It was a fairly calm morning at Maplewood and South Orange train stations on Friday, May 16 — the first day of a strike by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. It is the first strike by NJ Transit workers in 40 years.
With many local commuters either opting to take the day off or work from home due to the strike, a New Jersey Transit worker in a bright orange NJT branded T-shirt was directing commuters at the Maplewood train station to alternatives such as the Maplewood jitney, which was shuttling locals to the South Orange train station in order to catch the 107 bus.
A quiet Maplewood train station on May 16, 2025.
Catching the 107 at South Orange station. May 16, 2025. Photo by Laura Griffin.
The NJT worker said that a number of commuters had arrived at the station unaware of the strike. However, most seemed to have received the message, with parking at the station mostly empty. One commuter in South Orange who didn’t want to wait 20 minutes for the next bus, called a Lyft. “I’m going to Newark Penn Station so I can take the Path in” he said.
A mostly empty transit parking lot at Maplewood train station. May 16, 2025. Photo by Mary Barr Mann.
Scads of available parking at the NJT parking lot in South Orange. May 16, 2025. Photo by Laura Griffin.
Meanwhile traffic volume on local roads was high, as per usual.
Union representatives said they would be back at the negotiating table on Sunday, May 18.
Read more about alternative routes and means of transportation here:
Updated: NJTransit Strike Begins—South Orange/Maplewood Seek Alternatives
