East End Legislators Score Victory With Legislature Passage of Sunday Bus Service

The Suffolk County Legislature approved a plan which would offer Sunday service on Suffolk County buses at the expense of a fare hike.

Legis. Jay Schneiderman, I - Montauk, who sponsored the legislation, said by increasing the rate from $1.50 per ride to $2, the service expansion will pay for itself. However, in the latest clash between the county's legislative and executive branches, County Executive Steve Levy has already said he will veto the proposal, leaving Schneiderman and fellow East End Legislator Ed Romaine, R - Center Moriches, the task of finding another vote to override the veto.

Tuesday's debate prior to the vote — which was tallied at 11-7 — showed two different points of view on what is best for the county's working class. 

"From what I've been hearing from riders, this is the thing to do," said Schneiderman, who added that the only other option for transportation for many people on Sunday is a cab. "No one wants to raise the fares. We all know that. But the result is saving riders more money, not spending more."

While every bus rider throughout the county would be forced to bear the 50-cent increase whether they ride the Sunday bus or not, the fact that people can't use the bus to get to work on Sunday — "a vestige to the blue laws," as Schneiderman said — won the day. For now, at least.

"The less people make, the more they have to work on Sunday," said Deputy Presiding Officer Vivian Villoria-Fisher, D - East Setauket. "These people are cleaning the bathrooms in gyms,  mopping the floor in your mall ... Working on Sundays goes with the territory with many of these service jobs."

Those in the minority didn't necessarily disagree with offering Sunday bus service. It's just a matter of finding out if it's something riders across the county would be willing to pay more for every day of the week, said Rick Montano, D - Brentwood.

"We haven't done what I think is proper background," he said.

Schneiderman said much of the testimony for the bill came from hearings held regarding MTA fare increases, which resurrected a dialogue across the East End to form a Peconic Bay Transportation Authority.

"If you go to the bus stops and give people a piece of paper — in English and Spanish — and ask them if they need Sunday service," Montano continued. "If they say yes, would they be willing to pay 33 percent more? If so, I would certainly be willing to support this."

Legis. Tom Barraga, R - West Islip, railed against more than one part of Schneiderman's plan. In addition to hiking the fare for everybody week-round, Barraga took exception with how Schneiderman's proposal would take effect. According to the text of the resolution, the Department of Public Works would have until the end of January 2011 to come up with a plan, at which point public hearings on the plan would take place. Barraga called the plan a "mandate" for the department.

Differences in opinion between Levy and Schneiderman turned out to be a numbers game. 

"It would require a $1 increase to properly fund Sunday service," said Levy. "This is far too much for 100 percent of the riders to bear for a service that will benefit only 12 percent of the routes. While I support Sunday bus service, funding should come through federal and state aid, not from the working class riders."

Should Schneiderman and Romaine be able to muster the votes needed to override Levy's veto, public hearings would take place no later than March 15, and fares would be hiked on May 1.