South Fork Commuter Connection To Offer Train Service To Bridgehampton School Staff

Teachers and other staff members at the Bridgehampton School will soon have transportation available to them courtesy of the Long Island Rail Road.State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. spoke at the Bridgehampton School Board’s meeting on Wednesday, August 29, revealing that the LIRR has agreed to provide two additional trains from Speonk and Hampton Bays to Bridgehampton beginning next spring. The trains will be part of the South Fork Commuter Connection, which was first announced in April 2017 and will establish six new trains available to commuters during non-summer weekdays. The new service would be a way for people who work at the Bridgehampton School, and other employment centers, to have access to convenient public transportation while avoiding extended drives and heavy traffic on County Road 39. Mr. Thiele explained that the morning trains would leave Speonk at 6:16 a.m. and Hampton Bays at 8:26 a.m., arriving in Bridgehampton at 7:09 a.m. and 8:46 a.m. The Town of Southampton will issue a request for proposals to set up a bus service delivering school employees from the train station to the school.Afternoon trains would leave Bridgehampton for Speonk at 3:21 p.m., arriving at 4:14 p.m., and for Hampton Bays at 5:23 p.m., arriving at 5:43 p.m. A train ticket would cost $3.25 each way.“This is an idea that elected officials have been pushing for a long time, to get the Long Island Rail Road to offer more transport for East End residents,” Mr. Thiele said. “We found that it was very popular with teachers and school personnel.”He said the trains are set to begin on March 4, 2019, with the trains being permanent. He also pointed out that the schedule is subject to modification, and that the 5:23 p.m. train to Hampton Bays would not run on Fridays in the summertime to clear a path for the “Cannonball,” referring to the afternoon train from New York City that is typically filled with weekend visitors.Superintendent Robert Hauser said on Thursday, August 30, that he supported the new transport option, pointing out that half of the staff members—there are about 90, according the district’s website—live west of the Shinnecock Canal.“I think any additional options offered west of the canal are welcome,” Mr. Hauser said. “It’s a win for anyone commuting from the west.”