NJ TRANSIT train engineers may strike as early as May 16, threatening disruptions for commuters, according to US Representative Mikie Sherrill. The potential strike follows a recent rejection of a wage agreement by union workers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
During a strike, NJ TRANSIT anticipates it could shuttle only about 100,000 people daily into New York by bus. The agency typically handles more than 925,000 weekday trips across its rail, bus, and light rail systems. NJ TRANSIT has advised customers to consider if they can work remotely in the event of a work stoppage.
Meeting the union's demands would necessitate financial adjustments for the agency. NJ TRANSIT states it would need to increase fares by 17%, raise the corporate transit fee by 27%, or implement service reductions to cover the costs.
Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill of North Jersey characterized a potential strike as a "disaster" for the region. Running for governor, Sherrill urged both sides to return to the negotiating table to prevent a work stoppage.
Sherrill advocates for fully funding NJ TRANSIT by boosting revenue. She suggests exploring transit-oriented development opportunities, expanding advertising presence on trains, and ensuring that the corporate transit fee enacted last year is directly allocated to funding the system. Business advocates have voiced concerns that this fee revenue could be diverted for other purposes.
The potential strike threat comes as the system experienced operational issues this week. On Monday, May 5, passengers faced delays due to a train breakdown in the Hudson River Tunnels serving Penn Station New York. Separately, a signal issue at the Amtrak Portal Bridge led to significant delays for NJ TRANSIT trains later the same day.
NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes were cross-honored by PATH at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken, and 33rd Street in New York during the disruptions. Midtown Direct trains were diverted to Hoboken during the Portal Bridge issue.
The infrastructure challenges facing the system include aging components like the 114-year-old Amtrak Portal Bridge, which occasionally malfunctions. A replacement bridge project is underway, but the first new track is not expected to open until late 2026. These infrastructure concerns contribute to the broader transit funding crisis impacting the system.
"The transit fee that they’ve put in place, it’s not yet going to transit," Sherrill said. "The first thing we should do is make it go to transit."