Thiele Unveils Plan for Enhanced LIRR Service on the East End

It's great news for East End residents who have long bemoaned the lack of Long Island Rail Road trains on both the North and South Forks.

New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele said, in a release, that on Thursday, executive officers and staff of the Long Island Rail Road met with state, county, and local government officials to discuss short-term and long-term public transit improvements and enhanced service for the East End.

This meeting, Thiele said, was a follow-up to an initial meeting held in July, 2016 to address the need for improved service in the area, where residents have expressed frustration with the dearth of public transportation.

During the months since, the five East End municipalities worked to develop proposals for additional service, which was forwarded to the LIRR for perusal and consideration.

At last week's meeting, LIRR reps and East End officials, including Thiele, New York State Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, members of the East Hampton Town board, and planning board representatives, discussed the proposals.

North Fork recommendations

1. An increase in the number of weekday departures from Greenport from three to four, by repurposing the "so-called 'Jury Train' from Deer Park to Riverhead", which currently has low ridership.

According to Thiele, "It was determined that a fourth weekday departure from Greenport could be accommodated. The LIRR, he said, will provide a draft schedule, to include four departures from Greenport for consideration by North Fork local governments.

2. An increase in the number of weekend trains to Greenport between April and November from two to three. The determination was made that at least the one additional trip could be accommodated with existing equipment, if an additional crew was added, Thiele said.

The LIRR, he added, will review the cost of providing the needed crew and will provide a draft schedule for consideration by the North Fork local governments.

3. A "Fishermen Train": Currently, Thiele said, the LIRR runs an equipment train, which doesn't pick up passengers, from Ronkonkoma to Greenport, arriving at 5 a.m. in order to have a train in Greenport for the weekday 5:30 a.m. departure heading westbound. The LIRR, Thiele said, has proposed that on a seasonal basis, that train could service passengers to Greenport and be marketed as a "fishermen train", to enhance the tourism marketing on the North Fork and bring customers to Greenport on a seasonal basis to enjoy the fishing industry.

South Fork recommendations

1. A restoration of the South Fork commuter connection originally implemented on a trial basis between 2006 and 2007 during the County Road 39 expansion project. That service provided two eastbound commuter trains in the morning from Speonk to Montauk, and an afternoon westbound commuter train from Montauk to Speonk.

There was also a "last chance" bus from Montauk to Speonk during the late afternoon commuting period, Thiele said.

At the time, the towns provided shuttle buses to transport commuters from train stations to employment centers in the morning and back to the train stations in the afternoon.

At the meeting, Thiele said, it was agreed that similar service could be accommodated, though some service modifications for Mondays and Fridays might be needed during the summer season. Modifications to the service provided in 2006 and 2007 will also be considered, including a replacement of the "last chance bus" with a train and implementation of the service year-round, by including the summer season.

All involved recognized that the summer schedule would need to take into account the existing summer schedule and demand where there is already increased service, including the "cannonball," Thiele said.

LIRR reps said they would provide South Fork local governments with a potential schedule for the service so that joint planning could commence.

2. A long term capital plan. The long-term goal for the South Fork is to provide service every half hour eastbound during the morning commute and westbound during the afternoon commute, Thiele said

Lack of infrastructure and equipment precludes such additional service. A second track from Sayville to Montauk, or at least additional siding(s) on the South Fork would be required to provide for more frequent service, he said.

"It was agreed that there should be a study completed to create a plan for these longer term capital needs. It was agreed that state legislators would seek funding to undertake such a study," Thiele said, adding that the LIRR agreed to work with East End officials on the scope of the study and to provide available information regarding infrastructure costs.

Outlining a timetable, Thiele said on the North Fork, the goal was to provide the additional service by the end of 2017.

On the South Fork, he added, commuter service will take longer to implement.

Once schedules are agreed to by the LIRR and South Fork local governments, the towns must also implement a transit service to get commuters to and from train stations to employment centers, he said.

"This will require funding and planning to establish. It will also require cooperation with the local business community. An aggressive marketing campaign will be required to educate the public about the new service. Therefore, the estimated start date for the new service would be early 2018," Thiele said in the release.

State legislators, Thiele said, will seek funding for the creation of a long-term capital plan during the 2017 state budget process.

Next steps, Thiele said, include East End representatives and the LIRR meeting in early March "to hopefully agree to the new services, establish train schedules, and needed additional actions to finalize the new services."

Lawmakers applauded the news.

"I'm grateful to Assemblyman Thiele for his hard work on our behalf," said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. "He has worked tirelessly to bring improved rail service to the East End. This will not only help expand our tourism industry, it will help ease congestion on our roads. The fact that he was able to secure increased service from the MTA is no small feat."

Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard was also kpleased with the announcement. "I think it's great for the whole North Fork and hopefully, will grow in use and lead to less congestion on the roads and parking issues in the village."

Added Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter, "We are very grateful to Assemblyman Thiele and Senator Ken LaValle for their efforts in helping us work with the Long Island Rail Road to increase service to the East End."

On the South Fork, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said, "I am pleased to see that things are moving forward with providing train service for our workforce. The Town of Southampton will do our part to assist in making the program a success. We will develop a plan to shuttle workers from the train stations to employment center in the morning and back in the afternoon."

"We’re very pleased with the productive dialogue that has been taking place between all parties as we look at how the LIRR can best serve the needs of North Fork and South Fork communities," said Aaron Donovan, Deputy Director for External Communications, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Island Rail Road - Metro-North Railroad."