Montauk Summer Bus Shuttle Back For 2018 Season: Thiele

MONTAUK, NY — New York State's 2018 budget will pave the way for the popular Montauk summer bus shuttle to continue this year.

New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. announced Monday that the 2018 budget approved by the state legislature contains $100,000 for East Hampton to continue the successful summer bus shuttle in Montauk for the coming summer season.

Thiele said he first funded the project in 2017.

Last year, from late June until Labor Day, East Hampton Town provided a free shuttle bus service in Montauk with regular pickups every 15 to 30 minutes throughout the hamlet between Hither Hills State Park and the downtown and harbor areas, Thiele said.

Riders were able to board the bus at pre-scheduled pickup locations, as well as flag down rides along parts of the 16-mile route between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven days a week, he explained. The town contracted for the bus service with Hampton Hopper, which ran the mobile-app based shuttle service, Thiele said.

According to data collected, ridership on the shuttle grew from 1,600 passengers its first week to 2,800 passengers by the end of summer.

“The East End needs more public transit. This year’s state budget provides funding to support the season shuttle in Montauk, as well as $500,000 in state funding for bus connections in association with the South Fork Commuter Connection. That local commuter service is scheduled to begin in early 2019," Thiele said.

Patch file photo.