Fire Island Water Taxi fares to climb by more than $100 on average this summer
Fire Island Water Taxi LLC had asked Suffolk County to approve the increases in January. Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost
Fire Island Water Taxi rides across the Great South Bay will rise by an average of $114 this summer after the Suffolk County Legislature approved the rate hikes this week.
County lawmakers unanimously approved the increases Tuesday, and County Executive Edward Romaine signed the bill into law Thursday.
Fire Island Water Taxi LLC had asked Suffolk County to approve the increases in January. The county licenses all cross-bay trips, including those by Fire Island Ferries Inc., the water taxi’s parent company.
The average summertime base fare for water taxi rides out of West Sayville and Bay Shore will increase from $263 to $377, or 44%. The exact price increase will vary depending on from where the water taxi departs and arrives, and what time of day the ride takes place.
Legis. Steven Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) noted that water taxi fares are generally higher than ferries because the taxis don't follow a set schedule, can be ordered at any time and allow passengers to carry more belongings. Fares for ferry service will not change.
“This should not really affect the average homeowner or visitor to Fire Island,” said Flotteron, who voted to approve the increase. “It’s just in cases when people want a private, for-hire service.”
A February report from Suffolk County’s Budget Review Office outlined the water taxi fare increases for specific trips at peak times — between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. — and all other hours, which are called “off-peak" times in the report. Here’s a breakdown:
- Bay Shore to the western end of Fire Island trips will increase from $225 to $312 during peak times. Off-peak trips will increase from $250 to $364.
- West Sayville to central Fire Island trips will increase from $250 to $364 during peak times. Off-peak trips will increase from $275 to $416.
- Bay Shore to central Fire Island trips will increase from $250 to $338 during peak times. Off-peak trips will increase from $275 to $390.
- West Sayville to the western end of Fire Island trips will increase from $275 to $390. Off-peak trips will increase from $300 to $442.
Fire Island Water Taxi representative Morgan Mooney declined to comment on the fare increases or Tuesday’s decision by the legislature.
The Budget Review Office backed the rate request in a February report that found the taxi company had lost roughly $500,000 each year since fares were last adjusted in 2022. The report cited increases in New York State’s minimum wage and inflation as primary drivers.
Village of Saltaire Mayor Hugh O’Brien challenged that report and the rate increases in a letter last month to the county legislature, Newsday reported. He argued the fare hike exceeded both the rate of inflation since 2022 and the increase in the state’s minimum wage.
On Friday, he remained dissatisfied with the county's assessment of the rate hike.
"I believe that if [the Budget Review Office] had taken our concerns and the facts we set before them more seriously, they would have at least recommended some small modifications to the taxi's requested rates," O'Brien said in an interview.
Fire Island Association president Suzy Goldhirsch, who had joined O’Brien in questioning whether the fare change was justified, said Flotteron obtained additional information from the county’s Budget Review Office “that addressed many of our concerns.”
Sam Kmack covers the Town of Islip for Newsday. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and previously worked as a city watchdog reporter in the Phoenix metro area, as well as an investigative journalist at the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.
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