New Jersey Transit engineers went on strike for the first time in 40 years, leaving commuters stranded as they face a trifecta of travel challenges. Congestion pricing, air traffic control issues at Newark Liberty International Airport, and aging infrastructure have made commuting to work difficult.
The 450-500 striking NJ Transit workers are demanding a wage level commensurate with other passenger railroad engineers in the Northeast, but union chief Tom Haas claims the company is unwilling to meet their demands. The last strike occurred in 1983, lasting 34 days.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has urged talks to resume soon, hoping for a quick resolution to the strike. NJ Transit is now advising rail riders to consider taking commuter buses into Manhattan. Congestion pricing, which went into effect in January, aims to reduce gridlock but has made commuting even more expensive.
Air traffic control issues at Newark Liberty International Airport have caused massive delays, while the aging infrastructure of the North River tunnels has led to repeated delays due to broken trains and flooding from Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Biden administration’s $11 billion Hudson River Tunnel Project aims to address the issue but faces opposition from former Gov. Chris Christie, who defended his decision to kill the project.
As the strike continues, commuters are being forced to find alternative ways to get to work or face the consequences of gridlock and delays.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-jerseys-bad-week-screeching-rail-system-halt-airport-meltdown-plag-rcna207237