaving a large number of commuters stranded. "The extra buses will only accommodate 20% of train riders," stated an NJ Transit spokesperson, highlighting the severity of the situation. The limited bus service is particularly problematic for concertgoers heading to MetLife Stadium, where several major artists are scheduled to perform in the coming weeks. Contract negotiations between NJ Transit and the union representing the engineers are ongoing, with talks scheduled to continue throughout the day. The engineers are demanding higher wages, leading to the potential for a prolonged disruption of service. The outcome of these negotiations will determine the duration and impact of the strike on commuters and the region's economy.