Hampton Jitney
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | James Davidson |
| Headquarters | Southampton, New York , United States |
Area served | Eastern Long Island, New York City |
| Products | Commuter bus service, charter and tour services, contracted local transit services |
Hampton Jitney is a commuter bus service based in Southampton, New York, running three primary routes that link the eastern part of Long Island—including The Hamptons and the North Fork—with New York City. Its operations also encompass charter and tour offerings, along with contracted local transit services in eastern Suffolk County on behalf of Suffolk County Transit.
Initial Van Operations
Established in 1974 by James Davidson, an entrepreneur with a background as an advertising art director, Hampton Jitney started out with a single van aimed at providing convenient transportation for Hamptons residents who did not possess driver’s licenses. Originally functioning as a share taxi or jitney serving small neighboring communities, the company kept its original name even as it transitioned into a full-scale bus operator. This initial approach was instrumental in shaping Hampton Jitney’s subsequent expansion and influence within the regional transit market.
Growth into New York City Service
Recognizing a transportation void between New York City and the Hamptons due to limitations on the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Montauk Branch—such as deteriorating track conditions and single-track operation—Davidson expanded the company’s fleet in the late 1970s. Although track improvements made in 1978-79 enhanced reliability, train frequency remained constrained. Throughout the 1980s, Hampton Jitney developed approximately hourly service year-round on its Montauk Line, alongside frequent routes serving Westhampton and the North Fork. During this era, charter services were also introduced to diversify offerings.
Subsequent Progress
In 2006, Hampton Jitney expanded its operations by acquiring Sunrise Coach Lines’ line run and charter business, incorporating the North Fork Line into its network. The following year saw the introduction of direct Brooklyn service on both Montauk and North Fork routes, with additional service to lower Manhattan commencing in 2008. Meanwhile, Sunrise Coach Lines continued independently managing school bus operations and Suffolk County Transit routes.
The company’s main office is located at The Omni in Southampton, complemented by a secondary facility opened in Calverton in 2015. Following Suffolk County Transit’s (SCT) discontinuation of Route 10A in 2021, Hampton Jitney was contracted to operate an on-demand shuttle pilot program serving Southampton and Sag Harbor, utilizing technology provided by Via Transportation. This pilot expanded alongside SCT’s system redesign to cover East Hampton and Montauk areas, effectively replacing Routes 10B and 10C.
By April 2024, Routes 10B and 10C under SCT were fully supplanted by the East Hampton and Montauk On-Demand Zone managed by Hampton Jitney; however, a vehicle recall caused delays in launching this service. Buses previously used by Hampton Jitney for fixed-route SCT service were reassigned to EBT Inc and Suffolk Bus Corp but continue active operation.
Since October 2010, following reductions to LIRR weekend service on the Greenport Branch amid MTA budget cuts, Hampton Jitney has been the exclusive provider of year-round weekend and holiday transit between New York City and the North Fork. Weekend LIRR service to Greenport has since been reinstated year-round.
Routes
Hampton Jitney manages three main routes, all beginning eastbound from 96th Street with boarding available along Lexington Avenue, and westbound drop-offs typically occurring on Third Avenue unless otherwise specified.
Long Island
Key Routes
- The Montauk Line connects Manorville and the villages of the South Fork region, running from Southampton to Montauk. It also offers a branch service to Sag Harbor either directly or via shuttle.
- The Westhampton Line serves the communities of Manorville, Westhampton, Quogue, and Hampton Bays.
- Acquired in 2006 through Sunrise Coach Lines, the North Fork Line operates between Riverhead and Greenport, with some routes extending further to East Marion, Orient, and Orient Point.
Additional Services
- Airport Connection: Every route includes a stop at Fresh Meadows for airport transit connections. The Montauk and Westhampton lines also pause near exit 60 on the Long Island Expressway, providing taxi access to MacArthur Airport.
- West Side Service: One eastbound Montauk bus begins at 69th Street and Broadway, proceeds south through the Midtown Tunnel before joining the main route. Additionally, two westbound Montauk buses and one westbound Westhampton bus make extra stops along Broadway between 86th and 64th Streets.
- The Bonacker: A Friday evening express Montauk service runs non-stop between 40th Street and East Hampton before serving all subsequent stops.
- The Matinéer: One westbound Montauk and one Westhampton bus cover Third Avenue in Midtown but route westward via 57th Street or Central Park South and proceed downtown along Seventh Avenue to Bleecker Street.
- The Greenporter: This North Fork bus operates express between 40th Street and Southold, with a stop in Greenport. It runs eastbound on Fridays and westbound on Sundays.
- The Lower Manhattan Line: An early Monday eastbound Ambassador from Amagansett travels express from Manorville to 34th Street before continuing downtown via Second Avenue and major thoroughfares to conclude near the World Financial Center.
- The Brooklyn Line: One Westhampton and one North Fork bus each way include stops in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, and Boreum Hill.
Boston Jitney
The Boston Jitney runs between Southampton and the Prudential Center located in Downtown Boston, making stops in Southampton, Hampton Bays, Farmingville, and Port Jefferson. This route links with the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry to Bridgeport, CT, then continues express to Boston with a stop at an MBTA station in Newton, Massachusetts before terminating downtown. In 2013, this service operated with a schedule of 13 buses.
Suffolk County Transit
Hampton Jitney oversees the operation of Suffolk County Transit's two on-demand microtransit areas: Southampton-Sag Harbor and East Hampton-Montauk. As of October 29, 2023, Hampton Jitney discontinued all SCT Fixed Route service operations.
Services
Reservations are mandatory for Hampton Jitney rides, and the use of cell phones on board is limited. Passengers can enjoy complimentary refreshments on every route, along with seasonal excursions to Boston and Florida. During periods of light traffic, the Jitney frequently reduces travel time by up to an hour compared to alternative transportation options. A prepaid discounted booklet called "Valuepack," containing 12 trips, is offered seasonally. The majority of routes conclude in Manhattan's Upper East Side, while select services extend to the Upper West Side, Lower Manhattan, or Downtown Brooklyn.
Charter offerings include single-day outings to Broadway performances, Giants and Jets games at Giants Stadium, and regional events such as the Philadelphia Flower Show. Extended multi-day tours cover locations like Atlantic City and New England. Civic groups and nonprofit organizations on Long Island often arrange charters with Hampton Jitney for fundraising trips to New York City, leveraging limited Long Island Railroad (LIRR) availability in the eastern region.
In popular culture
- The Blue Bloods episode "Spilling Secrets" prominently features two Hampton Jitney coaches.
- A Hampton Jitney bus appears in the plot of Ray Donovan episode "A Girl Named Maria".
- In Sex and The City episode "Twenty-Something Girls vs. Thirty-Something Women", characters travel to the Hamptons aboard Hampton Jitney; Carrie Bradshaw likens it to "the bus to summer camp." Another episode also references an unexpected Jitney ride home.
- The novel and film Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin mention the Jitney as a link between Manhattan and the Hamptons.
- Several scenes involving Hampton Jitney travel appear in Gossip Girl season two episodes "Summer Kind of Wonderful" and "Never been Marcused."
- An episode of How I Met Your Mother features a character sending another on a bus journey.
- Melissa de la Cruz’s Triple Moon includes plans for establishing a Jitney stop in North Hampton as part of local growth initiatives.
- In Season 10, episode 3 of The Real Housewives of New York City, Sonja Morgan is shown traveling to The Hamptons via Hampton Jitney.