New Jersey is on the brink of a major transportation disruption as negotiations between NJ Transit and its rail engineers’ union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), continue without a resolution. With the union threatening to walk off the job as early as 12:01 a.m. Friday, tensions are high and hundreds of thousands of commuters across the state are preparing for the worst. Talks are set to resume Thursday morning in a final effort to avert the first rail strike in over 40 years.

Outside NJ Transit headquarters on Wednesday, union members rallied to demand a fair contract. Chants rang out in support of train crews, echoing frustrations over stagnant wages and working conditions. Daniel Feyjoo, an engineer with nearly two decades of service, emphasized the critical responsibility that engineers bear daily. He and others stressed that their work requires precision and safety, with consequences that can be life-altering. General Chairman Tom Haas reiterated the union’s desire to avoid a strike but maintained that engineers deserve fair compensation for their essential role in the transit system.

A potential strike would halt all NJ Transit commuter rail services, including those between New York City’s Penn Station and communities across northern New Jersey. NJ Transit operates nearly a million weekday trips and serves about 350,000 daily rail passengers. With negotiations stalled, commuters could be left scrambling for alternatives on Friday morning.

At the heart of the dispute are wages and working conditions. The union asserts that its members currently earn an average of $113,000 per year and are demanding wage parity with Amtrak and the MTA, which would increase average earnings to around $170,000 annually. NJ Transit, however, disputes these figures, claiming that engineers already earn an average of $135,000, with some surpassing $200,000. CEO Kris Kolluri stated that while discussions have been constructive, the agency must also ensure any agreement is financially responsible.

Earlier this week, both parties met with the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C., but no details were released following that session. The absence of a resolution means that contingency planning is now in full swing. NJ Transit announced that if a strike occurs, bus service will be expanded where possible, although officials warned that buses cannot match the capacity of rail service.

Charter buses are expected to operate from four satellite park-and-ride lots, with some services going directly to Manhattan. Buses will depart from Secaucus Junction and the PNC Arts Center to the Port Authority, from Hamilton station to Newark Penn Station for PATH connections, and from Woodbridge Center Mall to Harrison for further PATH access. Notably, tickets at these park-and-ride sites will not be cross-honored, meaning riders will pay separate fares—such as $48 for a round-trip from PNC Arts Center to New York City.

In addition, NJ Transit will add more buses to routes that run near train lines. For airport travelers, free shuttle buses will run between Newark Penn Station and the airport. The PATH train system is expected to operate on its regular schedule, with the possibility of added service if needed. Amtrak will continue service to and from Newark Airport, though passengers will need an Amtrak ticket to board those trains.

Private charter bus companies have also begun scaling up services, offering thousands of additional seats each day to accommodate displaced rail passengers. NYC Emergency Management is coordinating with NJ Transit and other agencies to prepare for the potential fallout. They advise commuters to expect longer travel times, overcrowding, and delays if the strike proceeds.

The looming disruption is already being felt. NJ Transit announced it will not provide train or bus service to MetLife Stadium for the Shakira concerts scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Anticipating a surge in vehicular traffic, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will delay planned overnight lane closures at major Hudson River crossings, including the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, and George Washington Bridge, until at least 1 a.m. on those nights to accommodate concertgoers.

It remains uncertain whether NJ Transit will provide any transportation options for Beyonce’s upcoming concerts at MetLife Stadium between May 22 and May 29. As of now, both sides in the ongoing contract dispute continue to express optimism, but with only hours remaining before the strike deadline, New Jersey commuters face an uncertain commute heading into the weekend.