Southold Town officials are embarking on an ambitious project to bring local trolley service to the North Fork. They hope to encourage visitors to use the railroad to reach the North Fork by providing a means of public transportation for traveling between destinations on the North Fork. The goal is to ease traffic congestion on local roads.
The town is aiming to launch a trolley pilot program in September, running through Veterans Day weekend.
Government liaison officer Denis Noncarrow presented the proposal to town board members at their work session this morning. It’s something he said he’s been working on for about a year.
The trolley service, consisting of two 30-person trolleys would run on weekends on a loop between the Mattituck and Southold railroad stations. The service would operate from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., making stops along a Main Road and possibly a North Road loop, depending on participation by area businesses.
“People tell us all the time, ‘I can get there one way or the other but there’s no way to move around once I do.’ The idea is to provide that,” Noncarrow said.
The proposed fare is $10 for a day pass and $100 for a season pass. Next year the service would begin running in June.
“Financing a work in progress,” Noncarrow said. With the board’s approval, he is planning to apply for funding to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, seeking inclusion in its regional consolidated funding application.
Noncarrow said he’s been working with Augie Ruckershel of the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and with a Commack company that can provide the trolleys.
M & V Limos in Commack is “ready to go,” Noncarrow said.
“If we try this we will learn what to do and in what direction to go next season,” Councilman William Ruland said. “There will be naysayers,” he warned.
“If we do take this on, it’s going to have to be a multi-year commitment,” Councilman Bob Ghosio said. “We can’t really see how it works in just a year or two.”
Noncarrow said he is working to get the LIRR to help market this effort, to encourage people to take the train to the North Fork and use the new trolley service. He’s hoping the chambers of commerce and the L.I. Wine Council will also participate in marketing.
Southampton Town is running a trolley service in Hampton Bays this summer, making stops at the Hampton Bays train station, the Ponquogue Beach pavilion, near the Shinnecock Fish Dock at the end of Beach Road, and at Good Ground Park, among other locations, according to the Southampton Press.
“With the tourist issues we have here, this is one of the many things we need to do to relieve the congestion,” Councilwoman Jill Doherty said.
