Last shuttle buses depart Ronkonkoma

The last shuttle bus to leave Ronkonkoma as the strike came to a close departed at 9:06 a.m. with a single passenger.

“We don’t leave anyone behind,” an MTA employee said.

One completely empty bus remained in the station. It left after MTA employees told the driver no more passengers would come.

Passengers on the second-to-last bus to leave Ronkonkoma were mostly grateful to have made the cut.

“I'm excited that I'm making it on the shuttle,” said Natalie Bederman, 29, of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, who ran to the shuttle after being dropped off in a car. “I thought I was gonna be late, and this has been crazy, but I'm really excited to be here, and I'm thankful that they thought of a system as a backup for us to get to work.”

Bederman, who works as a child psychologist in Brooklyn, was the last person on the penultimate shuttle to leave Ronkonkoma, which was about a quarter full of people.

Jay Rivas, 19, of Brentwood, also took the second-to-last shuttle to his job as a swim instructor in Brooklyn.

He said he couldn’t make his shift on Saturday as there was no way for him to get to Brooklyn. Rivas said he relies on the railroad to get to work and usually takes the train from Brentwood.

“My only thoughts on the strike is that they should just pay the people… the shuttle is very inconvenient,” Rivas said. “I think this strike is very avoidable … just pay your workers. ... We all should be on that right now, but no, because the workers aren't getting paid fair.“

James Baron-Murray, 49, of Mastic, said he works in Manhattan as a technician.

“This is my first time on it, so last first and last time, hopefully,” said Baron-Murray, who was one of the last people to leave Ronkonkoma on a shuttle.