Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr, (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today stated that the continued overcrowding on the LIRR Cannonball Express is another indicator that the LIRR needs to provide additional service to the East End. Thiele has been a long- time advocate of additional train service for the East End. Thiele has spearheaded efforts to improve public transit on the East End, most notably with a proposal to institute regular shuttle trains on both the South Fork and the North Fork. The State Legislature had included $37.2 million in the MTA Capital Plan to purchase the necessary smaller diesel equipment that would make the shuttle possible. To date, the MTA has not taken steps to implement the service.

Thiele stated, “The East End has clamored for years to increase service through the implementation of an integrated rail/bus shuttle network for the East End, including the state-funded Volpe Study, which demonstrated the viability of shuttle trains. The shuttle was also proven viable when the LIRR provided a successful pilot project during the reconstruction of CR 39. In response, the Legislature provided funding to purchase new, lighter, cost-effective shuttle diesels. Unfortunately, the MTA and the LIRR have done nothing. In the meantime, the limited service that is currently being provided is overcrowded and our local roads are choked with traffic. The result is unsafe train conditions and increased accidents on our local roads. The LIRR can no longer ignore the needs of the East End.”

Thiele called on the MTA and the LIRR to take immediate action. “First, add more express trains to the South Fork so that the safety of the public is no longer in jeopardy during the summer season. Second, for the longer term, the LIRR should put the issue of shuttle trains on the front burner so that these trains can be made available in 2016.”

Thiele added that if the MTA and LIRR continue to ignore the needs of the East End, he, together with the five (5) East End Towns would pursue the concept of creating a Peconic Bay Transportation Authority, similar to that which was established for Cape Code, in order to provide the needed service.