Waiting for a bus that may not come

Julio Garcia, 34, of Holtsville, said he and other commuters had been waiting at the Ronkonkoma station since 3:30 a.m. expecting to get on a shuttle bus. He needed to be in the city for work at 7 a.m.

But at about 4:30 a.m., a woman in their group called the LIRR service number and was told that shuttle service didn’t start until Monday.

“There’s no signs that say it starts on Monday, he said.

No LIRR employees – even conductors who were told they would assist commuters – were present.

An MTA spokesperson said Saturday that no shuttle bus services will be available until Monday at 4:30 a.m.

Garcia said he was told by a person on the customer service phone number he could take the NICE bus, but that meant he’d still have to find a way to Jamaica.

He said he would take a sick day today and tomorrow, but he feared the potential chaos that could ensue Monday.

“I hope it ends today,” he said of the strike.