LIRR Strike Adds Two Hours to Long Island Commuters' Travel Time

The Long Island Rail Road strike forced some commuters to spend at least two extra hours on the road Monday morning as they used shuttle buses or drove into the city. Nassau and Suffolk county residents who normally take the LIRR described their trips as difficult after the strike began Saturday morning.

The MTA provided buses at six Long Island locations that dropped riders at Queens subway stations. Riders then continued on subways to reach their destinations while train workers picketed at Penn Station and other locations.

Wantagh said the situation left everyone miserable. m. and took nearly three hours to reach her job as a billing coordinator. She said the shutdown was terrible and criticized the unions for stopping the system. Marisol Vega, 39, of Seaford said her commute involving a bus, subway, and another bus added almost two hours.

Ricky Persaud described the arrangement from Ronkonkoma as mayhem. A construction project manager who did not give his last name said he now spends 30 hours per week commuting in addition to his 40-hour work week.

The coalition of five labor groups and the MTA remained at odds over pay raises for the next several years. m. Officials advised drivers to park at Citi Field and take the 7 subway train. Some drivers reported confusion over parking locations and long waits at Midtown garages.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office had warned before the strike that the region would lose about $61 million each day in economic activity.