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11/08/2022 03:36 PMOn Thursday, Nov. 17 The Estuary Transit District (ETD) will hold public hearing on in Westbrook’s Town Hall to receive feedback on recommended changes to bus fares that will lower the fare for some riders.
In a press release from the ETD, the district said that it not proposing an increase to the base fare of $1.75. According to the release what the ETD is proposing is changes to make sure the recently merged ETD and Middletown Transit District “has one unified set of fare products for the entire system” according to the release.
Those proposed changes include a student and low-income fare discount of 50 percent, which would most likely result in the elimination of the student monthly pass the release states.
Per the release, “ETD is also proposing adding the base fare of $1.75 to both on-demand XtraMile shuttle programs in Old Saybrook and Middletown. An ETD ticket or pass will be acceptable as payment for XtraMile, making it a standard part of the bus system.”
Brendan Geraghty, a transportation planner for the ETD, further explained some of the moves.
“To start, the most obvious and necessary change is [to] make sure the new combined system has one consistent fare. Currently there are slightly different fare prices that exist between the old Middletown Area Transit (MAT) routes and the Estuary Transit routes. For example, the monthly pass cost for MAT was $59 and the ETD price is $52.50, so we are recommending the price be $52.50 across the entire system. Those price differences currently remain,” said Geraghty.
Geraghty also expanded on the low-income fare discount.
“The reduction for student aged (5 to 18) riders is to help with affordability and to incentivize transit for the workers and hopeful transit users of the future. The third suggestion is to introduce what is known as ‘fare capping.’ Fare capping would make it so that riders who cannot afford or for whatever reason do not purchase the monthly pass, will never pay more than the monthly pass in fare,” said Geraghty.
“Finally, the reason why we are proposing eliminating the fare for ADA Eligible individuals, individuals with disabilities that prevent them from using the traditional fixed route bus, is twofold,” Geraghty continued. “First, if their condition improves, it allows them free transportation, for a disabled population that are often financially stressed. Second, this will save ETD money as ADA shuttle services are expensive for ETD to run, and so if a rider can use the traditional bus, it is a great cost savings for ETD. Of course, we still provide ADA rides regardless if an ADA eligible rider requests, it’s just another option that could save them and ETD money if they feel up to using the traditional bus.”
The proposed move comes after the ETD merged with the Middletown Transit District on July 1.
On its website, the ETD states it “… was formed in 1981 by nine towns of the Connecticut River Estuary Region to provide local, coordinated public transportation for residents of the area. Today, the district has grown to service 16 towns throughout Middlesex County and parts of New London County. The district operates under the name 9 Town Transit on the shoreline and Middletown Area Transit in northern Middlesex County.” The ETD operates 13 routes as of 2022.
A survey is available for riders to answer questions as well as learn more Information about the proposed changes. Another public hearing is set for Tuesday, Nov. 15 form 6 to 7 p.m. at Middletown City Hall, 245 deKoven Drive.
For more information or to take the survey, visit estuarytransit.org/fares/fare-proposal.