Barricades go up at Ronkonkoma

MTA workers not affiliated with the striking unions set up barricades and pickup points for LIRR shuttle buses at Ronkonkoma on Saturday.

Under the MTA’s contingency plan, shuttle service would not begin until Monday at 4:30 a.m, a detail some riders were not aware of.

Chris Tsoukaladelis, 29, who lives near the Ronkonkoma train station, said he had come to take a shuttle on Saturday.

The computer scientist said he was to meet his parents at John F. Kennedy Airport and take them to Long Island. He was unaware the shuttles were not running this weekend.

“I’ll probably have to take an Uber,” he said, and another back with his parents.

Tsoukaladelis, who works from home, said he was aware of the strike.

“By Monday, we may not even have a strike anymore,” he said. “So, we'll see what happens.”