Estuary Transit District

Estuary Transit District, doing business as River Valley Transit, is the public transit provider for the Lower Connecticut River Valley region. ETD provides public transit bus service through its River Valley service to the municipalities of Chester, Clinton, Durham, Deep River, East Haddam, Essex, Killingworth, Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Middlefield, Middletown, and Madison. Dial-a-Ride services are provided to the general public, with no age or disability restrictions. ETD was named the Rural System of the Year in 2011 by the Community Transportation Association of America.[2]

River Valley Transit
A River Valley Transit bus in the former 9 Town Transit branding on the 643 route in New London.
Formerly9 Town Transit
ParentEstuary Transit District
FoundedMay 1981 (started operations)
July 2022 (merged with Middletown Area Transit)
HeadquartersOffice: 340 Main St, Middletown, CT
Garage: 17 Industrial Park Rd, Ste 6, Centerbrook, CT
LocaleLower Connecticut River Valley
Service areaChester, Clinton, Durham, Deep River, East Haddam, Essex, Killingworth, Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Middlefield, Middletown, Madison
Service typeLocal bus
DIal-A-Ride
XtraMile Microtransit
ADA Paratransit
Routes12
HubsOld Saybrook station
Middletown Bus Terminal
Annual ridership400,000 (2015)[1]
OperatorEstuary Transit District, managed by First Transit
WebsiteOfficial website

Governance

ETD is a political subdivision of the state of Connecticut created in 1981 under Chapter 103(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes by the towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook.[3] Each member town appoints one director to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors sets policies, establishes budgets, and provides general direction for the district. The votes on the board are weighted based on the town's population. The Board of Directors employs an executive director to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.

Middletown Area Transit merged into the Estuary Transit District on July 1, 2022.[4][5] On March 27, 2023, the new River Valley Transit branding was adopted, replacing the old 9 Town Transit and Middletown Area Transit names.[6]

Services

Services are divided into two divisions, the Shoreline routes and the Middletown routes. The Shoreline routes are the former 9 Town Transit routes, whereas the Middletown routes were formerly Middletown Area Transit.

Shoreline services

The Shoreline division includes four deviated-fixed routes, one fixed route, one on-demand microtransit service, and door-to-door demand response transportation. The hub for this division is at the Old Saybrook station, where most routes terminate or stop at.[7]

In August 2018, 9 Town Transit switched to a new route numbering system, as part of a plan to unite all CTDOT services under one system. The Shoreline routes now utilize numbers 640-649.

Fixed and deviated-fixed routes
Route Termini Via Notes
641 Madison
Scranton Gazebo		 Old Saybrook
Train Station		 US-1
642 Chester
Chester Center		 Old Saybrook
Saybrook Point		 CT-154
  • Offers off-route service up to 3/4 mile off the scheduled route
  • Operates Saturday service
643 New London
Union Station		 Old Saybrook
Train Station		 CT-156, US-1
644 Middletown
Bus Terminal		 CT-9, CT-154
  • Offers off-route service up to 3/4 mile off the scheduled route
  • Connects to Middletown division at the Middletown Bus Terminal
  • No weekend service
645 Madison
Scranton Gazebo		 CT-81, US-1

Demand responsive services

The Shoreline XtraMile service is a microtransit service that operates Monday to Saturday, serving Old Saybrook, Centerbrook, Essex Village, and part of Westbrook.[8] The service launched in 2019 as a pilot program, which later became permanent. Fares were originally free, but changed to the base $1.75 fare in 2023.[9] The service was originally run using software from Transloc, but in 2023, this was switched to software by Via.[8] The service is run using RVT-branded vans.

Middletown services

The Middletown division includes seven fixed routes, one on-demand microtransit service, and door-to-door demand response transportation. The hub for this division is at the Middletown Bus Terminal, located at 340 Main St in Middletown. All fixed routes terminate here. All routes operate as loops, however most do run to one general location before heading back to Downtown Middletown.[7]

Fixed routes
Route Termini Via Notes
581 Middletown
Bus Terminal		 Middletown
Summerhill Apartments		 Millbrook Rd, Saybrook Rd
  • Combined with route 583 on weeknights
582 Middletown
Bidwell		 S Main St, Wesleyan Hills
  • Combined with route 583 on weekends
  • No weeknight service
583 Middletown
Luther Manor Loop		 William St, Cross St, Washington St
  • Combined with route 581 on weeknights
  • Combined with route 582 on weekends
  • Operates as a loop to Luther Manor
  • Operates outbound on William/Cross Sts
  • Operates inbound on Washington St via the Middletown Plaza mall
584 Cromwell
Cromwell Square Mall		 Newfield St
  • Combined with route 585 on weeknights and weekends
585 Cromwell
Cromwell Commons Mall		 CT-9, Westlake Dr
  • Combined with route 584 on weeknights and weekends
586 East Hampton
Lake Pocotopaug		 CT-66, CT-16
590 (M-Link) Meriden
Transit Center		 CT-66
  • Inbound weekend service operates via Cromwell Commons Mall

Demand responsive services

The Middletown XtraMile service is a microtransit service that operates Monday to Saturday, serving various locations in Middletown.[8] The service launched in August 2022 as a pilot program, and later was renewed in September 2023.[8][10] Fares were originally free, but when the pilot was renewed, fares changed to the base $1.75 fare, however Wesleyan University students ride free.[8] The service was originally run using software from Transloc, but in 2023, this was switched to software by Via.[8] The service is run using RVT-branded vans.

Dial-A-Ride

RVT also operates dial-a-ride services throughout the entire service area for people who cannot access any fixed or deviated-fixed routes. The service charges a higher fare and operates Monday-Friday, with reservations required.[11]

Fares

Effective January 2, 2017, cash fares are $1.75 for all bus routes and $3.50 for Dial-A-Ride and off-route trips. Seniors 65+ and people with disabilities pay just $.85 on all routes with a Medicare card or Connecticut statewide reduced fare I.D. Pre-paid fares, such as 10-ride tickets and monthly passes are also available for purchase online, at the main office or at many local supermarkets. Senior citizen residents age 60 and over may ride for a suggested donation of $.85 on-route and $1.75 off-route/Dial-A-Ride by registering with ETD in advance. Transfers to other ETD routes or to connecting bus services are free.

Funding

The district is funded by four main sources, with the majority from the Federal Transit Administration Section[12] and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.[13]

References
  1. "About us - River Valley Transit". River Valley Transit - Public Transportation for the CT River Valley. 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  2. Community Transportation Association of America(http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=646)
  3. Chapter 103(a), Connecticut General Statutes (http://search.cga.state.ct.us/dtsearch_pub_statutes.html Archived 2004-08-10 at the Wayback Machine)
  4. "Two Connecticut bus services in Middlesex County will merge on July 1". Connecticut Public. 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  5. Hushin, Adam (2021-10-06). "Middletown Area Transit to merge with Shoreline service for 'more freedom and flexibility'". CT Insider. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  6. "9 Town Transit and Middletown Area Transit are now River Valley Transit (RVT) | Deep River CT". www.deepriverct.us. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  7. "Schedules & Services - River Valley Transit". River Valley Transit - Public Transportation for the CT River Valley. 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  8. "XtraMile – Ride Sharing for the Rest of Us - River Valley Transit". River Valley Transit - Public Transportation for the CT River Valley. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  9. Estuary Transit District (October 14, 2022). "Estuary Transit District Board Meeting" (PDF). Estuary Transit District. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  10. "XtraMile Pilot Program Brings Free Shuttle Service to Middletown". The Wesleyan Argus. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  11. "Dial-A-Ride - River Valley Transit". River Valley Transit - Public Transportation for the CT River Valley. 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  12. Federal Transit Administration (http://www.fta.dot.gov)
  13. Connecticut Department of Transportation (http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1386&q=259356&dotPNavCtr=%7C#40587)
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