As of Monday, May 18, 2026, the LIRR strike is still in effect and service remains suspended systemwide. MTA and the striking LIRR unions resumed talks Monday morning, and MTA CEO Janno Lieber said he was “cautiously optimistic,” but there is no service restoration yet. Even if a deal is reached, the MTA says full train service may not return until the next day.

The MTA’s main message is: work from home if possible. Officials say there is no real substitute for the LIRR, and all alternatives are expected to be crowded, slower, and affected by heavy road congestion.

For people who must commute, the MTA is running free weekday peak-hour shuttle buses from six Long Island locations to Queens subway connections. Morning buses toward Manhattan run from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.; evening buses back to Long Island run from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The shuttle locations are:

Bay Shore LIRR to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, where riders can take the A train.

Hicksville LIRR to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, for the A train.

Mineola LIRR to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, for the A train.

Hempstead Lake State Park, near Lakeview LIRR, to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, for the A train.

Huntington LIRR to Jamaica-179 St, for the F train.

Ronkonkoma LIRR to Jamaica-179 St, for the F train.

Bay Shore, Huntington, and Ronkonkoma have both peak and limited reverse-peak service. Hempstead Lake State Park, Hicksville, and Mineola are peak-direction only.

For Nassau commuters, NICE Bus is another major option. NICE is adding service starting Monday to and from key hubs including Hicksville, Mineola, Great Neck, and Freeport. MTA also lists useful NICE connections into Queens at 179 St, Far Rockaway-Mott Av, Flushing-Main St, Jamaica Bus Terminal near 169 St, and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer.

For the Five Towns/Far Rockaway area, the closest practical subway drop-off is Far Rockaway-Mott Av on the A train. MTA specifically lists it as a recommended passenger drop-off point, but notes there is no parking lot there, so it should be used for drop-offs, not park-and-ride. NICE routes serving that area include n31, n31x/m, n32, and n33.

Other MTA-recommended drop-off points near major roads are Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd, Sheepshead Bay, and Woodhaven Blvd. These also do not have parking lots.

Citi Field parking is another option: commuters can park there for $6 and take the 7 train into Manhattan while the Mets are away. Officials are also encouraging carpooling, especially for drivers using the LIE/HOV lane.

May monthly ticket holders are expected to receive prorated refunds for business days when service is suspended due to the strike, pending MTA board approval.

Good luck to all!

Please comment in the comment section below to assist local travelers. Carpool anyone?

If you need help with your trip to/from Long Island today, we’ve got you.

• Customer ambassadors will be at shuttle bus sites on Long Island and in Queens to assist with directions, travel guidance, and more.
• Call 511 to get help from MTA staff 24/7.
• Use MTA app chat…

— LIRR (@LIRR) May 18, 2026