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

NJ Transit said that 350,000 commuters would be affected by a strike. If the strike occurs, a contingency plan would move rail commuters to its buses. However, only about 20%, or 20,000, of its daily rail commuters could be accommodated by the plan, according to Kolluri.

Some 350,000 commuters could soon be scrambling for other ways to reach their destinations if New Jersey Transit engineers walk off the job early Friday. NJ Transit — the nation’s third largest transit system — operates buses and rail in the state,