LIRR Is Officially On Strike!

Posted by
May 16, 2026

The MTA Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is suspended system wide as the workers are officially on strike! Here are the options available to you:

LIRR strike is in effect

LIRR service is suspended due to a strike.

A strike will have a devastating impact on the nearly 300,000 passengers who depend on the LIRR to get where they need to go every single day. MTA leaders will continue to negotiate with the unions to resolve the strike.

However, we want riders to be prepared.

Work from home if possible

Unfortunately, there is no substitute for the Long Island Rail Road, and its shutdown will cause severe congestion and delays. Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible.

If you must commute, give yourself ample travel time, no matter which mode you take. There will be congestion on the roads and travel alternatives will be near or at capacity due to an influx of additional riders.

Travel alternatives

Shuttle buses

The MTA will provide limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute. Buses will run during peak hours (toward Manhattan from 4:30 to 9 a.m. and to Long Island from 3 to 7 p.m.) to/from six locations on Long Island to subway transfer points in Queens. There will also be limited reverse peak service available on some routes.

Peak and reverse peak direction service

  • Bay Shore (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A Train
  • Huntington (LIRR) to Jamaica-179 St F at Hillside Av and 179 St
  • Ronkonkoma (LIRR) to Jamaica-179 St F at Hillside Av and 179 St

Peak direction service only

  • Hempstead Lake State Park, near Lakeview (LIRR), to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A​
  • Hicksville (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A​
  • Mineola (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A​

There is no charge for shuttle bus service. Tap and ride using your phone, credit or debit card, or OMNY Card for transfers to the subway and MTA buses.

NICE Bus

Nassau County customers should also consider using NICE Bus to connect to/from points in Queens, both at peak and reverse peak times. See below for MTA locations with NICE Bus connections.

Visit the NICE Bus website for more information and service changes, or use the NICE GoMobile app to plan your trip. Use your phone, credit or debit card, or OMNY Card to tap and ride on NICE Bus.

Passenger drop-off locations

We recommend using the following subway stations as passenger drop-off points. These stations are close to major roadways that lead to and from Long Island. These stations do not have parking lots, so please do not plan to park there.

  • Far Rockaway-Mott Av A​
  • Kew Gardens-Union Tpke E F​
  • Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd A​
  • Sheepshead Bay BQ​
  • Woodhaven Blvd J​

Accessible travel alternatives

Accessible travel options will be available on Long Island and in Queens.

  • Shuttle buses will transport customers from Bay Shore, Hempstead Lake State Park, Hicksville, and Mineola to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A​ station.
  • Shuttle buses will transport customers from Huntington and Ronkonkoma to Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer EJZ​ station.

Shuttle Bus Map

Refunds for monthly ticket holders

We intend to issue prorated refunds to May monthly ticket holders for any business day that service is suspended due to the strike, pending board approval. Check back soon for more details on how to apply for a refund.

xoxo Transit Blogger

LIRR

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