Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
Contact: Joseph Comerford
Executive Director
Estuary Transit District
(860) 388-7882
July 1, 2010
Old Saybrook to New London Bus Service Begins July 6th
Beginning July 6th, 9 Town Transit will provide direct service to between Old Saybrook and New London with its new Southeast Shuttle. This service will replace the current Niantic route that terminates in Niantic.
The Southeast Shuttle will operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM. It will operate between the Old Saybrook Train Station and the New London Transportation Center in downtown New London via Old Lyme. Old Lyme stops will include A & P, Lyme Arts Academy, Old Lyme center, Shore Road, Ryewood and Lymewood housing, and the Old Lyme Senior Center. The cost of the service is $1.25 per one way trip.
The new service will provide a fast and convenient link between Old Saybrook and New London in just a 45 minute trip. Users from the Estuary region will also be able to connect for free to the Southeast Area Transit (SEAT) system at the New London Transportation Center for service throughout New London, Norwich, and other southeast Connecticut towns. Easy connections can be made to such points as the Crystal Mall in Waterford, Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, Connecticut College, Mystic, Foxwoods, and Mohegan Sun.
The service will also allow New London/Norwich area residents to travel throughout the Estuary region. Users will be able to connect for free to any 9 Town Transit service, with service to all nine Estuary region towns including such points Westbrook Tanger Outlets and Clinton Crossing Outlets. Transfers can also be made to Middletown, New Haven, and Hartford.
The Estuary Transit District provides public transit service via the fleet of 13 buses to Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook through its 9 Town Transit service. Connections are provided to New Haven, Middletown, Hartford and New London/Norwich bus services as well as Shoreline East Commuter Rail. All services are open to the general public with no age or disability restrictions.
Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
Contact: Joseph Comerford
Executive Director
Estuary Transit District
(860) 388-7882
May 5, 2010
ETD Offers New Larger, Redesigned Buses
The Estuary Transit District's 9 Town Transit (9TT) service unveiled it's brand new, redesigned buses at a ribbon cutting ceremony May 7th at Chester Village West in Chester, CT to a crowd of about 30 people. The attendees included many elected officials, including State Comptroller Nancy Wyman, Representatives Brian O'Conner and Jamie Spallone, and First Selectmen Tom Marsh, Phil Miller, Ralph Eno, Dick Smith, and Noel Bishop.
The three new buses have been completely redesigned from inside out to enhance customer comfort. The interiors have been transformed from the traditional institutional look to that of the upscale limo bus style appearance. The upgraded suspension provides a smoother ride for all on board. The blue and green 9 Town Transit logo provides the exteriors with a tasteful and colorful logo recognition by both passengers and the general public.
While the cosmetic changes are the most noticeable, the biggest change in the new buses is the size. Two can accommodate up to 20 passengers; the largest size purchased by the district to date. The necessity for the larger buses is credit to the phenomenal growth of the district over the past several years, particularly the Shoreline Shuttle route, which serves Route 1 between Old Saybrook and Madison. Almost daily, the current buses are turning away passengers because they are filled to capacity.
Two of the buses were purchased with 100% federal money as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at a total cost of $197,906. One bus was funded with 80% federal funds from the Federal Transit Administrations New Freedom program and 20% state funds from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. All three were manufactured by Ford and StarTrans.
The Estuary Transit District provides public transit service to Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook through its 9 Town Transit service. Connections are provided to New Haven, Middletown, Hartford and New London/Norwich bus services as well as Shoreline East Commuter Rail. All services are open to the general public with no age or disability restrictions.
Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
Contact: Joseph Comerford
Executive Director
Estuary Transit District
(860) 510-0429 x4
December 16, 2009
Mid-Shore Express Services Middlesex Community College
Shoreline residents now have easy access to Middlesex Community College (MCC) thanks to 9 Town Transit's (9TT) Mid-Shore Express. The route began servicing the MCC campus in Middletown in December.
The Mid-Shore Express runs between the Old Saybrook train station and the Middletown bus terminal Monday through Friday from 6:50 AM until 11:15 AM and 3:30 PM until 6:50 PM. Stops are made along the way at the Essex Park and Ride lot, Chester Park and Ride lot, Chester Center, along route 154 between within the town of Chester, the Social Services office in Middletown, and the Middletown bus terminal.
Service is now being provided to the MCC campus on two trips daily. Additional service to the campus will be provided on additional trips by calling 860-510-0429 and requesting the service at least half an hour in advance. The new stop was added to accommodate the growing number of MCC students using the Mid-Shore Express. The fare for the service remains just $1.25, and transfers from any other 9 Town Transit route are free.
For more information, route maps, or schedules visit 9 Town Transit online at www.9TownTransit.com or call 860-510-0429.
Press Release
Contact: Joseph Comerford
Executive Director
Estuary Transit District
(860) 510-0429 x4
October 29, 2009
9 Town Transit Expands Dial-A-Ride Hours
The Estuary Transit District’s 9 Town Transit (9TT) will expand the hours of its Dial-A-Ride service beginning November 2nd by an additional 9 hours a week. The expansion will provide improved transportation to those who either do not live along a shuttle route or are unable to use shuttles because of disability.
Weekday service is currently available from 8:15 AM until 2:45 PM, with no Saturday service provided. These hours do not provide those needing transportation to work, train stations, doctors appointments, or other important needs with adequate service. The new hours will offer earlier morning and later evening service on weekdays, and will add Saturday service. Dial-A-Ride service will now operate Monday through Friday from 6:45 AM until 5:45 PM and Saturday from 10:15 AM until 2:45 PM.
“With the expansion of the hours of the 9 Town Transit Dial-A-Ride service from 6:45 AM to 5:45 PM, the good people of Killingworth will now be able to use it to get to and from work, doctor’s appointments, and early and late access to a regularly running shuttle route to such places as New Haven, New London, Middletown, and Hartford. Killingworth is now connected to the rest of CT via public transportation,” said Richard Cabral, ETD Chairman and First Selectman of Killingworth.
The new hours were made possible through the Municipal Grants Program of the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
9TT’s Dial-A-Ride is a door-to-door public transit service available to the general public with no age restrictions. Service is provided anywhere within the towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook. Reservations must be made one day in advance by calling 860-510-0429. Regular fares are $2.50. Persons age 60 or older may ride free through the Senior Transportation Program. Additionally, free transfers may be made to other 9 Town Transit services for service outside of the nine town area New Haven, New London/Norwich, and Middletown.
For more information, route maps, or schedules visit 9 Town Transit online at www.9TownTransit.com or call 860-510-0429.
Press Release
Contact: Joseph Comerford
Executive Director
Estuary Transit District
(860) 510-0429 x4
October 1, 2009
9 Town Transit Awarded $325,000 in Stimulus Funds
The Estuary Transit District's 9 Town Transit has been awarded $325,000 in capital funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly referred to as the economic stimulus. The funding was recently announced by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and is a 100% federal grant with no matching funds required.
The funding will be used to enhance public transit services in the Estuary region. 9TT plans to purchase two new larger buses for its popular Shoreline Shuttle route to increase capacity. The current buses frequently are filled to capacity, leaving some passengers to wait for the next bus. The new buses will also include features to improve passenger comfort and security. Delivery is expected by Spring of 2010.
Bus stop enhancements will be another focus of the ARRA funds. 9TT will install bus stops along all four of its routes to more clearly identify bus stops and routing. In addition, some higher traffic bus stops will receive covered bus shelters to provide seating and protection from the weather. The improvements will greatly enhance the bus riding experience in the Estuary region, with installation expected to be completed by fall of 2010.
The funding will also allow 9TT to upgrade its scheduling software for its Dial-A-Ride and off-route services. 9TT plans to purchase a system that will improve efficiency, on-time performance, and trip appointment accuracy. Plans include using real-time GPS data to more accurately and effectively dispatch vehicles.
A new website is also being developed with the use of ARRA funding. 9TT plans to have a state-of-the-art website, giving visitors improved access to public transit information in a user-friendly format. 9TT plans to add features such as online ticket purchases, interactive maps, and online chat to answer questions.
"We are thrilled to be receiving these stimulus funds. They will go a long way in improving our ability to provide transit services to the Estuary region and our citizen's access to it" said Joseph Comerford, Executive Director of the Estuary Transit District.
The Estuary Transit District provides public transit service to Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook through its 9 Town Transit service. Connections are provided to New Haven, Middletown, Hartford and New London/Norwich bus services and Shoreline East Commuter Rail. Route maps and schedules are available online at www.9TownTransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
Contact: Joseph Comerford
Executive Director
Estuary Transit District
(860) 388-7882
September 4, 2009
9 Town Transit Continues Free Bus Fares for Seniors
The Estuary Transit District's 9 Town Transit will continue its popular free senior bus fares with some changes to simplify the program. The free fares are valid on all 9 Town Transit services for travel throughout the Estuary region.
Any resident of the nine town Estuary region (Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook) age 60 or older qualifies for the program.
In the past, tickets were required in order to receive the free transportation. Beginning October 1, the tickets have been eliminated to make using the free fares easier for seniors, and ending the need to track tickets. Seniors wishing to use the Dial-A-Ride or off-route services just have to inform the Dispatcher when reserving their trip. Seniors using any shuttle must just show a photo ID when boarding.
The Estuary Transit District provides public transit service to Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook through its 9 Town Transit service. Connections are provided to New Haven, Middletown, Hartford and New London/Norwich bus services and Shoreline East Commuter Rail.
The free transportation for seniors is made possible in part by a grant from the Senior Resources Agency on Aging with Title III funds made available under the Older Americans Act.
Route maps and schedules are available online at www.9TownTransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
Contact: Joseph Comerford
Executive Director
Estuary Transit District
(860) 661-4620
July 8, 2009
New Bus Pass Offers Big Savings to ETD Riders
In an effort to provide cost savings to bus riders and increase bus ridership, the Estuary Transit District will introduce a new type of fare to the Estuary region for use on its 9 Town Transit (9TT) services. Beginning July 20th, a new monthly pass will offer a heavily discounted alternative to the current cash fare and ten-ride ticket book options.
The new monthly pass will allow riders to take unlimited on-route trips on any shuttle route for one calendar month. Passes will cost $45, and will be available beginning the 20th of each month for the upcoming month (i.e. August passes will go on sale on July 20th). Off-route trips will cost an additional $1.25 per trip.
The passes will be valid on all 9TT shuttle routes, which includes the Shoreline Shuttle, Riverside Shuttle, Niantic Shuttle, and the Mid-Shore Express. Monthly pass holders will still be able to transfer for free to Dattco's 'S' Route to New Haven, South East Area Transit service to New London, Middletown Area Transit throughout Middletown, and CT Transit to Hartford.
Monthly passes will be available for purchase at the Estuary Transit District's offices located at 455 Boston Post Road Suite 202B in Old Saybrook. Office hours are Monday through Friday 6:00 AM until 6:30 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Cash or checks are accepted. There are no age or disability restrictions for pass purchase or for use of any 9 Town Transit service.
The Estuary Transit District provides public transit service to Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook through its 9 Town Transit service. Connections are provided to New Haven and New London/Norwich bus services and Shoreline East Commuter Rail.
Route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
Mid-Shore Express Bus to
Connect Old Saybrook and Middletown
The Estuary Transit District (ETD) will hold a press conference on
Friday, May 29, 2009 to at 10:00 AM at the Saybrook Point Pavilion on Bridge Street at
Saybrook Point in Old Saybrook, CT to announce the launch of the new 9 Town
Transit Mid-Shore Express bus service.
The Mid-Shoe Express will provide daily bus express bus service between
the shoreline and Middletown,
thanks to new funding through the Connecticut Department of Transportation and
the federal New Freedom Initiative.
The Mid-Shore Express, which begins June 1st, 2009,
provides five round trips each weekday between the Old Saybrook Train Station,
the Essex Park
and Ride lot, the Chester Park and Ride lot, Chester
Center, and Middletown.
Stops in Middletown will include Middlesex Hospital and the Social Services Office
and the Middletown Area Transit (MAT) bus terminal. This express route offers a travel time of
just 45 minutes from Old Saybrook to downtown Middletown for just $1.25.
This new service will provide access to much more than downtown Middletown through free
connections to other public transit services.
Passengers looking to travel around Middletown
or to Meriden
may do so on MAT buses. Those wishing to
travel to Hartford
or the surrounding region may do so on CT Transit. Both services meet with 9 Town Transit (9TT) at
the Middletown
bus terminal and will accept 9TT transfers.
Richard Cabral, Chairman of the ETD Board of Directors, commented “The
Mid-Shore Express closes the gap that has existed between the shoreline and
Middletown; providing improved access to social services, medical services,
government offices, and jobs,”
“With the existing connections to New Haven’s
S Route bus and New London/Norwich’s Southeast Area Transit bus system, this
final link to Middletown and Hartford will give shoreline residents incredible
mobility options and improve our state’s public transit network” said ETD
Executive Director Joseph Comerford.
In addition to providing shoreline residents with improved access to
services and jobs, the new link creates access for Middletown
and Hartford area residents to shoreline employment
centers such as the Tanger Outlets at Westbrook and the Clinton Crossing
Premium Outlets, and the Chester
Industrial Park. It also provides a direct link to Shoreline
East Commuter Rail.
The Estuary Transit District provides public transit service to Chester, Clinton, Deep
River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme,
Old Saybrook, and Westbrook through its 9 Town Transit service. Connections are provided to New Haven and New London/Norwich bus services
and Shoreline East Commuter Rail.
Route maps and schedules are available online at www.estuarytransit.org
or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
Estuary Transit
District Officers Elected
The Estuary Transit District (ETD) Board of Directors elected
officers at its annual meeting February 20, 2009. The ETD Board of Directors consists of one
member from each of the nine towns in the transit district. The towns include Chester,
Clinton, Deep River, Essex,
Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. The officers are: Richard Cabral
(Killingworth), Chairman; Richard Smith (Deep River), Vice-Chairman; John Forbis (Old Lyme), Treasurer; Leslie Strauss (Chester), Secretary. The remaining
members of the Board of Directors are Noel Bishop (Westbrook), Ralph Eno
(Lyme), Mike Pace (Old Saybrook), Jack Spangler (Essex), and Virginia Zawoy (Clinton).
ETD is the operator of 9 Town Transit, which offers two
types of public transit service to the nine town region. Deviated bus routes run on Route 1 between
Old Saybrook and Madison and Old Saybrook and Niantic, as well as on Route 154
between Old Saybrook and Chester. Connections are available with New Haven and New
London/Norwich bus services. Door to
door service is also available through the Transit-On-Call service, which
picks-up and drops-off anywhere within the nine town area with 24 hour advance
reservation. All services are open to
the general public.
During the past year, the ETD board has been focused on
ensuring the financial security of the district. This year, with the finances stable, the
board plans to begin focusing on improving the services offered and increasing
ridership. The board took a first step
towards this goal by moving forward on planning of a new bus route to Middletown. With the funding already in place, the board
hopes to begin the route by the summer of 2009.
Additional information on all ETD services is available
online at www.estuarytransit.org
or by calling 860-510-0429.
Norwich/New London and Old Saybrook Now Linked by Transit
Thanks to new funding through the Governor’s Service
Initiative, regular bus service now connects the Norwich/New London area to the
Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton, Madison, and the rest of the Estuary
region.
The service, which began in March of 2008, provides five
connections each weekday between South East Area Transit’s (SEAT) Route 3 and 9
Town Transit’s Niantic route. The routes
connect in downtown Niantic, where passengers can transfer for free between the
two services.
The new connection was created in order to fill the gap in
public transportation service between New
London and Old Saybrook. Closing that gap now provides continuous
public transit service along the entire Connecticut
shoreline. The link creates new access for Norwich
and New London
area residents to employment centers such as the Tanger
Outlets at Westbrook and the Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets. It also provides a direct link to Shoreline
East Commuter Rail in Old Saybrook as well as bus
service to Essex, Deep River, and Chester.
Route maps and schedules are available online at www.estuarytransit.org or www.seatbus.com or
by calling SEAT at 860-886-2631 or 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
9 Town Transit Offers
Free Bus Passes to Seniors
The Estuary Transit District’s 9 Town Transit service is now
offering FREE bus passes to area
seniors. The passes are good on all 9
Town Transit Services.
Any resident of the 9 town Estuary region (Chester,
Clinton, Deep River, Essex,
Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and
Westbrook) age 60 or older qualifies for the program. Simply call 860-510-0429 Monday through
Friday between 8 am and 12 pm and answer a few short questions. A book of passes will be mailed to their home
at no cost.
Once the tickets are received, seniors have the option of using
any 9 Town Transit service. One ticket
is used for any on-route pick-up on any shuttle, and two tickets for any
Dial-A-Ride trip or off-route shuttle pick-up.
Reservations must be made for the Dial-A-Ride 24 hours in advance. When the ticket supply is running low, just
call 510-0429 and request additional tickets free of charge.
The free tickets for seniors are made possible in part by a
grant from the Senior Resources Agency on Aging with Title III funds made
available under the Older Americans Act.
Route maps and schedules are available online
at www.estuarytransit.org or by calling
9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.
Top of Page |
