Town Eliminates $1 Bus Fee For South Fork Commuter Connection

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Great news for those who've opted to leave their cars at home in the Hamptons: Beginning January 13, 2020 riders on the South Fork Commuter Connection will no longer pay the additional $1 charge for bus service.

After consultation with East Hampton Town, the Long Island Rail Road and New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, the Southampton town board approved a resolution requesting the $1 fare surcharge now currently included in the cost of the LIRR ticket be eliminated, a release from Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said.

Riders on the South Fork Commuter Connection will now only pay $3.25 each way for the Long Island Railroad ticket; the bus service to the rider’s destination, commonly referred to as the "last mile", provided by the town, will now be free, officials said.

In addition to saving money, the change in fare policy will streamline ticketing by allowing riders to purchase regular LIRR daily tickets, weekly tickets and monthly passes; they will also be able to order their tickets through the LIRR "e ticketing" app, town officials said.

The South Fork Commuter Connection kicked off in March in an effort to generate interest among commuters on the South Fork in using the train. The program has grown three times in popularity since its inception, Schneiderman said, but the town wants to provide more incentive to riders to get onboard.

For more information about schedules for the South Fork Commuter Connection, click here.