OAKLAND, Calif. -- Bay Area transportation officials are urging residents to plan alternative methods of getting to and from work in the event of a strike by BART employees that could happen as soon as July 1.

A strike became a distinct possibility Tuesday with one union voting in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary. Another is scheduled to conclude voting Tuesday night.

Ninety-one percent of BART workers with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3993, which represents about 200 middle managers, voted in a secret ballot in favor of authorizing their union leaders to call for a strike if both sides do not come to an agreement at the conclusion of negotiation discussions at the end of this month.

Local 3993 president Jean Hamilton Tuesday said the vote is standard procedure as union leaders and BART management move forward in the negotiation process.