New bus service in Middlesex County

Old Saybrook (WTNH) - New bus service began today for commuters who travel up and down the Connecticut River valley.

The Mid-Shore Express connects Middletown and Old Saybrook. It's run by the Estuary

New bus service begins Monday for commuters who travel up and down the Connecticut River valley. 

The Mid-Shore Express connects Middletown and Old Saybrook with stops in Essex and Chester.

It's the first day of the new bus route and Joanna McMullin is the first passenger. It's good timing for her, she needs to get to Middletown, but she fell.

"Broke my knee, and I can't drive my car, it's a standard. So I'm the first passenger on this first bus to Middletown," she said.

Until now, there were very few mass transit options connecting Middletown and Old Saybrook. The Estuary Transit District runs three other routes around Old Saybrook and knew there were people who needed transportation.

"Many of our riders are seniors, we do carry a lot of disabled people, because we have many disabled services along the shore here," said Joe Comerford, Estuary Transit District.

Which is how Joanna knew to use Estuary to get to Middletown.

"Actually, Estuary gives me rides to my physical therapy three times a week also, because I can't drive," she said.

Comerford thinks the route will be essential for bringing workers to shoreline businesses.

"Having this link to Middletown and even to Hartford is very important to area employers because it gives them access to a much larger labor pool than they have here on the shoreline," he said. 

For more information call 860-510-0429 or visit estuarytransit.org .