If the engineers do walk off the job, the agency plans to increase bus service, saying it would add “very limited” capacity to existing New York commuter bus routes in close proximity to rail stations and will contract with private carriers to operate bus service from key regional park-and-ride locations during weekday peak periods.

With a possible NJ Transit strike looming later this week​, engineers protested in front of the agency's headquarters on Wednesday in Newark.

Governor Phil Murphy said Wednesday night that he's "hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst" regarding a possible NJ Transit rail strike.

NJ Transit is already preparing for the walkout by urging as many people as possible to start working from home.

Similarly, the MetLife website announced, “There will be NO NJ Transit Rail or Bus Service to MetLife Stadium for the Shakira concerts on May 15 & 16. If NJ Transit rail service is your preferred means of transportation to MetLife Stadium, please plan for an alternate way to travel to the Shakira concerts.”

In 2016, an agreement was announced in the final hours before a March 11 strike deadline was set by all of NJ Transit’s 15 rail unions.

A strike of train engineers could happen May 16. And NJ Transit's 172,000 weekday rail riders need to consider alternatives.

NJ Transit engineers are preparing to walk off the job on Friday, which could affect 350,000 commuters in New Jersey and New York City.

Both the CEO of NJ Transit and the leader of the union representing hundreds of locomotive engineers expressed optimism Wednesday evening about reaching a deal to avoid a potential rail strike before 12:01 a.

NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said the two sides have had “constructive” meetings this week in Newark and in Washington, D.C.