Last month Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone released his proposed operating budget for 2014. As expected, the budget included a $2 million increase in funding from New York State over last year’s budget-$24.1 million in 2014 versus $22 million in 2013-which, with the help of a Federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) grant, will be used for the expansion of Sunday bus service throughout Suffolk County. This is the first time Sunday bus service will be provided throughout the County, though a successful pilot summer program was implemented on two east end routes beginning in 2011.

County Executive Bellone touts this unprecedented service expansion as one of the County’s “Key Recommendations” for the Department of Public Works, while including approximately $5 million more in County funds to the bus system as well.

Sunday service, initially expected to be rolled-out this fall, is likely to be pushed back to January 2014, however. While the delay will no doubt disappoint riders, Suffolk County Transit explains that additional drivers and mechanics must be hired in order to accommodate the service expansion.

According to Suffolk Bus Corporation, which is contracted by Suffolk County to run bus service and is the largest transit provider for the County, and data from the National Transit Database, the additional $2 million in funding could provide approximately 18,400 more hours of service, and also create roughly 30 jobs through the hiring of new drivers and mechanics.

With this additional funding injection into the bus system, County Executive Bellone is showing what happens when dedicated transit funding goes towards its intended purpose: more service is provided and jobs are created.