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PHILADELPHIA (AP) The largest union for workers at Philadelphia's transit agency is striking after negotiations on a new contract broke down.

The Transport Workers Union Local 234 says the strike began at 3 a.m. Tuesday. It will all but cripple a transit system that averages more than 928,0000 trips each weekday.

Willie Brown, the local's president, says the union decided to strike after both sides agreed that they had gone as far as they could go in negotiations.

All bus, subway and trolley service in the city, as well as the Frontier Division buses in Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester Counties, will be stilled by a strike. Regional Rail service won't be interrupted because those crews are covered by separate contracts.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-03-09 0356CST | save this article / add to your favorites list