NJ Transit nixes train, bus service to Shakira concerts at MetLife over looming strike

NJ Transit typically brings passengers whenever, wherever — but they may be out luck if they’re heading to a pair of upcoming Shakira shows at MetLife Stadium.The public transit agency announced it was nixing bus and rail service to the arena Thursday and Friday due to a potential strike planned by NJ Transit engineers by the end of the week.“Due to the potential rail service stoppage, NJ TRANSIT will not be operating train or bus service to MetLife Stadium for the Shakira concerts on May 15th and 16th.Visit metlifestadium.com for more information & travel options,” the company wrote on social media Monday afternoon.If the strike happens, it would be the first for the Garden State-owned bus and rail service since 1983.Thursday’s concert is sold out, meaning the strikes could impact thousands of the stadium’s 82,500 capacity crowd depending how many were planning on taking public transit.NJ Transit reps and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers union are set to meet in Washington Monday, where the sides will resume mediation in an attempt to avoid a work stoppage, according to NBC News.Around 800,000 passengers take NJ Transit buses and trains on a typical day, according to the company, translating to about 270 million riders annually.Depending on how long a strike drags on, it could also impact Beyoncé’s MetLife tour dates.

She’s set to play five shows at the Meadowlands, beginning May 22....