What's New

  • 9TT in the News

  • Bus Use Along the Shoreline Continues to Grow 1/16/13
    Improving Access for People with Disabilities 1/15/13
    9TT Begins Dial-A-Ride in Haddam 6/5/12
    9TT Expands Service Hours 4/2/12
    Bus Ride Magazine Feature
    Ridership Increase – July 2011
    Two New Hybrid Buses – June 2011
    Rural System of the Year Award – May 2011

  • Press Releases

  • January 7, 2013

    Shoreline Bus Usage Continues to Grow

    Once again 9 Town Transit has seen large growth in ridership. Extended service hours, regional connections, new service in Haddam and improved awareness contributed to growth of 15% during 2012.

    Since 2009, 9 Town Transit has greatly expanded the reach and hours of its services. Public bus service is now available from the shoreline to New Haven, New London, Middletown and Hartford, all for a fare of $1.50. Most services now begin around 6:00 AM and end at 7:00 PM or later. Connections are offered to four neighboring transit systems.

    In addition to service improvements, 9 Town Transit has been actively promoting awareness of public transit options in the region. This has included a new website, brightly painted buses, bus stop signage throughout the region, print advertising and participations in community events.

    These factors contributed to a total annual ridership of just under 98,500 passenger trips, an 83% increase since 2009. About half of all trips are now work related. All services are open to the general public.

    Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.

    May 11, 2012

    Haddam to Begin Dial-A-Ride Service with 9 Town Transit

    Haddam residents will soon have greater mobility with new access to a regional transit system. Beginning June 1st, the town of Haddam will begin a contract with 9 Town Transit to provide Dial-A-Ride service throughout much of the town.

    9 Town Transit, operated by the Estuary Transit District, currently provides Dial-A-Ride service throughout Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. Any location west of the Connecticut River in Haddam will now also be included in the new ten town service area.

    “I am extremely pleased with the inclusion of Haddam into the Estuary Transit District”, remarks Haddam First Selectman Paul Destefano. “Our contract for the Dial-A-Ride services will enable an expansion of our services to all town residents and will create opportunities for employment and education to those who have thus far been unable to commute to their destinations.”

    To reserve a trip, customers will call 9 Town Transit at least one day in advance. The fare will be $3.00 each way, with seniors age 60 and over eligible to ride at a suggested donation of $1.50. The hours of service are 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. The service is open to the general public with no age restrictions. All vehicles are fully accessible with wheelchair lifts and service is available for any trip purpose.

    By partnering with 9 Town Transit, the town will have access to an advanced dispatch system and region-wide service. Customers will be able to book their trips online and receive text message notifications to their cell phone with the estimated arrival time through a real-time GPS based scheduling system. The transit district’s advanced dispatching system helped earn them the Community Transportation Association of America’s 2011 Rural System of the Year award.

    In April of 2012, 9 Town Transit begin serving Haddam along Route 154 with the Mid-Shore Express bus route. The route runs between Old Saybrook and Middletown with service every two hours from 6:20 AM until 7:00 PM Monday through Friday. Customers can board the bus at any bus stop along Route 154 at the scheduled time without a reservation for a fare of $1.50.

    “The fixed-route shuttle service which will now include our town will indeed open up a variety of socially integrated possibilities to those who either enjoy exploring our beautiful estuary region or are seeking a transportation connection point to other areas of the state,” says Destesfano.

    Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-554-0551.

    March 15, 2012

    9 Town Transit Expands Bus Schedules

    Beginning April 2, 2012, 9 Town Transit will offer expanded bus schedules on two rapidly growing bus routes. The new schedules will improve access and connections to neighboring transit systems.

    Almost three years after launching service between Old Saybrook and Middletown, ridership growth of over 30% each year has demonstrated a need for additional hours of service. The current schedule offers morning and evening service with a four hour mid-day gap. Increasing usage by Middlesex Community College students and people visiting state offices in Middletown have created a need to fill this gap. Service will now be offered every two hours from 6:20 AM until about 7:20 PM. Stops will also be made along Route 154 in Haddam for the first time.

    9 Town Transit has also seen tremendous growth in its bus service between Old Saybrook and New London. The service, which saw ridership growth of 70% in 2011, currently runs from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM. With a ridership of primarily commuters, the service ends too early for many to return home using the bus route. An additional trip will be added to leave Old Saybrook at 5:00 PM and return from New London at 6:00 PM.

    9 Town Transit provides service to all parts of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, and all services are open to the general public. Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.

  • June 14, 2011

    9 Town Transit Earns National Top Honors

    On Wed., June 8, the Estuary Transit District, better known as 9 Town Transit, in Centerbrook, Conn., received the Rural System of the Year award at this year’s Community Transportation Association Expo in Indianapolis. The Community of Transportation Association of America (CTAA), celebrating its 25-year anniversary, organized the event.
    The award is given each year to the transportation agency that provides service in a non-urban area with a population of less than 50,000. The award is given to a transit operation that has presented innovative and creative services within the community, and has displayed exceptional responsiveness to its customers’ and community needs. The district was selected from amongst the 4,000 member agencies.
    “This is a great honor and we are very proud to have received this award,” said Joe Comerford, executive director, Estuary Transit District/First Transit. “This was a group effort and I greatly appreciate the work my staff has done over the years to achieve this recognition.”
    CTAA was most impressed with the implementation of new technology and 9 Town Transit’s (9TT) ability to expand services despite the current economic climate. Over the past two years, 9TT has implemented a GPS based dispatching system, text message alerts to passengers, online trip booking and pass sales, and regular updates through various social media outlets. With the help of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, 9TT has also been able to add new services to Middletown and New London from Old Saybrook, as well as add hours to existing services to accommodate commuters. The efforts have caused ridership to grow almost 40% during this period.

    The award is especially gratifying considering 9TT’s financial difficulties in the not so distant past. In 2006, the district had depleted its reserve funds and was forced to request additional funding from its member towns. Many member town First Selectman joined the district’s Board of Directors to help stabilize the district, and transit management company First Transit was hired to provide professional management.

    9 Town Transit provides service to all parts of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, and all services are open to the general public. Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.

  • July 21, 2011

    Shoreline Gets First Hybrid Buses

    The shoreline just got a little greener. 9 Town Transit, the shoreline’s public transit agency, recently celebrated the addition of two hybrid electric mini-buses to their fleet.
    Each bus has both gasoline engine and an electric motor. When idling and at speeds up to 15 MPH, the buses operate totally on electric power. The result is a quieter running vehicle and a boost in gas mileage by about 20%.
    The buses are built on a Ford E450 chassis, presenting a challenge to the hybrid industry. Large bus manufacturers build from the ground up, making adding a hybrid drive relatively easy. Mini-bus manufacturers receive a chassis with a drive train already installed, meaning any hybrid system must be installed aftermarket. This has resulted in a lack of reasonably priced hybrid systems for the mini-bus market until recently. As a result, these two buses are the first hybrid mini-buses in New England.

    The buses were purchased with grant money from the Connecticut Clean Fuels Program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment act at a total cost of $123,706 per bus. The buses will result in significant fuel savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced dependence on foreign oil.

    9 Town Transit provides service to all parts of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, and all services are open to the general public. Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.