Suffolk County plans to cut half of its county bus services, if it does not receive additional federal coronavirus relief.
At least 19 routes would be discontinued for nearly 2,300 riders a day. That would save the county $13 million, enough to offset lost bus fare revenue and state funding cuts amid the pandemic.
This comes just days before County Executive Steve Bellone is expected to release his preliminary budget for next year.
"If these cuts are made, people with disabilities will be disproportionately affected," said Frank Krotschinsky, who heads the county’s Office for People with Disabilities. The cuts would include Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) Service that assists people with disabilities navigate public transit beyond what federal law requires. More than 200 riders daily use these services.
Here are the routes are slated to be discontinued:
- S54 – 548 riders per day
- 10B – 45 riders per day
- S59 – 90 riders per day
- S57 – 139 riders per day
- S31 – 12 riders per day
- S76 – 36 riders per day
- S56 – 89 riders per day
- 2A – 106 riders per day
- 7A – 60 riders per day
- 10C – 85 riders per day
- 6B – 108 riders per day
- S47 – 73 riders per day
- 8A – 131 riders per day
- S62 – 339 riders per day
- 1A – 63 riders per day
- 6A – 78 riders per day
- S69 – 3 riders per day
- 2B – 161 riders per day
- S23 – 149 riders per day
