Suffolk Transit October 10th Cuts and changes

[mac5689]

Notice
Service Changes
Effective Monday October 10, 2016

The Following Routes Will Be Eliminated:

1B, 5A, 7D/E, 10A, 10 D/E, S35, S71, S90

The S66 will add a 5:00 AM westbound trip from Bank St. in Center Moriches to Patchogue LIRR. The 12:00 Noon westbound trip from Riverhead to Patchogue LIRR will be eliminated.

 

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

So they're gonna say "f**k you" to everyone who has no alternative. Also, why didn't they say anything about a midday cut on the S66 beforehand? As if adding an earlier trip suddenly negates that.

[mac5689]

Except for maybe portions of the S90 and 5A. Most places to my knowledge have alternatives. The 7D/7E has the S66 and two runs on the S68. The major stops on the S71 has other routes with transfers. Portions of the 5A has the S58 and S62.

 

I believe it was mentioned that other changes would be done, when cuts were first talked about late last year/ early this year Run cuts WERE mentioned as a possibility.

 

The mid day cut on the S66 is probably because very little people ride it. (I know two years ago the Noon time S66 run always seem to run more then five minutes early, like nearly ten I think I even clocked it as 20 minutes early once.)

 

Again Suffolk can't afford to pay 

[DetSMART45]

So Nassau-thinking has crept eastward and is beginning to infect the whole of Long Island.  Maybe the MTA should adjust the LIRR schedules similarly, since it's obvious Suffolk-ites don't really care/want public transportation and get around using their cars.

 

Suffolk CAN pay, it's just that other "priorities" seem to strip funding from transit.

 

The COUNTY has let Suffolk Transit run in the red for years, while other county departments seem to have no funding issues and even get increases.

 

If the county wants to play the "we can't afford it" game, then ALL county departments should see the same budgeting math applied to them.

 

It's just too EASY for them to hit public transit because of affluence/number of people who don't have to rely on it because of car ownership and even to some extent the population distribution.

 

If the MTA did the same with the LIRR, there'd be a stink made (just like when they raise the fares).  But if local bus service gets hit, not a ripple made.

[mac5689]

So Nassau-thinking has crept eastward and is beginning to infect the whole of Long Island.  Maybe the MTA should adjust the LIRR schedules similarly, since it's obvious Suffolk-ites don't really care/want public transportation and get around using their cars.

 

Suffolk CAN pay, it's just that other "priorities" seem to strip funding from transit.

 

The COUNTY has let Suffolk Transit run in the red for years, while other county departments seem to have no funding issues and even get increases.

 

If the county wants to play the "we can't afford it" game, then ALL county departments should see the same budgeting math applied to them.

 

It's just too EASY for them to hit public transit because of affluence/number of people who don't have to rely on it because of car ownership and even to some extent the population distribution.

 

If the MTA did the same with the LIRR, there'd be a stink made (just like when they raise the fares).  But if local bus service gets hit, not a ripple made.

The county has played the "We can't afford to pay" with other county agencies.

 

Not that long ago the former county executive dispanded they Police Highway Patrol and handed it over to the Sheieff Department because the Sheieff pays Deputies less. He had also made other cages to the PD.

 

Suffolk has a budget deficit, it is effecting everyone, just because the transit vuts make the news while the rest hasn't doesn't mean everything else is fine.

 

Yes Suffolk Transit has run in or near the red for years, however these past few years the County's budget hasn't been doing well. There have been a period where the Sales tax, or some type of tax, hasn't come in at the level that was expected.

[DetSMART45]

For all of the "smart" (or so they say) people in government, you'd think they'd know not to put all their eggs in one basket.  Both Nassau and Suffolk put a lot of funding burdens on sales tax revenue, and if people aren't out spending money because of the economy, then that's one of the first things that's going to take the hit.

 

As much as Long Island likes to maintain its love/hate relationship with NYC, when it comes to regional transportation, both Nassau and Suffolk should just leave it to the MTA -- including bus service.  Have a sales tax that specifically goes to transportation and have safeguards in place where it CANNOT be raided for other purposes, use the payroll tax regionwide, and possibly have a certain levy put on the property tax base.

 

It does work in Chicago, even though the CTA gets the largest percentage of their RTA over Pace/Metra, and it could work similarly on Long Island.

 

It's just that while the counties want "local control," they've consistently shown they can't do the job, while at the same time saying the big, evil MTA from "The City" would do worse/cost more.

 

The MTA has the resources, and could actually drive down the costs because of its immense size.  They may get "special treatment" from Albany when it comes to funding, but they're going to be light years ahead of "The Island" while having such a huge infrastructure to maintain.  But these two counties can't seem to make connecting service within their own backyards to what the MTA runs pretty efficiently.

 

Both Nassau and Suffolk have got to come up with a more compelling argument against MTA regional transit than the bogeyman they currently use.

[mac5689]

 Have a sales tax that specifically goes to transportation 

 

 

 

That would NEVER get off the ground in Suffolk, and that is the honest truth. There are tax payers that don't want their taxes going for paying for transit buses. And its a sentiment that is brought up a lot when Suffolk Transit needs money, last time was around the time of one of the last fare hikes. Though the tax payers don't seem to have a problem with bus riders having to have a fare hike to help with the budget.

[DetSMART45]

That would NEVER get off the ground in Suffolk, and that is the honest truth. There are tax payers that don't want their taxes going for paying for transit buses. And its a sentiment that is brought up a lot when Suffolk Transit needs money, last time was around the time of one of the last fare hikes. Though the tax payers don't seem to have a problem with bus riders having to have a fare hike to help with the budget.

Welcome to Detroit.

 

The EXACT same mindset.

 

NOW ....... if the MTA chopped LIRR service to reflect "local" thoughts, there would somehow be hell being raised.  All those "commuters" who would have the additional costs of transport to/from the NASTY "City" plus clogged highways and roads.

 

Can't have it both ways.

[DetSMART45]

That would NEVER get off the ground in Suffolk, and that is the honest truth. There are tax payers that don't want their taxes going for paying for transit buses. And its a sentiment that is brought up a lot when Suffolk Transit needs money, last time was around the time of one of the last fare hikes. Though the tax payers don't seem to have a problem with bus riders having to have a fare hike to help with the budget.

Gonna hit this again, just because of a fresh thought -------

 

Those residents would not *necessarily* be against a transit funding tax IF IT COULD NOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING BUT THAT.

 

COTA in Columbus, Ohio has a sales tax that CANNOT be used for anything BUT funding COTA.  And therein lies the problem.

 

People DON'T want to fund things OUTSIDE what they're being sold.  AND they don't want money designated for, in this hypothetical case, SCT, getting used to fund other county departments even IF SCT would have a "surplus".

 

THAT is what annoys taxpayers the most in a "designated" tax:  How sticky fingers seem to creep into places they shouldn't be in in the first place.  Rule that out, and taxpayers wouldn't have a problem.  AND THEN STICK TO IT, especially if it is specifically written that way.

[checkmatechamp13]

So they're gonna say "f**k you" to everyone who has no alternative. Also, why didn't they say anything about a midday cut on the S66 beforehand? As if adding an earlier trip suddenly negates that.

 

The midday cut is probably them rewriting the schedule so the B/O can take a lunch break. Not sure what the 5AM trip could turn into, if it gets to Patchogue around 5:50AM. The next eastbound trip is 6:30AM for the S66 and 7AM for the S68.

 

That would NEVER get off the ground in Suffolk, and that is the honest truth. There are tax payers that don't want their taxes going for paying for transit buses. And its a sentiment that is brought up a lot when Suffolk Transit needs money, last time was around the time of one of the last fare hikes. Though the tax payers don't seem to have a problem with bus riders having to have a fare hike to help with the budget.

 

It would make it easier for people to find jobs, and thus get them off unemployment and welfare quicker. To have a lot of buses finish up around 7PM is just ridiculous. I'm sure there's low-wage workers at supermarkets, etc who would love to work longer hours if they could actually get home without spending half their paycheck on car service (that was one of the advantages of Sunday service). Same thing with overnight jobs in industrial parks and places like that. If your shift starts at 10PM or 11PM, you're supposed to catch the last bus of the night and wait around for 3-4 hours to actually start work?

[mac5689]

The midday cut is probably them rewriting the schedule so the B/O can take a lunch break. Not sure what the 5AM trip could turn into, if it gets to Patchogue around 5:50AM. The next eastbound trip is 6:30AM for the S66 and 7AM for the S68.

 

 

 

It would make it easier for people to find jobs, and thus get them off unemployment and welfare quicker. To have a lot of buses finish up around 7PM is just ridiculous. I'm sure there's low-wage workers at supermarkets, etc who would love to work longer hours if they could actually get home without spending half their paycheck on car service (that was one of the advantages of Sunday service). Same thing with overnight jobs in industrial parks and places like that. If your shift starts at 10PM or 11PM, you're supposed to catch the last bus of the night and wait around for 3-4 hours to actually start work?

It's not a rewrite for a lunch break.

 

For a period of Sept 2014 to June 2015, that 12:00 run ran early every time I had seen it. When when I was close enough to see passengers, it didn't seem that full.

 

The 5:00 would either turn into the 6:30 or it would be a driver who does the one run and either goes back to they yard until later in the day. It's up to SBC since they are in control of the driver schedules for their assigned routes.

 

Again Suffolk doesn't have the money to pay for that type of service, it was known since the system started in 1981 that Suffolk probably never would have the financial resources to support the type of bus service that other places have. I believe it's something that even Ballone has even come to realize, since he ran on a platform of making Transit better.

[B35 via Church]

DETSmart, save your strength, it's futile with this guy...

 

So they're gonna say "f**k you" to everyone who has no alternative. Also, why didn't they say anything about a midday cut on the S66 beforehand? As if adding an earlier trip suddenly negates that.

Like I said in the SCT random thoughts thread, the S66 is going to get more crowded - and I said that before this news about a midday cut on the route..... I happen to agree with you; adding an earlier trip on the S66 isn't going to help those folks that are coming off S40's @ Patchogue after the fact, to xfer to the S66....

 

But have Mac tell it, the S66 is this moderately utilized route that will see little to no addition to its ridership due to these aggregate cuts....

 

It would make it easier for people to find jobs, and thus get them off unemployment and welfare quicker. To have a lot of buses finish up around 7PM is just ridiculous. I'm sure there's low-wage workers at supermarkets, etc who would love to work longer hours if they could actually get home without spending half their paycheck on car service (that was one of the advantages of Sunday service). Same thing with overnight jobs in industrial parks and places like that. If your shift starts at 10PM or 11PM, you're supposed to catch the last bus of the night and wait around for 3-4 hours to actually start work?

Seems as if Suffolk County wants to have more of its areas in the future resemble Brentwood (which I'm more than convinced is worse than Hempstead, especially with what I've been hearing lately) or something - which coincidentally has a bunch of folks xferring b/w buses @ the RR station that work at supermarkets/shopping plazas/mall's & the like....

 

LOL @ the resident racist of Westbury (which people that really live in New Cassel say they're from) in this community, continuing to suggest that the MTA takes over bus service in long island - continuing to spout this crap about us having all this damn surplus (of buses) that we can readily shell out to Nassau & Suffolk counties... Give me a f***in break....

 

Really though, I have not heard ONE person literally say they're from New Cassel :lol:

[mac5689]

DETSmart, save your strength, it's futile with this guy...

 

 

Like I said in the SCT random thoughts thread, the S66 is going to get more crowded - and I said that before this news about a midday cut on the route..... I happen to agree with you; adding an earlier trip on the S66 isn't going to help those folks that are coming off S40's @ Patchogue after the fact, to xfer to the S66....

 

But have Mac tell it, the S66 is this moderately utilized route that will see little to no addition to its ridership due to these aggregate cuts....

Ridership won't go up by much because nearly nobody takes the 7D/E and problems like half dozen people probably take the S71 on any given run.

 

Your acting like the routes being cut are heavily used routes.

 

The early run isn't to help people transferring from the S40, its to help those along the rout from Center Moriches to Patchouge who need to get to Patchouge earlier then the 6:30 bus gets in.

[B35 via Church]

Ridership won't go up by much because nearly nobody takes the 7D/E and problems like half dozen people probably take the S71 on any given run.

 

Your acting like the routes being cut are heavily used routes.

 

The early run isn't to help people transferring from the S40, its to help those along the rout from Center Moriches to Patchouge who need to get to Patchouge earlier then the 6:30 bus gets in.

As much as you know about SCT's system, that 2nd sentence still isn't surprising coming from you; you have always had this attitude that Suffolk's routes don't carry (not even for Suffolk's standards, which is the context I speak from when I comment on SCT's routes)...

 

Outside of that, I'm going to address the misunderstanding (or blatant strawman) in that last sentence.... The point is, is that adding earlier trips to a route won't help people using buses that aren't using them that early to begin with..... No one said or alluded anything about that earlier trip being added to the S66 being of any help to anyone xferring off the S40.

[DS4Ever]

ok so heres the problem the 12noon s66 bus back to patchogue will deadhead to Ronkonkoma (considered the de facto longest deadhead of suffolk transit) which that same bus will depart Patchogue at 1030am and arrive Riverhead at 11:50am...i understand the 2 hour gap of the s58 between 10am and 12noon where there are NO s58 buses because theres an alternative (the s62) but the S66 has NO alternative and if there were an alternative it wouldve been the s90 but sadly this route will be eliminated because SCT officials see it as low ridership...if thats the case then eliminate the 8A or the s31 or the s76 those routes hardly carry passengers and if the ridership is fair it isnt much of a difference...heres the case why the S71 and the S90 CANNOT be deregistered

 

s71: this route is by fact almost bihourly and the only one to run from Stony Brook to Shirley passing though important points like SCCC Selden and especially the ONLY bus route to pass Yaphank at least as a basic local bus route and NOT as Rush Hour service...i think having it bihourly is the best option then again likewise this route like the next route to be mentioned are by current bihourly and still at ease it dosent meet the standards to be kept..it is absurd

 

s90: This route is VERY important as it is the ONLY bus route to pass through West Hampton and Quogue and as well as a relief route for the s66 between Riverhead and Center Moriches...it is bihourly but is well kept this way since the areas served arent too much commercieled to have a bus pass through it hourly...i must say this route and the s71 MUST be revived before the holiday season since it is there where the users of the itinerary areas of these two routes would feel the huge loss of thiese routes...also the gap between the closest other bus routes  (s66 due west and the s92 due east) are very far between 10-15 km which in case of walking one would take 3-4 hours to make it to the closest bus routes and hear from me i can tell you that the distances are accurate since i one time walked from East Northport (Final stop of the s58) to Route 110 and Jericho Tpke antd it took me about 2 hours to make it to the n79 connection (i made the walk since i only had $2.50 and came from East Hampton and had ONLY a $5.50 Metrocard so i was adjust) and in the map it looks quite close but think againt it aint so dont be confident of the maps and heck im young imagine a 50 year old person having to walk it would fail its health and if walking in a daily basis...NOT all Suffolk county residents have cars or are rich high officials

 

the case of Yaphank now totally depends of having to carpool OR take the one run s68 from Patchogue or thake the 7B and walk just remember that the walk from the closest point of the 7B to the Yaphank offices are half the distance from Huntington sq plaza to Walt Whitman hence it is a hour walk in total wilderness have precaution

 

the case of the other bus routes are not as much to be affected since ONE the buses routes scrapped are very close to another SCT bus and TWO are absulutely absurd routes with the exception of the 5A which benefits the senior citizens of Ridge..the only route to pass through Miller Place Sound Beach and the ONLY direct route from Artist Lake of Middle Island to Port Jefferson

 

BACK TO THE S66 12noon scrap...it should NOT be eliminated heck id said this last year and i would say it again the S66 sould put a 7:45pm run to head back to Patchogue and NOT have it dead head form Riverhead not because of a later run but to save up petrol loss from the very long deadhead from Riverhead to Ronkonkoma

 

P.S: The s40 8:30pm run should leave Patchogue to arrive Babylon RR at least at 9:10pm since it should connect on time to the LAST i repeat the LAST n72 bus that departs at 9:15pm...at that time the s40 takes about 40-45 minutes to make the full run with or without passengers...Sufflok Transit should be considered to have passengers transfer to NICE at ease and hence have access to Nassau County as well as NYC 

[DS4Ever]

The midday cut is probably them rewriting the schedule so the B/O can take a lunch break. Not sure what the 5AM trip could turn into, if it gets to Patchogue around 5:50AM. The next eastbound trip is 6:30AM for the S66 and 7AM for the S68.

 

 

It would make it easier for people to find jobs, and thus get them off unemployment and welfare quicker. To have a lot of buses finish up around 7PM is just ridiculous. I'm sure there's low-wage workers at supermarkets, etc who would love to work longer hours if they could actually get home without spending half their paycheck on car service (that was one of the advantages of Sunday service). Same thing with overnight jobs in industrial parks and places like that. If your shift starts at 10PM or 11PM, you're supposed to catch the last bus of the night and wait around for 3-4 hours to actually start work?

------------------

 

i say the same i mean why CT Transit have later bus runs and the population it serves are less than Suffolk Transit...having the last escaping route from Riverhead at 6:50 is very absurd at least like said last year at 7:45pm is a good timing then again SCT bus company has its own crazy politics totally absurd...if SCT bus thinks that there losing money then raise up the fare to 2.50 and 2.75 for the s92 and 10c after all the 110 km run for the s92 bus from Orient Point to East Hampton is considered the cheapest bus ride pole to pole and 2.25 is too less to waste up petrol...Then again the RIPTA 66 bus has a 72 km run from Kennedy plaza all the way to Galilee ferry dock at a $2 bus ride but $3 dollars if coming from Pawtiucket or must say from South Atlleboro,mass.

 

 

[mac5689]

ok so heres the problem the 12noon s66 bus back to patchogue will deadhead to Ronkonkoma (considered the de facto longest deadhead of suffolk transit) which that same bus will depart Patchogue at 1030am and arrive Riverhead at 11:50am..

 

The bus may not deadhead back to the yard. That is just one possibility. The Company could have the driver deadhead to Patchouge and resume their run or deadhead to Patchouge an have the driver switch with another one that had come from the yard. 

 

The S71 will at some point in time be replaced with a BRT route going from Patchouge to Selden-SCCC then Stony Brook. With all the money Bellone has spent on studying it, I wouldn't be surprised if they started it soon. Also it's not like there aren't other alternatives, the same alternatives that were around before the County started the S71  

 

I mean to me, it seems wasteful to spend money on a route that few people may use per run when you are going to be replacing it with what they say will be a better faster route. Not to mention the money for the new route has to come from somewhere. 

[DetSMART45]

The bus may not deadhead back to the yard. That is just one possibility. The Company could have the driver deadhead to Patchouge and resume their run or deadhead to Patchouge an have the driver switch with another one that had come from the yard. 

 

The S71 will at some point in time be replaced with a BRT route going from Patchouge to Selden-SCCC then Stony Brook. With all the money Bellone has spent on studying it, I wouldn't be surprised if they started it soon. Also it's not like there aren't other alternatives, the same alternatives that were around before the County started the S71  

 

I mean to me, it seems wasteful to spend money on a route that few people may use per run when you are going to be replacing it with what they say will be a better faster route. Not to mention the money for the new route has to come from somewhere. 

BRT is just the newest fad for transit agencies to jump on, especially because they think they can somehow convince people who don't use public transport to use it, and the TA/municipalities get a sizable chunk of the funding from the Feds.  Their "goal" of improving service all hinges on that influx of money -- because, left to their own devices, they wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

 

I compare it to this "green energy" BS that nobody really pays attention to because of the "good intentions" at its root.  Look at your electric bill:  According to what we're sold, an electric utility is "compelled" (via law in most places, but it gives them a chance at advertising how they're such good people while charging what they do) to put up windmills and solar panels all under the premise that end electric rates will come DOWN.  Pull out some old bills from that file or desk drawer where they've gone to die sometime and compare to what you get now.  In the vast majority of cases, your cost has gone UP, and if yours is like mine, there's an actual CHARGE monthly that's supposed to go toward these initiatives.  And the case will be made: Well, we have to spend some money now, and once we get all this going properly (that end point is almost NEVER disclosed) then rates will actually come down.  OH, and another key feature is that you're supposed to actually use less while this is going on in order for everyone to see benefits later on.  Just totally bogus, but people believe it because of the GOOD INTENTIONS.

 

Now, on its face, BRT seems something of a natural progression toward better service.  However, in SCT's case (and in a whole lot of other TAs), the agency cannot even maintain service levels at the time of these big plans surfacing, or they haven't taken steps toward that type of service in the first place because of all of the "need" that has to be met.

 

We've got the same pie-in-the-sky thinkers running amok here in Detroit right now.  Effective from Labor Day weekend, they have two limited-stop "express" buses running on Gratiot and Woodward Avs from Downtown Detroit out to basically low-ridership terminals in suburbia.  On Woodward, the RTA has the northern terminal on the one branch of suburban Woodward (SMART) service that does not have the ridership, over the one that does, which is the more urban Pontiac.  (Stroke of genius there.)  Over on Gratiot, the northern terminal is at a location where the regular Local SMART Gratiot route doesn't even serve.  Meanwhile, most of the "new" customers on Gratiot that could be captured are at points three miles north of that location.  (Because of suburban sprawl.)

 

The goal of these "RefleX" routes is to, obviously, get suburban non-riders to dump their cars and have a "fast" way to/from Downtown, especially without the need to take a DDOT bus to 8 Mile Rd and then transfer to a SMART bus into/from suburbia.  These are also to push for ... you guessed it ... BRT service along these two roads, complete with nice shiny new stations, bus lanes (if they could really get their wet dreams fulfilled), and people just FLOCKING to buses and leaving their cars behind.  AND, more importantly, lots of nice Federal $$$$$ plus a new property tax (for 20 years).

 

Now, you'd think that all of these grandiose plans would mean TONS of promotion for this "temporary" RefleX service, as a stepping stone to full-blown BRT, right?  NOPE, just brief 10-second blurbs read by the local newsreaders, a couple stories in the (dying) local Detroit papers, and NOT A WHIFF OF PROMOTION on the DDOT or SMART buses or at the selected stops.  Well, they DID manage to do full-wraps on the buses used for the service (just like the MTA does for SBS), but even then, they're using older buses which means that if those go down, unwrapped buses which travel on those same streets would be used and confusion reigns (especially on the heavily used Woodward route of DDOT, which is running that RefleX route).

 

And ......... these buses, which run around every 40 minutes, are carrying mostly air.  On the Woodward route, from end-to-end in both directions, I've seen at a high point on a weekday, maybe 15 total, with only about 30% farepayers (all others using a transfer from other Local buses).  Confusion still reigns, in that most people don't know where the stops are, and in Downtown, both routes don't go by the major bus transit area of the Rosa Parks Transit Center.  So DDOT riders are NOT happy once they find out they have to walk over there (even though it's only about 5-10 minutes away), which means that they will probably avoid it the next time, because any savings over taking a more-direct DDOT route is lost by that extra walk.

 

But let's get back to this BRT brain-drizzle for SCT.  If there was such a NEED to offer this type of service, then SCT should already have some sort of form of this going already, or at least in the not-so-distant future in implementation.  Mind you, as I began this, HOW you can peddle this "WOW" crap while: [a] Cutting service on other system routes at the same time, and Running yearly deficits and moaning about how people don't use the system currently, is beyond me, but yet another example of the desperation to convince people to keep funding the system on the entire premise that "it's going to be better in the future ... trust us!"

[checkmatechamp13]

Again Suffolk doesn't have the money to pay for that type of service, it was known since the system started in 1981 that Suffolk probably never would have the financial resources to support the type of bus service that other places have. I believe it's something that even Ballone has even come to realize, since he ran on a platform of making Transit better.

 

Like I said, I'm sure there's people who have had to turn down jobs because there's no way of getting to/from there at that hour. Those unemployment/welfare benefits cost the county money (both in terms of paying the people and in terms of the tax dollars that those people could've been paying if they were working). If the county is willing to make that investment, it will definitely pay back.

 

The S71 will at some point in time be replaced with a BRT route going from Patchouge to Selden-SCCC then Stony Brook. With all the money Bellone has spent on studying it, I wouldn't be surprised if they started it soon. Also it's not like there aren't other alternatives, the same alternatives that were around before the County started the S71  

 

I mean to me, it seems wasteful to spend money on a route that few people may use per run when you are going to be replacing it with what they say will be a better faster route. Not to mention the money for the new route has to come from somewhere. 

 

By that logic, they should've eliminated the Q70 for a few months before replacing it with the LaGuardia Link. Yeah, great idea, kill off your existing ridership first when you're trying to build new ridership along that corridor. 

 

Or since we're talking about SCT, let's cut the S1 for a few months, since they plan on putting BRT down Route 110. 

 

And this new BRT route wouldn't do anything for the people heading out to the county offices in Yaphank. So now a simple trip from Shirley to Yaphank becomes an all-day ordeal taking the S66 to the S61 to the LIRR train that runs once every 3-4 hours. Even worse if you're coming from points north (except for maybe Smith Haven)

[mac5689]

 

Suffolk CAN pay, it's just that other "priorities" seem to strip funding from transit.

 

 

I found this editorial that talks about how bad of shape Suffolk's finances are in. http://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial/suffolk-county-s-budget-problems-grow-ever-deeper-1.12369389 

 

I just figured it was on topic with talking about how you mentioned that Suffolk could pay. I don't mean anything by bringing it up again. 

 

 

 

Or since we're talking about SCT, let's cut the S1 for a few months, since they plan on putting BRT down Route 110. 

 

 

The NYS 110 BRT route has been scuttled. Or at least there has been no more mention of it. Of the three BRT routes proposed only the Nicholl's Road one is still talked about. 

 

However it would be different with the S1 as I believe that it was proposed that they would keep the S1 for local service. There was no such talk about keeping the S71 if the Nicholl's Road BRT was created, actually there was no such mention of there already being a route that connected the South Shore to SUNY Stony Brook via SCCC-Selden. Not to mention the S1 has a very good ridership (hence the 40ft buses) where as the S71 did not so the S1 probably brings in enough money where the subsidy for running it is lower then the S71. 

 

The Subsidy for the S71 was a little over $53,000 with the whole total cost being around $57,000 (I believe that's just for one month). 

[The TransitMan]

ok so heres the problem the 12noon s66 bus back to patchogue will deadhead to Ronkonkoma (considered the de facto longest deadhead of suffolk transit) which that same bus will depart Patchogue at 1030am and arrive Riverhead at 11:50am...i understand the 2 hour gap of the s58 between 10am and 12noon where there are NO s58 buses because theres an alternative (the s62) but the S66 has NO alternative and if there were an alternative it wouldve been the s90 but sadly this route will be eliminated because SCT officials see it as low ridership...if thats the case then eliminate the 8A or the s31 or the s76 those routes hardly carry passengers and if the ridership is fair it isnt much of a difference...heres the case why the S71 and the S90 CANNOT be deregistered

 

s71: this route is by fact almost bihourly and the only one to run from Stony Brook to Shirley passing though important points like SCCC Selden and especially the ONLY bus route to pass Yaphank at least as a basic local bus route and NOT as Rush Hour service...i think having it bihourly is the best option then again likewise this route like the next route to be mentioned are by current bihourly and still at ease it dosent meet the standards to be kept..it is absurd

 

s90: This route is VERY important as it is the ONLY bus route to pass through West Hampton and Quogue and as well as a relief route for the s66 between Riverhead and Center Moriches...it is bihourly but is well kept this way since the areas served arent too much commercieled to have a bus pass through it hourly...i must say this route and the s71 MUST be revived before the holiday season since it is there where the users of the itinerary areas of these two routes would feel the huge loss of thiese routes...also the gap between the closest other bus routes  (s66 due west and the s92 due east) are very far between 10-15 km which in case of walking one would take 3-4 hours to make it to the closest bus routes and hear from me i can tell you that the distances are accurate since i one time walked from East Northport (Final stop of the s58) to Route 110 and Jericho Tpke antd it took me about 2 hours to make it to the n79 connection (i made the walk since i only had $2.50 and came from East Hampton and had ONLY a $5.50 Metrocard so i was adjust) and in the map it looks quite close but think againt it aint so dont be confident of the maps and heck im young imagine a 50 year old person having to walk it would fail its health and if walking in a daily basis...NOT all Suffolk county residents have cars or are rich high officials

 

the case of Yaphank now totally depends of having to carpool OR take the one run s68 from Patchogue or thake the 7B and walk just remember that the walk from the closest point of the 7B to the Yaphank offices are half the distance from Huntington sq plaza to Walt Whitman hence it is a hour walk in total wilderness have precaution

 

the case of the other bus routes are not as much to be affected since ONE the buses routes scrapped are very close to another SCT bus and TWO are absulutely absurd routes with the exception of the 5A which benefits the senior citizens of Ridge..the only route to pass through Miller Place Sound Beach and the ONLY direct route from Artist Lake of Middle Island to Port Jefferson

 

BACK TO THE S66 12noon scrap...it should NOT be eliminated heck id said this last year and i would say it again the S66 sould put a 7:45pm run to head back to Patchogue and NOT have it dead head form Riverhead not because of a later run but to save up petrol loss from the very long deadhead from Riverhead to Ronkonkoma

 

P.S: The s40 8:30pm run should leave Patchogue to arrive Babylon RR at least at 9:10pm since it should connect on time to the LAST i repeat the LAST n72 bus that departs at 9:15pm...at that time the s40 takes about 40-45 minutes to make the full run with or without passengers...Sufflok Transit should be considered to have passengers transfer to NICE at ease and hence have access to Nassau County as well as NYC

 

The S90 to me (again in my opinion) lost ridership when the S66 was extended to Riverhead nearly a decade ago. I've driven along the S90 route MANY times and I rarely see anyone waiting for the bus (ESPECIALLY in Westhampton Beach and Quogue). Now maybe I'm wrong but I think (again my opinion) is that the S90 lost the ridership.

 

 

for maybe portions of the S90 and 5A. Most places to my knowledge have alternatives. The 7D/7E has the S66 and two runs on the S68. The major stops on the S71 has other routes with transfers. Portions of the 5A has the S58 and S62.

 

I believe it was mentioned that other changes would be done, when cuts were first talked about late last year/ early this year Run cuts WERE mentioned as a possibility.

 

The mid day cut on the S66 is probably because very little people ride it. (I know two years ago the Noon time S66 run always seem to run more then five minutes early, like nearly ten I think I even clocked it as 20 minutes early once.)

 

Again Suffolk can't afford to pay

 

I would say the S66 would be the alternate. Yes the S66 does not go to Westhampton Beach and Quogue but much of the Quogue route of the S90 (County Road 104) is mostly woods especially north of the Montauk Branch.

[mac5689]

The S90 to me (again in my opinion) lost ridership when the S66 was extended to Riverhead nearly a decade ago.

I have the same opinion. I'm suprised the S90 wasn't cut back then.

[DS4Ever]

The s66 got extended to Riverhead in 2011 before then the s90 was the only way to get to Riverhead as prior to 2011 only the s58 and the s62 were escaping routes from Riverhead and thus the east end (the s58 was extended from Artist Lake (its current short turn terminus) to Riverhead via NYS 25) ...you're right the extension of the s66 made a huge impact of the ridership to the s90 so i would say that maybe just maybe have a modification on the s90 have it made a feeder route or extend the route to Sag Harbour and thus eliminate the 10 series feeders have it commence at Center Moriches and then make a turn by Westhampton and head to Riverhead only to take the Quogue Riverhead road and enter quogue centre and there head east to Hampton bays and from there have it make the current 10 series feeders routing

 

Now on the opinion of the s71 i would be positive of it to be extended to center moriches and pass through the current s68 route

[DS4Ever]

So changing subjects i yesterday Friday 07 October went to a expedition trip and rode what was the penultimate day of service on the s90 and the s71 and here are the details

 

* the s90 #1076 arrive Riverhead (from Hampton jitney yards) at 1230 when it should've been at 12noon. And it boarded at Riverhead 4 ppassengers (including myself) ...at itinerary itpicked up two passenger one in East Quogue and another at Eastport...of the 6 passengers three disembark before Centre Moriches. ..one who boarded at itinerary disembark at Westhampton. ..of the Riverhead passengers both disembark at Quogue. ..to top it all off the #1076 was in critical conditions as it broke down three times reigniting in East Quogue Quogue and Westhampton respectively and the a/c was no working

 

* the s71 was another case as i waited for the 220pm s71 to Selden...i watched asthe s71 bounded to Shirley disembarked 5 passengers at the Shirley mall and 3 passengers remained in that same bus bounded to W.F shopping ctr...that same bus arrived 227pm justly to put my transfer for another ttransfer. ..heres the count...at thr stop it boarded 7 passengers and it had 2 onboard and one boarded at Yaphank. ..one disembarked at Yaphank. ..no one boarded or disembark at Brookhaven Town hall nor the county offices of yaphank as both the passenger who boarded and the discharged was in a non industrial stop. ..also no one boarded or disembarked at the probation centre. ..i dismounted at Selden so those passengers onboard might've gone to Stony Brook School or in a minor measurement to the RR station or Seatuket. ..no one boarded at SCCC Selden

 

* the s35 had NO passengers while i was enroute towards Hauppauge via the s33 at West Babylon

 

*The 5A had 2 passengers while i saw it onboard the s62 enroute to Riverhead. ..a trip that lasted 1h45 min since it commence at Hauppauge North Complex 10:10am and arrived Riverhead 11:53am...so on time that at Wading River it had to rest 3 minutes to be coordinated with its schedule

[mac5689]

The s66 got extended to Riverhead in 2011 before then the s90 was the only way to get to Riverhead as prior to 2011 only the s58 and the s62 were escaping routes from Riverhead and thus the east end (the s58 was extended from Artist Lake (its current short turn terminus) to Riverhead via NYS 25) ...you're right the extension of the s66 made a huge impact of the ridership to the s90 so i would say that maybe just maybe have a modification on the s90 have it made a feeder route or extend the route to Sag Harbour and thus eliminate the 10 series feeders have it commence at Center Moriches and then make a turn by Westhampton and head to Riverhead only to take the Quogue Riverhead road and enter quogue centre and there head east to Hampton bays and from there have it make the current 10 series feeders routing

Now on the opinion of the s71 i would be positive of it to be extended to center moriches and pass through the current s68 route

The S66 was extended to Riverhead around 2000, not 2011. I know that for a fact since I've lived along the route since 2003 and have taken it to Riverhead a few times prior to 2011.

 

The S66 made a big impact on the S90 because it took away all the transfers and anyone that got on at Center Moriches by its better schedule, which was the reasoning for the extention.