East End officials gathered at the bus shelter in front of the Suffolk County Center in Riverside on Friday to announce their intent to try and bring Sunday bus service to riders on the East End. 

It will be the second bill sponsored by Legislator Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, in the past few months to offer the service. Though this bill focuses specifically on East End riders, an attempt to offer Sunday service throughout the county was vetoed by County Executive Steve Levy in January.

The plan would raise bus fares on the S92 and 10C routes from their current rate of $1.50 per ride up to $2.

Schneiderman said that the S92 route had the highest Saturday ridership of all routes last year, an indication he said that Sunday service would be equally well-received. He said the bump in fare will entirely pay for Sunday service on the two routes. 

"One concern voiced with the previous bill was that some people not receiving Sunday service would be paying regardless," said Schneiderman, who said that bus fares have not been raised in 19 years, and Nassau's current rate is $2.25 per ride.

"This bill addresses that, without asking the taxpayers to pay for the increase in service," he said. 

Schneiderman was joined by fellow Legislator Ed Romaine, R-Center Moriches - who has co-sponsored the bill - Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell, Southampton Transportation Director Tom Neely, and Vince Taldone, a member of the Suffolk County Planning Council and board of directors on 5 Town Rural Transit, an organization advocating for increased public transit on the East End. 

On Thursday, Taldone met with Riverhead Town Board members to gather support for the bill, which everyone seemed to be behind. 

However some users of the bus said they were not on board. 

"I don't know how many working class people can afford it," said Ed Grienke, a Medford resident who relies on the bus. "I spend $4.50 to $6.00 a day on the bus. It may not sound like a lot, but if you increase the rates and count that per ride, it adds up."

"Would the raise come with better service?" asked Craig Jones, a Riverside resident also reliant on the bus. "Not only are these late a lot but some of these drivers need to take a course in Customer Relations 101. We need better quality."

Both admitted that they had missed personal engagements in the past because they were unable to get there. However Jones said his schedule now revolves around the bus service, saying after 6:00 and on Sundays, "I'm at home."

Grienke's cost concerns for those taking the bus were echoed at the Dec. 21, 2010 Legislature meeting, when Schneiderman's first proposal passed (later to be vetoed). 

"The people who often take the bus are low income and the working poor who depend on the bus to get them back and forth from work every day," said Legislator Ken Barraga, R-West Islip. "So $5 a week adds up to $20 a month and $240 a year. Add that with increases food, rent, clothing, electric, heat, insurance, and the people getting hit hardest with these raises are the working poor."

Schneiderman and others said on Friday that the East End's economy, particularly during the summer season, is one of its own and can't be compared to western Suffolk County. 

"The economy of the East End is built on a seven day work week," said Russell. "People need public transit to get to their jobs, but our current system is so woefully inadequate right now that many can't."

Conrad Dabrowski, a Riverhead resident who relies on the bus, said he would support an increase in fare for Sunday service. While he used to go to Sag Harbor on Sundays when he had a vehicle, he said he can no longer go and would enjoy the opportunity. 

"It's pretty inexpensive, so I think it would be worth it," he said. 

Schneiderman said on Friday that Sunday buses would run hourly for eight hours. If passed, the fare hike would take effect on June 17 and Sunday service would start on July 3.