Good morning, I’m Brian Fritsch, Associate Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC.
Nobody wants a strike. It would be exceptionally tough on workers, riders, the MTA and LIRR, and the regional economy.
At PCAC, we do not take sides on the MTA’s labor-related matters, but we will stand up for the needs of riders in any situation. And many Long Island residents, including nurses, teachers, construction workers, and more, do not have the option to work from home, even if traveling to their jobs will be arduous. We agree with you that the best thing to do is not go on strike, so you don’t have to find contingency plans for all the daily commuters, not to mention upcoming weekend warriors. But those who fail to plan, etc.
If there is a strike next month, riders cannot be left in the lurch. They cannot be collateral damage in this calamity. There must be a clear and reasonable way to get people to and from key points in both Nassau and Suffolk counties into New York City and back home without the railroad.
We know the highways can’t carry over a quarter of a million additional people, and we do not expect the effort to be perfect, but it should at least be much more robust and comprehensive than the contingency plan presented last September, when only Bellmore, Hicksville, and Ronkonkoma were offered as shuttle bus locations into the city. Wars will be waged over parking.
NICE bus will be able to pick up some slack for some Nassau commuters to get to key subway points in Queens, but we urge the railroad to be prepared with more sites across Long Island with ample parking, maximizing the number of essential workers and riders who simply don’t have any other choice but to get to their jobs or the crucial appointments they might have.
Again, it is our sincere hope that an agreement is reached in time, but in the event it isn’t, we hope the railroad will do its utmost to still get people where they must go. Thank you.