If a deal is not reached between the MTA and LIRR workers, hundreds of thousands of commuters will be affected by a strike. The MTA has come up with a contingency plan in case the railroad workers decide on job action.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been in talks with members of the union representing LIRR workers over wages and pensions. If the two do not reach an agreement, the railroad workers will go on strike as early as July 20, according to the local CBS affiliate.

In the event of a strike, MTA has announced a contingency plan that will come into effect to ease the commute of the more than 300,000 LIRR customers who will be affected. According to The New York Times, the plan includes the use of buses, ferries, new highway rules and an increased number of park and ride locations.

Buses will pick up commuters from eight locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties, estimating around 15,000 passengers per day, the New York Daily News reported. However, these would not cover commuters living in Huntington, Oyster Bay, parts of the Port Jefferson Branch and the Babylon Branch.

Free ferries will be available from Glen Cove to East 34th Street with LIRR tickets. Aside from this, the high occupancy rules will be amended so that a car would require three passengers (including the driver) instead of the usual two.

Drivers will be able to park at 4,000 spots available Citi Field's parking lot as well as 3,000 parking spaces at the Aqueduct Racetrack. From these two places, commuters can take the 7 train and the A train, respectively.

Thomas F. Prendergast, the MTA's chairman, told reporters in a conference call that the plan will also rely on some people telecommuting. The authority has asked 1,400 companies in the area to allow their employees to work from home and around 18,000 will be telecommuting, a number expected to increase, according to The New York Times.