NEW YORK — The city is quietly preparing an emergency plan to combat a feared transit strike that would leave millions stranded without buses and subways, the Daily News has learned.
The comprehensive crisis plan is being forged by the city Office of Emergency Management with help from NYPD and transportation officials, as well as the Coast Guard and authorities in New Jersey and Connecticut.
The goal: Prevent the city from grinding to a halt if 34,000 transit workers – whose contract expires Dec. 15 – authorize an illegal strike. It would be the first walkout in 22 years.
“We are prepared to deal with any kind of work stoppage or strike if it happens,” said Frank McCarton, deputy commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management.
McCarton and other officials declined to discuss specifics of the plan. But sources said the plan, which was close to being finalized, includes:
–Barring cars with fewer than three people from driving into Manhattan via bridges and tunnels south of 96th St. between 6a.m. and 10 a.m.
–Prohibiting cars with fewer than three people from heading south of 96th St. in Manhattan between 6 a.m to 10 a.m.
–Designating stretches of some major arteries as “priority roads” open only to emergency vehicles, private buses, taxis and livery cabs between 6 a.m. and 8p.m. Portions of Fifth and Madison Aves. and Rector, Broad and Cortlandt Sts. are being discussed as priority roads.
–Allowing taxis to pick up multiple fares and livery cars to pick up street hails.
–Setting up car-pooling lots around the city, including ones at Yankee and Shea stadiums.
–Increasing commuter rail service.
–Adding ferries, coordinated by the Coast Guard, that would move people around Manhattan from Yankee and Shea stadiums, and points in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.
–Encouraging large companies to use charter buses to get employees to work. They also would be asked to let employees work from home or from offices outside Manhattan.
Officials stressed that none of the plan had been finalized and insisted aspects could change.
One thing is for sure: If workers walk out, sources said, the Transit Authority will make no effort to keep its buses or subways operating. More than 7 million riders use the buses and trains on an average weekday.
“We don’t have the capability to do that,” a source said.
2 died on job
State law prohibits transit workers from striking.
But tensions are high following the deaths of two subway workers killed by trains last month. Union officials blamed the deaths on safety lapses.
Roger Toussaint, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, has not ruled out a strike – and city officials are concerned.
“We view this as a real possibility,” a Bloomberg administration official said.
The union is seeking a 24% wage hike over three years, greater contributions to its health benefits fund and an end to a disciplinary system that it calls overly harsh and abusive. It also wants a no-layoff clause and around-the- clock day care.
The crisis plan includes many ideas developed in 1999 before another possible strike.
That strike was averted when a deal was struck shortly after a deadline. City lawyers had obtained a restraining order that called for fining the union $1 million for the first day of a strike.
Each striking union member also would have been hit with a $25,000 fine. The penalties would have doubled daily.
Bloomberg has said the city would fight again.
“If a strike vote is taken, we will go straight to court for an order to keep that from happening,” he said last month.