SweetHART Bus A Sweetheart Of A Deal

By Nancy K. Crevier

Richard Schreiner, director of service development for the Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) and Senior Center Director Marilyn Place spoke with more than a dozen interested senior citizens about the advantages of the SweetHART bus system that services Newtown, Wednesday, June 18.

“It’s a great service the town offers and you should be using it,” Ms Place urged the audience members, “especially since it runs on Saturdays now.” The bus service, offering door-to-door pick-up and drop-off for residents 60 years of age or older, or who are disabled or handicapped, is one of the ways that can help the aging citizen maintain independence, Ms Place reminded them. “Plan ahead. What if your car was to break down and you don’t want to buy another? What about the cost of gas and maintenance of a car?” she asked.

SweetHART buses cost just 60 cents each way in town for registered riders, or 75 cents each way for intertown rides, with passes available for purchase, as well. Governed and subsidized by the towns that SweetHART serves, as well as some federal and state funds, fares have not increased since 1993, said Mr Schreiner, making it quite a good deal. Nor do the passes have an expiration date. “The towns in this area are very invested in the bus service,” he said.

There are no trip restrictions, said Mr Schreiner. SweetHART drivers will bring riders to doctors’ appointments, to the store, to the mall, to special events, classes, to visit friends, and yes, even to the Senior Center. “The buses are fully equipped for wheelchair service with lifts,” said Mr Schreiner, “and if you ask, the driver will assist you to and from your door.”

As long as the bus can navigate a driveway and turn around, bus drivers are happy to pull right up to the home for pick-up and drop-off, too. “Tell us when you apply to be put into the system if you think there is a problem [with the bus getting to your home],” said Mr Schreiner. A supervisor may need to come out and assess the situation.

The SweetHART bus service is popular and becoming more so with the addition of Saturday service, bringing it up to six days a week service, said Mr Schreiner. Ridership has increased nine percent this year.

Three buses provide service to Danbury and to towns that touch Newtown, except Southbury and Monroe, running from 7 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, and on Saturday from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm. Riders must be registered with HART to use the service, but that is a simple process done by filling out applications available at the Senior Center or Newtown Social Services at Town Hall South and mailing it in, visiting hartct.org, or calling 744-4070.

Once registered, riders can make reservations for the bus beginning two weeks in advance and up to 1 pm the day prior to an appointment. “Book early, though,” cautioned Mr Schreiner, as the buses, which seat between eight and 14 riders plus wheelchair accommodations, fill up early. Because HART operates on a rolling two-week system, Mr Schreiner explained, riders actually have nearly a three-week window to schedule a ride.

Return trips can be prescheduled, but in cases where a return time is uncertain, riders can opt for the “Will Call” program and a bus will be sent. However, Mr Schreiner said, there could be a wait. Both he and Ms Place pointed out that because the buses service a very large region, getting from point A to point B is not always as efficient as they would like. Riders have had to wait up to an hour, and in rare instances, longer. The bus company does its utmost to be timely, said Mr Schreiner, and any unduly long waits should be reported to HART.

While one Senior Center member expressed concerns about long waits, longtime SweetHART bus service users Marianne Poser and Florence DePalma said that, overall, their experiences had been very good. “I love my bus rides,” said Ms DePalma. “The drivers are just great.”

Bad weather, age, the economy, and car problems are just a few of the reasons that SweetHART bus service is a good option, said Ms Place. “You can still get out, stay active, and be independent. It is a service the town provides that you should not overlook.”