PRESS ADVISORY
March 6, 2020
Contact: Connie Conway
(631) 702-1743
Southampton and East Hampton Town Supervisors and other elected officials, including NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming gathered today to mark the one year anniversary of the launch of the South Fork Commuter Connection. This innovative program combines increased train service provided by the Long Island Railroad with coordinated local shuttle bus connecting service supplied by the two towns. Operating on the South Fork on eastern Long Island, for only $3.25 each way, commuters can take the South Fork Commuter Connection to or from Speonk to Montauk and destinations in between. With a low one-way fare, and discounts for purchasing weekly and monthly passes, there is no better way to leave the traffic behind.
“We are going to continue to bring in state funding to support the towns with the last mile bus service,” said New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele. “We expect there will be another $500,000.00 in this year’s budget that will help the towns provide this vital service to bring people from the trains and to and from their jobs.”
“The Town of Southampton is ready as ridership continues to grow,” said Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. “We have just completed a new parking lot off of Ponquogue Ave, just south of the railroad tracks, to allow more commuters to park and take the South Fork Commuter Connection this spring as highway traffic continues to build.”
“This has reduced the number of vehicles on our roadways and in our parking lots,” said East Hampton Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc. “We are also reducing carbon emissions.”
“As we work toward expanding and fortifying the LIRR system, we’re constantly looking for new ways to meet the connectivity needs of the millions of customers we serve each year,” LIRR President Phillip Eng said. “The South Fork Commuter Connection represents how collaborative efforts between the Railroad and our partners on the East End can help make ideas like this a reality.”
“This project is so important to our coastal communities to reduce carbon emissions and assist local businesses to bring employees to and from work,” said Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming.
“I appreciate the work of our local employers and school districts who support their employees who use this type of transportation,” said Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni.
