Suffolk County bus and paratransit riders gathered in Hauppauge with business, labor, planning and transit advocates today to urge Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State legislature to include State Transit Operating Assistance (STOA) funding for Suffolk County Transit in the final state budget. Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman and Brookhaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert were also in attendance at today’s event.

Last week, County Executive Steve Bellone sent a letter to Governor Cuomo and Suffolk County’s state delegation requesting $10 million in additional state funds to be used to expand service to Sundays and later into evenings. Last year, Suffolk County used $2.01 million in additional state transit funds to expand service to 10 Sunday routes, which was an unprecedented — and popular — service expansion. According to estimates, Sunday ridership has increased by 133 percent since Sunday service launched in January.

But even with that additional funding, Suffolk County still receives, as a percentage, much less state support than other counties in the region. For example, state funding for Nassau County’s bus system makes up well over 50 percent of the bus system’s total operating budget, while state funding only accounts for roughly 35 percent of Suffolk County Transit’s operating budget. At the same time, Suffolk County contributes over 50 percent to its transit-operating budget while Nassau County contributes only 2 percent. Nassau’s system is important and must be maintained, but Suffolk County needs additional state support to provide the level of service that is being demanded by riders, businesses and residents.

Additional STOA funding would go a long way towards creating a more equitable transportation system for not just bus riders, but for paratransit riders too. A vast portion of paratransit riders were left out of the most recent service addition due to the lack of resources to cover expansion in the whole county. Additional state funds will allow for service to expand later into the evenings and on other Sunday routes, enhancing a critical lifeline for Suffolk County’s disabled population.

Leaders in Albany have until the end of the month to adopt a final budget for the coming fiscal year, making the next few weeks important for Suffolk County’s delegation to Albany to advocate for additional funding.