Starting Monday, riders on the South Fork Commuter Connection will be paying $1 less for bus rides associated with the commute.
Straphangers will now pay $3.25 each way for the Long Island Rail Road ticket. The ride on a bus to get from the train station to a final destination, often called the "last mile," will now be free.
East Hampton and Southampton Towns have discussed lowering the cost, in part to help increase ridership on the Commuter Connection, which was launched in March to offer commuters an alternative to driving and alleviate traffic congestion on the South Fork. The East Hampton Town Board passed a resolution in November to do away with the bus surcharge.
The Southampton Town Board announced the start date of the lower fares in a statement on Friday. While the reduction will save commuters money, the town also touted that it will streamline the ticket process. Riders can now buy regular L.I.R.R. daily tickets, weekly tickets, and monthly passes, and can order tickets through the railroad's e-ticketing app.
More information about the South Fork Commuter Connection can be found online at sfccLIRR.com.