Dial-A-Ride offers curb-to-curb general public transit service outside the area of our bus routes. Dial-A-Ride is a shared ride service, meaning you may ride with others and may not always take a direct route to your destination. Dial-A-Ride is available within the following towns:

-Chester
-Clinton
-Deep River
-Durham
-Essex
-East Haddam
-East Hampton
-Haddam
-Killingworth
-Lyme
-Middlefield
-Middletown
-Portland
-Old Lyme
-Old Saybrook
-Westbrook

This page provides an overview of our Dial-A-Ride program. A detailed Rider’s Guide is available by clicking here

Dial-A-Ride service is available Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM, dependent upon availability.

Reservations may be made by phone, online or through our smartphone app. Reservations must be made by 4:30 PM on the business day before the trip, but may be booked as early as two weeks prior.

Phone: 860-510-0429 (shoreline) or 860-554-0551 (Middletown)
TDD: 1-800-842-9710
Online: www.estuarytransit.org

Before your first trip can be booked, you must be set up as a new client. To do this, we will need your full name, mailing address, phone number and any mobility devices used or special instructions.  You may also create a new account in the Ecolane smartphone app. If you are 60 or over and would like to participate in the senior fare program, we will also need you date of birth and the last four digits of your social security number. There will also be additional question required by the senior grant program, which you can view by clicking here.

When scheduling a trip, be sure to have the date, time, street address of pick-up and drop-off locations and return trip information available. If the trip is for work, school or a medical appointment, please tell us the time you must be at the destination. It is your responsibility to provide this information, we cannot look up addresses. Your trip time may be adjusted as much as one hour before or one hour after the requested time, depending on availability. It is always recommended that you book your trip as early as possible.

When you book, you will be given a half hour pick-up window. Due to the nature of shared ride service, we cannot give exact pick up times.

Same day trips may be booked when available at a higher fare. 9TT has sole discretion on booking same day trips.

Subscription service allows you to schedule a recurring trips in one phone call. Subscriptions are available for medical, educational or employment trips. You will then only have to call when you need to cancel a trip. Subscriptions cannot be booked online, but can be changed or canceled.

Many 9TT vehicles have wheelchair lifts. If you require the use of a lift, please let dispatch know to ensure the proper vehicle is dispatched to you. Wheelchair lifts are designed to use either a mobility device or by a standee. Anyone may use the wheelchair lift on request. Only the operator may operate the wheelchair lift and tie down straps. The operator will also assist with the seat belt for persons using a wheelchair or scooter.

The operator is available to assist passengers on or off the vehicle. Assistance will also be provided to or from the front door of the point of origin or destination upon request. Assistance with up to three bags will also be provided if requested. Operators will not lift wheelchairs or scooters, but will assist if you have a ramp.

Passengers needing additional assistance are encouraged to bring a personal care attendant (PCA), who may ride for free. Tell the dispatcher when you book your ride that you will have a PCA.

The vehicle will arrive within the half hour window provided. You must be ready to board the vehicle any time within this window. You must visible to the operator and making your way to the vehicle within five minutes of arrival, or will be considered a no-show.

Operators are not permitted beyond the front door and will not search for you. Operators will sound the horn only if you have notified 9TT that you are visually impaired, but you will not receive a phone call.

Reservations should be cancelled as early as possible, but no later than two hours before the pick-up window. If a scheduled ride is cancelled in a timely manner, no penalties will result.

If you do not board the vehicle within five minutes of arrival, you will be considered a no-show. Penalties are assessed for each no-show, including a charge for the fare due and possible suspension from services. The detailed no-show policy can be found in our Rider’s Guide.

9TT offers text message alerts to your cell phone that provide the estimated arrival time directly to your cell phone just before your pick-up window. Times are estimated and subject to change, so be ready to board during the entire pick-up window. Standard carrier text message rates apply. Let a dispatcher know you would like text message alerts activated on your account.