NJ Transit and an engineers’ union appear to be heading toward a major rail strike that would start Friday — the first one in decades. Currently, both sides are in Washington, D.C. participating in mediation,

An NJ Transit strike could trigger other transit changes around the region, including worsening traffic due to displaced NJ Transit passengers driving to work. Newark Light Rail will operate extended peak hour service if a strike happens, NJ Transit said. NJ Transit will also add bus service on regular routes.

NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) are meeting in Washington today to resume the tense negotiations. The union’s members overwhelmingly rejected the first deal in April, and both sides are reportedly far apart on wages.