Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis
and Service
Service Development for
for the
Suffolk County Transit
Public Bus System
Interim Report: Recommended Plan
Submitted to:
Suffolk County
Department of Public Works
Transportation Division
Submitted by:
Abrams-Cherwony & Associates
Urbitran Associates, Inc.
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
October 2009

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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
1
Recommended Plan
2
Service Development Process
2
Service Inputs
2
Planning Precepts
4
General Proposals
7
Frequency of Service
7
Span of Service
7
Transit Center
8
Feeder Bus Routes
8
Running Time Adjustments
9
Timetable Format
9
Route Nomenclature
10
Existing Route Proposals
10
New Route Proposals
61
Other Service Concepts
68
Operating Forecasts
71
Staging Plan
71
System Dimension
75
Ridership
76
Financial
77
Capital Improvement Program
79
Summary
83

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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System
List of Figures
Page
1
Proposed Extension of S1 to Sunrise Mall
12
2
Proposed Merger of S20 and S40
14
3
Proposed Realignment of S23 in North Babylon
16
4
Proposed S23
18
5
Proposed Southern Portion of S27
20
6
Proposed Extension of S33
23
7
Proposed Extension of S42
26
8
Proposed Realignment of S45 in Central Islip
28
9
Proposed Extension of S47
30
10
Proposed S22
32
11
Proposed S64
34
12
Proposed Realignment of S90 in Quogue
38
13
Proposed S96 and S98 in Riverhead
40
14
Proposed Realignment of 2A in Deer Park
42
15
Proposed 3C
45
16
Proposed 3E
46
17
Proposed 3D
48
18
Proposed Extension of 5A
50
19
Proposed Extension of Route 6A
51
20
Proposed 7B and 7F
53
21
Proposed 7D
55
22
Modification to 8A in Riverhead
56
23
Proposed 10A Variation via Water Mill Town Road
57

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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System
List of Figures (Continued)
Page
24
Proposed 10B
59
25
SUNY Farmingdale-Ronkonkoma-Coram Route
62
26
Babylon-Roosevelt Field Express
63
27
Babylon "Fast Link"
64
28
Patchogue-Hampton Bays-Southampton Route
65
29
Ronkonkoma-Northport Route
66
30
Babylon-Kings Park Route
67
31
Northport-Babylon Route
68
32
Brentwood-Ronkonkoma Route
69
List of Tables
Page
1
Staging Plan
73
2
Operating Forecasts
75
3
Ridership Forecasts
76
4
Financial Forecast
77
5
Operating Assistance
77
6
Fleet Replacement and Expansion
81
7
Capital Expenditures and Funding
82

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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System
INTRODUCTION
The past decade has been one of considerable change in Suffolk County and this dynamic
situation is expected to continue in the future. This has included growth in population, jobs and
activity centers that generate travel and the need for increased transit access. In addition, the
characteristics of Suffolk County are changing in a manner which may place an increased
responsibility on the bus system to meet mobility needs. To respond to this situation, Suffolk
Transit (ST) has embarked on an ambitious program to analyze individual bus routes and the
overall bus system. Based on this evaluation, a comprehensive public transportation development
plan will be prepared to guide transit's future.
To prepare this public transportation master plan, a work program of several sequential
tasks will be undertaken. Initial efforts will be oriented to developing a description of the current
bus system and the setting in which it operates. Utilizing this information, an evaluation of the
present system will be undertaken in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness and various
measures that affect ST customers. Previous reports and analyses, such as the Long Island Bus
Study and its proposals, will be considered. Based on these inputs, various proposals will be
formulated ultimately leading to the delineation of a preferred plan. Ongoing with these activities,
issues related to funding will be considered along with efforts to obtain input from the community
on transit issues.
To solicit comments throughout the study process, interim reports will be prepared at key
study milestones. This should encourage dialogue and discussion on study findings as they
become available. This interim report presents a recommended plan that would change the
current bus routes in terms of alignment and coverage as well as call for implementation of
entirely new bus lines. The proposals also make suggestions with regard to the frequency and
span of service. The proposals have been modified somewhat from an earlier interim report and
they represent an ambitious program of service expansion and enhancements that will require
several years to implement. The study recommendations include a staging program that spans a
ten year period. It is recognized that the pace of bus service changes will reflect the change in
development and the availability of funding. The plan is modular in that it can be implemented in
an incremental fashion.
The study recommendations also include a capital program that calls for bus purchases and
various amenities to improve the rider experience. Accompanying both the service and capital
plans are estimates of the necessary resources to permit implementation. These forecasts include
key operating, ridership and financial impacts (i.e., fares paid and costs) during the next ten years
and the sources of funding to cover operating deficits and capital expenditures.
Interim Report: Recommended Plan
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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
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RECOMMENDED PLAN
A wealth of information has been gathered on the existing bus system and the
transportation setting in which it operates. The data has consisted of quantitative items as well as
views and perceptions of people involved with transportation and development in Suffolk County.
Based on this input and consideration of policy parameters, a series of route and service proposals
have been formulated. One observation at the outset is that major portions of the Suffolk County
fixed route bus system appears well suited to the service area in which it operates and the markets
which it serves. Accordingly, in some areas, radical changes to the network are not suggested
since it could jeopardize current ridership levels. In other parts of Suffolk County more
significant changes are suggested to improve bus service. A series of proposals are presented
which include both minor and major revisions to existing routes and suggested new bus lines to
respond to future growth.
The recommended plan includes the service changes suggested for implementation over
the next decade and a staging plan which indicates the schedule and priority assigned to these
proposals. The recommendations also include the forecasted impacts of the plan, a capital
program and funding estimates by source.
Service Development Process
The analysis was based on a rigorous review of existing services and potential future
markets. As such, it delineated problem areas that warranted remedial action as well as
opportunities that should be exploited. A considerable amount of information was obtained and
analyses conducted, which served as vital input to the service development process. Further,
planning precepts were postulated that provide policy inputs to the analysis. Each of these
important considerations to the planning process is summarized in this section.
Service Inputs - A number of inputs were considered in preparing the program of public
transportation options for the community. They consisted of technical analyses as well as
opinions and views of riders and community representatives. Each of these inputs, many of which
were documented in previous interim reports are briefly described below:
*
Service Area Characteristics - Utilizing U.S. Census data and information
provided by the Suffolk County Planning Department, the ST service area was
described in terms of population concentrations and the characteristics of residents.
Of particular interest were communities where transit need was the greatest. The
locations of major generators (i.e., major employers, shopping centers, schools and
Interim Report: Recommended Plan
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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System
hospitals) were identified, along with the appropriate dimensions. Journey to work
information provided data on commuting patterns in terms of their geographical
distribution and mode choice.
*
Existing Transit System - A description of the current bus system was presented
in terms of key operating, ridership and financial statistics as well as cost
effectiveness and efficiencies measures were documented for the last five years. In
addition, funding from local, state and federal sources were delineated for both
operating assistance and capital expenditures during the past few years.
*
Ride Check Survey - As part of another study effort commissioned by ST, data
was gathered on current ridership patterns. Survey personnel recorded passenger
ons, offs at each bus stop. Every bus trip for a representative weekday and
Saturday was surveyed with the results comprising an extensive data base. The
data indicates ridership concentrations, segments with underutilization and
schedule adherence.
*
Stakeholder Interviews - The consultant interviewed a broad spectrum of
community leaders to assess their views on the current public transportation
system, community needs and proposals for the future. Various topics were used to
guide the discussions, but participants were free to make any suggestions or
comments.
*
Route Diagnostics Analysis - Each bus route was examined in terms of key
operating and financial measures with the objective of assessing relative efficiency
and effectiveness. Several techniques were applied to gauge the balance between
bus system supply and demand. As might be expected, the performance varies
widely among the few dozen bus routes.
*
Service Guidelines - Approximately one dozen guidelines were formulated that
can be used to assess the current system and provide a basis for service changes.
Criteria were specified that relate to the rider, Suffolk County Transit as the
service sponsor and the broader community in Suffolk County. The guidelines
were grouped into four categories: service coverage, patron convenience, fiscal
condition and passenger comfort.
*
Driver Meetings - Meetings were held with drivers at each of the contractors that
provide service under contract to Suffolk County. Project staff met with drivers
during their report times at the garage to provide input for the service improvement
program. Given their duties, they provide a useful perspective on the current bus
system and desirable changes. Various suggestions were made regarding route and
Interim Report: Recommended Plan
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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System
alignments and level of service.
*
Community Outreach - Meetings were held in Hauppauge and in Riverhead
during both afternoon and evening hours to solicit comments of riders and
residents. The meeting format was an open house where participants could easily
communicate their comments and suggestions to the project team.
*
Other Transit Studies - A number of transit analyses have been performed in the
past or are currently underway. Previous studies include the Long Island Bus
Study and a two-part report (i.e., Policy Recommendations and Bus Routing and
Service Recommendations) to the Suffolk County Legislature. Two analyses that
are either underway or concluded are the Planning and Assessment Activities for a
Coordinated Bus and Rail Network on the East End of Long Island and the
Modernization Study for HART Bus Operations.
*
Staff Meetings - Discussions have been held with Suffolk County transportation
staff to present findings as they became available. In particular, a work session was
held to review initial concepts and proposals for the ST bus network.
*
Field Reconnaissance - Hundreds of miles of field trips were conducted
throughout the area to gain a first-hand understanding of existing transit operating
characteristics as well as the layout of present and future development. During the
course of these investigations, land use, key generators, roadway characteristics
and other noteworthy items were recorded.
The discussion above indicates the extensive input to the planning process. It included
technical analyses that examined the existing Suffolk County bus system and the setting in which
it operates.
Planning Precepts - Having assembled the comprehensive and detailed database
described previously, the next step in the process was to formulate principles that would guide the
development of service proposals. They provide a policy framework for the service plan and are
summarized below:
*
Density of Development - Suffolk County contains a wide variety of land use and
development patterns that range from urban, suburban and rural which generate
varying opportunities for public transportation. Portions of Suffolk County are
comprised of areas where development is not sufficiently concentrated to support
some level of fixed route bus service. Public transportation works best with higher
density of development and linear concentrations of residential and other land uses.
Interim Report: Recommended Plan
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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System

*
Transit Friendly Design - Related to the point above, most development is not
designed to encourage transit use. This would include roadway geometrics that
permit bus operations, access to new developments by more than a single street,
sidewalks that permit convenient access to bus stops, building frontages near
streets where buses operate and installation of amenities (e.g. shelters). Much of
the new development does not have these transit friendly attributes. Also, growth
is expected to take place in outlying areas, which often are not within existing
transit coverage areas.
*
Travel Modes - The two primary public transportation modes are bus service
provided by Suffolk County and commuter rail lines operated by the Long Island
Rail Road. The former is primarily oriented to local trips within Suffolk County
and to a limited extent, service in adjacent areas of Nassau County. The LIRR
serves longer trips of Suffolk County residents mostly to New York City, although
reverse commute travel is an increasing market segment.
*
Multiple Transit Agencies - While Suffolk County is the largest bus system in
Suffolk County, it is recognized that coordination should be achieved with other
transit operators. This would include Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART),
Long Island Bus and the LIRR. In addition, Suffolk County operates a demand
responsive service for persons with disabilities while Towns operate paratransit
services for senior citizens and other eligible groups.
*
Dispersed Travel Patterns - The decentralized nature of development results in
travel desires which are dispersed throughout Suffolk County. This requires the
bus system to serve multiple corridors in such a way that residents can travel from
their home to locations in all directions.
*
Multi-Nucleated System - Notwithstanding the comments above, development has
taken place in areas that reflect the traditional town centers as well as more recent
suburban type projects. Traditional downtown areas, such as Main Street in
Huntington and Riverhead, along with major shopping centers (e.g., Walt Whitman
Mall), are logical places to concentrate bus service. Also, the LIRR stations
provide a convenient place to establish a hub for transit services.
*
Service Area Dimensions - The length of Suffolk County indicates the extent of
the geographical area that needs coverage. This mandates considerable transit
resources to provide coverage and convenient access of the bus system. In turn, the
relatively long cycle times requires more buses to maintain a reasonable headway.
Interim Report: Recommended Plan
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Comprehensive Bus Route Analysis and Service Development
for the Suffolk County Transit Public Bus System
*
Simplicity - The current route structure can be confusing to both existing and new
riders because of the number of routes and geographical extent of the bus system.
To remedy this situation, Suffolk County maintains the same alignment with few
branches, turnbacks and variations. This approach is preferred and future route
proposals should incorporate this feature in any new service proposals.
*
Defined Corridors - To the extent possible, bus routes should be continued on the
same roadway to provide a clearly defined transit corridor. This readily identifies a
bus route's coverage and can be more readily understood by riders.
*
Timed Transfer - Currently, there is some schedule coordination between routes.
This concept should be strengthened with buses operating in a "pulse-scheduled"
arrangement where buses arrive and depart a transfer location. This enables riders
to transfer from one route to another without a lengthy waiting period. In view of
the prevailing headway policy (i.e., buses every 30 or 60 minutes), this arrangement
for Suffolk County bus routes is viewed as desirable.
*
Coverage - In some instances, the current bus system operates along roads and
streets that do not provide sufficient access from adjacent communities. To the
extent possible, bus routes should attempt to maximize penetration of these areas.
However, it should be recognized that some areas would not warrant fixed route
buses services.
*
Directness - In some cases the route diverts from the primary alignment to serve a
specific location. While this affords transit access where walking distances are
excessive and no sidewalks provided, it also results in circuitous journey for many
riders. In similar manner, routings to concentrations of senior citizens have resulted
in deviations form the primary alignment. A balance needs to be achieved between
attracting riders and at the same time not discourage new riders because of lengthy
travel times.
*
Supply and Demand Balance - Transit resources are finite and decisions to
provide service in one area implies less service somewhere else in the system. For
this reason, transit resources should be allocated to where there is current riders or
the potential to attract new riders. The route diagnostics analysis indicated wide
variations in individual route performance.
This interim report is organized in two parts. The first are general observations that apply
to the entire system and have broad implications. The second part lists each existing route and the
suggested changes followed by the proposed new routes.
Interim Report: Recommended Plan
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Document Outline

• Suffolk_Cover
• InterimReportTOC
• Page180
• Pages8182
• Page83

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