NEW YORK – Commuters went to work Dec. 16 under the threat of a strike by the city’s transit workers, but New York’s subway system remained open for morning rush hour.
“A strike would be more than just illegal and inconvenient; it will threaten public safety and severely disrupt our City and its economy,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said previously. “Our contingency plan is designed to move as many people as possible using alternative means of transportation and to make sure that our streets remain passable for emergency vehicles.”
City officials previously outlined a plan to address a transit disruption by reducing demand on major roads and optimizing functioning public transportation. Plans call for special HOV requirements along major roads, bridges and tunnels into Manhattan, commercial vehicle restrictions, lane reversals, carpool and Park & Ride facilities, and increased service on operating public transportation.
The transit strike is illegal under state law and transit workers could lose two days of pay for every day they are on strike, according to an Associated Press article. The transit agency and its 33,000 workers are fighting over wages and pension contributions.
