Hampton Bays Will Not Get Trolley Service This Summer

A trolley service operated in Hampton Bays last summer won’t return this year, because it was not cost-efficient and did not boost tourism in the hamlet, as had been hoped.

On Friday, Southampton Town’s director of public transportation and traffic safety, Thomas Neely, said that fewer than five people rode the trolley on average per day last summer. Tickets had cost $5 each, or $10 for a “ride all day” ticket.

The town had signed a contract with Hampton Luxury Liner in May 2017 to run the 30-passenger trolley from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from June through September. Last year, the trolleys ran in a continuous loop, hitting each stop every hour. It stopped at the Hampton Bays train station, the Ponquogue Beach pavilion, near the Shinnecock fish dock at the end of Beach Road, and at Good Ground Park, among other locations.

According to Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, the $10,000-per-season cost to run the trolley was just too steep. “You can’t really justify the cost of running it if only three people are going to get on it,” he said.

Mr. Schneiderman pointed to several factors, admitting that the trolley was unsuccessful in part because it was not advertised well and did not run late enough. He also said that he had initially wanted to offer it as a free service but was unable to do so based on limited capital funding. “I think $5 is just too much for people,” he said.

“They would’ve made it if they offered it all night until midnight,” said Kalen Raynor, a Hampton Bays resident and owner of Ponquogue Point Properties Inc. on Montauk Highway.

On Thursday, Janet Allen of Hampton Bays voiced her disappointment in the town’s decision to eliminate the trolley, noting that it had the potential to draw tourists to the area.

“It was so refreshing to see them,” she said. “I don’t feel like there’s enough being done to bring tourism back to Hampton Bays."

Ms. Allen suggested that the five-member Town Board revisit the idea next summer, offering later hours and shorter wait times. “If I could hop on that for $3 and only have to wait 20 minutes, I would definitely do that,” she said.

Mr. Schneiderman’s dilemma: “Do you wait until there is more foot traffic? Or do I provide the trolley with the hopes of creating foot traffic?” he said, adding rhetorically, “The trolley may have arrived ahead of schedule.”