A commute-crippling Long Island Rail Road strike is again potentially weeks away, and neither the MTA nor labor leaders are expressing optimism about reaching a settlement soon.

After a request for intervention by President Donald Trump pushed off a potential strike in September, a new Jan. 16 deadline is looming. If a deal isn't reached by then, five unions representing roughly half the LIRR's labor force could walk off the job beginning at 12:01 a.m. that day — or either side could request the White House appoint a second mediation board, which would establish a final strike deadline in May.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority management and unions haven't met since Nov. 17. Both sides say they’re eager to resume meaningful talks about a new contract and both accuse each other of

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