New York subways, buses roll again

"Thank God," said Patrick Cunningham, who works on Wall Street, in a sentiment echoed by millions of New Yorkers who had struggled without the subways and buses that normally carry 7 million people a day.

Buses began to pick up passengers late on Thursday after another chaotic evening commute and a few subways went back into service around midnight. Officials said a least one train would operate on each line and that they hoped to have something resembling full service by the Friday morning commute.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 leader Roger Toussaint said the union's executive board voted overwhelmingly to end the strike despite not reaching a new contract.

City officials have estimated the economic hit from the strike at $1 billion during the three days. It came in the week before Christmas and Hanukkah when retailers, restaurants and other service industries would normally be at their busiest.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed the resolution and said he was hopeful the Christmas shopping season could still prevail. "There's still plenty of time for people to shop," he said.