Mary Fee rides the Long Island Rail Road from Bridgehampton to Queens every Monday morning and returns the next evening. Fee uses the rail system rather than a private bus company, like the Hampton Jitney, out of convenience because it stops in Jamaica, Queens.

But with few trains scheduled on the East End in winter, Fee says riding the rails is becoming more of a burden than a convenience. Sometimes, Fee wakes up as early as 5:30 a.m. to catch the 6:12 a.m. train, which is the only one offered early Monday morning from the East End. The next train out of the Bridgehampton station heading to New York City doesn’t depart until 11:05 a.m. Some of Fee’s friends now drive to Speonk, where they can catch a train to the city more often.

“I feel lucky I take the train only one day a week,” said Fee. “There are some people who go every day and I don’t know how they do it.”

Of the current LIRR schedule, Fee added “Its bad.”

Yet, Fee continues to ride the train, in part because it is still less expensive than taking a bus. But Fee’s commute to and from the city may become even more expensive — and inconvenient — by early June.

Last Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) — which oversees and operates the LIRR — voted to increase fares and reduce services, said MTA representative Aaron Donovan, in an effort to shore up the authority’s deficit which according to Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman is $1.2 billion.

The new fare increases would take effect by June 1. According to Salvatore Arema, a representative for the MTA, a monthly ticket from the East End to New York City — which now costs $356 — would be $452. Currently, an off-peak single ride ticket is $15.25, but it would cost $19 if the plan is enacted. A peak train fare would go up to $26.25 from the current price of $21.

Donovan added, however, that the MTA will rescind this plan if the New York State legislature passes a “Payroll” tax to help subsidize the MTA.

Last year, New York State Governor David Paterson organized a panel, headed by former MTA chairman Richard Ravitch, to create a financial solvency plan for the MTA. The panel, dubbed the “Ravitch Commission” released their report in December 2008. The report recommended the state enact a “payroll” tax, which would levy a tax of around $3.30 per $1,000 for taxpayers living in the areas serviced by the MTA — including the East End.

Local employers, from not-for-profits to school districts to businesses, would foot the bill for the tax, although Schneiderman noted the funds would most likely be taken out of employee pay checks.

Of the proposed tax, Southampton Town Supervisor Linda Kabot said in a released statement, “If you’re part of the typical family of four in Southampton Town making $70,000, this tax will force you to pay an extra $231 a year.”

Kabot added that the MTA is asking East End citizens to pay for a service only a small portion of the community uses.

On Tuesday evening, a local resident waited on the platform for a friend who was taking the train to Bridgehampton. He said he hasn’t taken the train himself in at least three years, noting it was more convenient — and faster — to use a bus service or simply drive into the city. When the train arrived at Bridgehampton, only a small group of people exited the metal cars.

Schneiderman argues that a majority of East End residents are not only underserved by the MTA, but they likely cannot afford an additional tax on top of the funds they already pay towards MTA services. Schneiderman said last year alone Suffolk County paid the MTA $132.4 million in mortgage taxes, $94 million in sales taxes and $23.8 million to operate and maintain the train stations. He estimated the East End contributes almost a third of these funds.

“The ‘payroll’ tax was proposed as a way to not have to raise fares, but it is placing the burden on the backs of a lot of individuals who may not ever use the MTA,” said Schneiderman. “On the East End most people drive their cars to work, whereas in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan there is a much greater daily reliance on the rail and bus service.”

Schneiderman expects this tax will weaken the already strained budgets of local school districts and municipalities. According to Schneiderman, around $150,000 has already been budgeted into the Southampton School’s operating costs for this year, in anticipation of the adoption of the tax.

New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr., however, said the “payroll” tax proposal hasn’t yet reached a consensus within the state legislature. He added that the legislature will probably focus on planning for the state budget in the next two weeks, and the payroll tax plan will likely be revisited after this time.

“I’m opposed to the tax,” said Thiele. “It puts an unfair burden [on East End residents] who already receive little in the way of service.”

 

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