Janno Lieber said the Long Island Rail Road could restart more or less the day after a contract deal, with crews already positioning equipment and staff for a rapid return.
Overnight bargaining ran until nearly 2 a.m. Monday after the National Mediation Board and Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed both sides back to the table, and Lieber said some progress was made.
Federal inspections still must be completed before trains can run, making the timing of a settlement the key trigger for restoring full service.
The strike began Saturday and has now stretched into a third day, disrupting the LIRR's roughly 250,000 daily riders as five unions representing about 3,500 workers seek raises.
Could reforming a federal drug program be the key to ending the LIRR strike and preventing future fare hikes?
With the strike costing $70 million daily, why can't the two sides bridge a comparatively small contract gap?