The editorial board of Newsday joined a tri-partisan group of Democratic, Republican and Independent legislators as well as a diverse set of business, civic, academic, labor and planning groups in calling on Suffolk County to use $2 million in additional state transit funding for expanded Sunday bus service.

Diverting this funding to plug the County’s General Fund deficit would be “a drop in the bucket,” the paper’s editorial board writes, filling just one percent of the budget gap. The board highlights that the consequences of using this windfall for anything but transportation could also jeopardize Suffolk’s position for future bus funding. In other words, if the County wants to continue to receive increased transit support from Albany, “it must show state lawmakers it’s willing to use the money as intended.”

By applying this funding toward expanded Sunday bus service, Suffolk has the opportunity to not only improve the lives of Suffolk residents who do not drive, but also to bolster Suffolk’s economy. According to the American Public Transportation Association, every dollar spent on public transportation adds $6 to the local economy.

The Suffolk County Public Works & Transportation Committee will meet tomorrow (Tuesday, April 30) to take up legislation introduced by Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman that would direct the Department of Public Works to dedicate this funding to expanded Sunday and evening bus service. The meeting takes place at 2 p.m. in the Rose Caracappa Auditorium of the William H. Rogers Legislative Building, Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, New York.