New Hamptons LIRR Service Kicks Off, To Delight Of Commuters

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — After years of pleading from residents and elected officials alike, the big day came Monday — and a little blast of wintry weather from Mother Nature did nothing to slow down the maiden voyage of the MTA Long Island Railroad's new "South Fork Commuter Connection" service.

Town Southampton Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming were onboard the 8:26 a.m. LIRR train out of Hampton Bays Monday morning to officially launch the highly anticipated new service.

Despite the inclement weather conditions, there were 15 passengers on the first train out of Speonk and a dozen onboard the second morning train out of Hampton Bays, town officials said.

“I want to thank New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and State Senator Ken LaValle for their strong leadership to make this happen,” Schneiderman said. “This commuter service took years of hard work at the state and local levels to bring on track.”

Ridership is expected to build as the traffic starts to build later this spring on Sunrise Highway and County Road 39, town officials said.

MTA Long Island Rail Road timetables changed on Monday, bringing new service to the South Fork and accommodating Montauk Branch track work, as crews replace rail ties between Babylon and Sayville, the LIRR said. The work will continue through May 17.

Starting on Monday the LIRR added six trains per day east of Speonk, three one-way trips in the mornings and three in the afternoon. Select trains will connect with shuttles at East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Southampton, Amagansett and Montauk that will transport customers to and from selected employment centers and workplace, including Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, schools and the downtown area.

A joint fare covering trains and shuttles costs $4.25 one way. Tickets will be available at select full-service ticket vending machines, where South Fork Commuter Connection ticket will be listed under "Deals & Getaways." Customers are encouraged to purchase a return trip ticket in advance.

"The system is designed to provide a new commuting option on the South Fork, alleviate roadway congestion and stimulate the South Fork economy with an environmentally friendly transportation option," a release from the LIRR said.

Because the trains and connecting services are intended for those looking to travel on the South Fork, the trains will not connect with trains traveling to or from New York City, which makes them unique in the LIRR network, officials said.

The South Fork Commuter Connection is the culmination of more than a year of discussions between South Fork elected officials and community leaders and the LIRR that has already resulted in a number of service improvements on both the North and South Forks.

In April 2017, the LIRR added an early-morning "Fisherman's Train"to the North Fork, and that November it expanded North Fork service with a new late-morning New York City-bound train. In May, 2018 the LIRR doubled seasonal North Fork weekend service and extended a morning rush hour train to Southampton, Hampton Bays and Westhampton that was enabled by the LIRR's recent Montauk Branch signalization project.

"To anyone who's ever been stuck in traffic on the South Fork I say, give the train a try and see if it can solve your travel needs," Long Island Rail Road President Phil Eng said. "The connecting shuttles will greatly extend the reach of this service, bringing you one step closer to door-to-door service."

Thiele pointed out that the idea of a South Fork commuter service is something he has worked on since 1994, when he was a town supervisor.

"Over the years, there have been many attempts to execute this dream," Thiele said.

In 1996, an East End Transportation Council was created to develop solutions to the growing transportation problems on the East End. In 2005, local municipalities signed a memorandum of understanding to identify and improve traffic and transportation issues — it was the culmination of a four-year planning process known as Sustainable East End Development Strategies, or SEEDS, Thiele said.

Input was also provided by the Five Town Rural Transit, a local advocacy group formed to research the development of the "East End Shuttle" and explore the issue of public transportation, Thiele said.

"Needless to say, it has been a long and winding road, and I am thrilled this idea has finally come to fruition. I thank the Long Island Rail Road for its commitment to establish the South Fork Commuter Connection and make this dream come true. I also thank East Hampton and Southampton Towns for their crucial participation in this project," he said.

The South Fork Commuter Connection is expected to prove a boon in terms of reduced traffic congestion; a cleaner environment, getting more cars off the road; and a bolstered local economy, by making it easier for businesses to attract and retain employees, Thiele added. "This is a first step towards improved public transit on the South Fork. I look forward to building ridership and working on infrastructural improvements to sustain a more frequent and convenient service in the future," he said.

Schneiderman said he agreed that the South Fork Commuter Connection is the result of years of hard work by state representatives, including Thiele and LaValle.

"They fought for the funding needed to bring the trains to the South Fork and help the Towns of Southampton and East Hampton fund the last mile with connecting bus service," Schneiderman said. "We know this alternative will give commuters a choice that will save time and make their commutes to work less stressful. Why spend an hour or more in traffic going from Hampton Bays to Southampton Village when the train ride is only 10 minutes?"

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone also applauded the kickoff: "This new connection represents an important innovation to our South Fork public transportation network that will help thousands of residents make that critical last-mile connection to employment centers and busy downtowns without the need for a personal automobile."

Track renewal project
A track renewal project starting on Monday will necessitate buses replacing two eastbound and two westbound trains between Babylon and Speonk, Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. The railway tie replacement project is expected to last until May 17.

Eastbound Trains Affected:

• Passengers on the 10:26 a.m. from Penn Station will board buses at Babylon for stations from Bay Shore through Speonk.
• Passengers on the 11:22 a.m. from Penn Station will board buses at Babylon for stations from Bay Shore through Patchogue.
Passengers should expect up to 30 minutes of additional travel time, the LIRR said.

Westbound Trains Affected:
• Buses will substitute for the train that normally originates at 10:25 a.m. from Patchogue and will make all local stops to Babylon, where customers will connect to a 10:53 a.m. train to Penn Station.
• Buses will substitute for the train that normally originates at 2 p.m. from Speonk and will make all local stops to Babylon, where customers will connect to a 3:06 p.m. train to Penn Station.
Passengers traveling from stations between Patchogue and Babylon and Speonk and Babylon will board buses 30 minutes earlier than normal.

Channels for Service Updates

Customers can see real-time positions of upcoming trains in real time, on a smartphone-optimized map that refreshes every 3 to 5 seconds, by logging into myLIRR.org, the LIRR said.

Customers are urged to sign up to receive the alerts by clicking here. To avoid unwanted messages, a user can tailor the messages to the specific branch, and the specific times of day.

In addition, customers who use the new, comprehensive MYmta app will see real-time travel information for LIRR and connecting services all in one place. As a caution, trains that start out their trips on time may experience delays en route. The LIRR Train Time app also remains available for customers to access LIRR train information.

Information is also available from the LIRR's customer service center by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and saying: "Long Island Rail Road." Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the LIRR at 511.

To learn more about the South Fork Commuter Connection, click www.sfccLIRR.com.