Metro-North will cross-honor some tickets in case of NJ Transit strike
NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – If NJ Transit locomotive engineers strike, the MTA will cross-honor tickets on the Metro-North and provide park-and-ride service.
Due to failing contract negotiations, NJ Transit's locomotive engineers could strike as soon as May 16, which would halt all rail service, including west of Hudson Metro-North Railroad service, according to NJ Transit.
The MTA on Thursday released its contingency plan for the possible strike. While not involved in negotiations, a full stop of rail service west of Hudson would affect the MTA's rail systems in New York City, according to Justin Vonashek, president of Metro-North.
Starting May 12, the MTA will cross-honor West of Hudson tickets for any New York riders switching to the Hudson and Harlem lines, according to Vonashek. The MTA will also cross-honor tickets on the bus from Newburgh to Beacon.
Only tickets for New York stations will be cross-honored on MTA buses and trains, not tickets for New Jersey stations, Vonashek said.
The Newburgh and Beacon bus stations will have free parking, and the MTA will cross-honor west of Hudson parking passes at the Courtland, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, North White Plains and New Hamburg.
The state will provide park-and-ride buses to Tarrytown and White Plains.
"The last thing we want is for those riders to be left in the lurch,” Vonashek said. "We hope riders won't have to use these options."