Office of Special Services

ADA EZ Trans service:

ADA EZ Trans services are provided to those persons with disabilities that meet the definition of eligibility as established under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This definition relates to the physical or cognitive impairments that prevent use of the MVRTA?s fixed route bus system. All participants must be certified through the MVRTA Office of Special Services. This service is only available within the three-quarter mile corridor on each side of an MVRTA fixed bus route.

 

Non-ADA EZ Trans service:

Non-ADA EZ Trans services are provided to those persons who are 60 years of age or older and to persons who meet the eligibility criteria established under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that are requesting service beyond the three-quarter mile corridor on each side of an MVRTA fixed bus route. All participants must be certified through the MVRTA Office of Special Services.

Route 51 Ring & Ride R&R Brochure:
 

Route 51 Ring and Ride is an advance phone request curb-to-curb service along the scheduled routing. This shared ride service is fo residents of the James Steam Mill located at 1 Charles St., and Heritage House located at 32 Low St., as well as Plum Island residents who live along the original Route 51 bus route. You must call at least 24 hours in advance to request the service and be able to meet the MVRTA vehicle along the route at the location you have predetermined with the MVRTA Office of Special Services.

 

22 R&R Brochure:
 

Route 22 Ring and Ride is an advance phone request curb-to-curb service along the scheduled routing. You must call at least 24 hours in advance to request the service and be able to meet the MVRTA vehicle along the route at the location you have predetermined with the MVRTA Office of Special Services.

 

42 R&R Brochure:
 

Route 42 Ring and Ride is an advance phone request curb-to-curb service along the scheduled routing. You must call at least 24 hours in advance to request the service and be able to meet the MVRTA vehicle along the route at the location you have predetermined with the MVRTA Office of Special Services.
 

Boxford R&R Brochure:

Ring and Ride is a curb-to-curb transportation service for the residents of Boxford. This service allows residents of Boxford to commute within Boxford with additional service to Georgetown, Haverhill and North Andover, plus these medical facilities: Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, Lawrence General Hospital, and the dialysis center in Amesbury (24 Morrill Place). This service will also allow you to connect to the MVRTA fixed route bus system in Haverhill. Transportation to the Senior Center is FREE to residents of Boxford who are 60 years of age and older.
 

Georgetown R&R Brochure:

Ring and Ride is a curb-to-curb transportation service for the residents of Georgetown. This service allows residents of Georgetown to commute within Georgetown with additional service to Haverhill, Lawrence General Hospital, Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, and the Rowley Commuter rail Station. This service will also allow you to connect to the MVRTA fixed route bus system in Haverhill as well as travel to the Town of Groveland and the dialysis center in Amesbury (24 Morrill Place).

 

Groveland R&R Brochure:

Ring and Ride is a curb-to-curb transportation service for the residents of Groveland who are 60 years of age and older. This service allows these residents of Groveland to commute within Groveland with additional service to Haverhill, Lawrence General Hospital, Newburyport, and the dialysis center in Amesbury (24 Morrill Place). This service will also allow you to connect to the MVRTA fixed route bus system in Haverhill.

Salisbury R&R Brochure:

Ring and Ride is a curb-to-curb transportation service for the residents of Salisbury. This service allows residents of Salisbury to commute not only within Salisbury but to Amesbury and Newburyport as well. This service will also allow you to connect to the MVRTA fixed route bus system in Amesbury.

West Newbury R&R Brochure:

Ring and Ride is a curb-to-curb transportation service for the residents of West Newbury. This service allows residents of West Newbury to commute not only within West Newbury but to Amesbury including the dialysis center (24 Morrill Place), Newburyport, Groveland, Haverhill and Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. This service will also allow you to connect to the MVRTA fixed route bus system in Haverhill.

Call & Commute:

Call and Commute service:
 

Call & Commute is a first-come, first-served, door-to-door demand/response shuttle service designed exclusively for employees of the member companies of the Junction Transportation Management Organization (TMO) in the Lowell Junction/Ballardvale Street employment area of Andover and Wilmington. The service is funded by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, the Town of Andover, and the Junction TMO.

Please adhere to the following guidelines when contacting Call & Commute by phone:

For reservations, changes and cancellations during office hours (8 am- 5 pm)

Call (978) 469-6878 and select option 3 from the menu for the Office of Special Services. Or, you can dial extension 138, which is Don's direct extension number. If there is no answer at either number, you can leave a voice mail message. However, if Don is out for the day, it is possible that the message will not be retrieved until he returns to work.

For reservations, changes and cancellations after office hours (5 pm - 8 am)

You can call (978) 469-6878 and select option 3 to leave a message. 

In an emergency (less than 24 hours notice)

In an emergency situation (ride cancellation with less than 24 hours notice), you may need to speak directly to the dispatcher to make sure the message is quickly relayed to the driver. In this case only, you can call (978) 469-6878, extension 142. Dispatchers are available Monday through Friday between 4:30am- 8:15pm.  NOTE:  reservations and changes cannot be made through the dispatch office. 

Remember: All changes, including cancellations, should be made at least 24 hours in advance, except in case of emergency.

How to Ride
Call & Commute

How does Call & Commute work?
Currently, Call & Commute is available only to TMO member employees who either:
    A. Live in Andover, North Andover, Lawrence, or Methuen, AND/OR
    B. Use the Ballardvale commuter rail station as part of their AM or PM commutes.
2. When does Call & Commute operate?
Call & Commute typically operates from 6AM to 9AM and from 3PM - 6PM, Monday through Friday, except Massachusetts state holidays.
3. When and how do I reserve a seat?
To reserve a single ride between your home and work, call 978-469-6878 (press option 3) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at least one day prior to service. When you call, be prepared to provide the following information:
    A. Your name
    B. The name of your employer
    C. Your E-mail address
    D. Your work phone number (and cell phone number if you use one)
    E. Your exact street address and requested times for pickup and drop-off locations for both your morning and evening commutes.
Commuter rail riders do not need reservations if they arrive in Ballardvale on either the 6:50 AM train from Haverhill or the 8:17 AM train from Boston. However, first-time riders wishing to depart Ballardvale on either the 4:50 PM train to Boston or the 5:08 PM train to Haverhill are urged to call ahead for last-minute changes. The shuttle departs One Burtt Rd. at 4:40 PM for the 4:50 PM train, and 4:55 PM for the 5:08 PM train.
4. How do I cancel my ride?
To cancel a morning pickup: If you must cancel a ride that you had scheduled for a morning pickup, you must call 978-469-6878 (press option 3) between 4:30 AM and 4:00 PM on the day before the day of your ride.
To cancel an afternoon pickup: If you need to cancel an afternoon ride, you must call 978-469-6878, ext. 142) no later than one hour before the scheduled pickup time.
5. May I change my schedule?
Please don't ask for last minute changes to fit your schedule. For the benefit of all riders, once the schedule for a day has been established, it is not possible to make adjustments any later than 4:00 PM on the day prior to service. Also, please note that schedule changes, even if requested prior to 4:00 PM on the day before the scheduled service, may not be accommodated.
6. What if I have a family emergency?
If you have a family emergency, please call 978-469-6878, ext. 142 at least one hour before your scheduled pickup time.
7. What does Call & Commute cost?
Call & Commute is FREE for Wyeth, P&G/Gillette, Jacobs/JE Merit, Sodexho, UNICCO and Kelly Services employees. These companies fully subsidize Call & Commute as a benefit for their employees. However, in order to use the shuttle, employees must show their company I.D. and sign the passenger log when they board.
Subscriber priority. Although Call & Commute generally operates on a "first-come, first-served" basis, priority will be given to you if you are a subscriber, that is, if you plan to use the service on a regular basis for a period of at least two consecutive months. As a subscriber, if your employer is not listed above, you must make arrangements with the TMO during the month prior to your use of the service.
8. Are there other benefits that I should know about?
Any employee of a TMO member company who commutes to work using Call & Commute or any other means of travel (other than driving alone) at least two days per week is eligible for the TMO's FREE Emergency Ride Home (ERH) service. ERH is the equivalent of a "commuter insurance" policy which guarantees an eligible employee a free taxi ride home in case of family emergency or unexpected overtime required by a supervisor. If you wish to register for the ERH service, contact the TMO at 978-247-3100 for further details.
9. What else do I need to know about Call & Commute?
Call & Commute is a 'shared ride' service intended to accommodate as many customers per trip as safely and efficiently as possible. When you reserve a seat, you must be ready to board when the Call & Commute vehicle arrives. Please allow for a 15-minute "window" on either side of your requested pickup time in order for the schedule to be confirmed. Severe weather or traffic conditions and changing schedules may result in the driver arriving 15 minutes earlier or later than expected. Upon arriving at your stop, the driver is permitted to wait no longer than five (5) minutes for you to board the vehicle.
Although rules may seem unnecessary for responsible adults, it is possible that a passenger may occasionally fail to observe the rules of etiquette. Therefore, in order to make this service convenient for everyone, the policy for "No Shows," "Late or Excessive Cancellations" and "Incorrect Addresses or Pickup Times" is as follows:
    - No Shows: A No Show occurs when a client fails to be at the scheduled pick-up point fifteen (15) minutes prior to, or five (5) minutes after the scheduled pick-up time.
    - Incorrect Address or Pickup Time: This occurs when a client gives us the wrong pick-up address or time, or if no notice is given of such a change.
    - Late Cancellation: When a client cancels a reservation and fails to notify Call & Commute within the guidelines outlined in provision "3" above.
    - Excessive Cancellations: It is considered "excessive" when a client cancels five (5) previously scheduled rides during a one-month period, or when a subscriber client cancels three (3) rides during a one-month period.
In addition, several common courtesies must be observed:
    - Eating, drinking, smoking, or playing of loud music is not allowed.
    - Seatbelts are required to be worn by all passengers.
    - Tipping of drivers is not permitted.
    - Unsafe behavior or destruction of service property will be cause for immediate expulsion from the vehicle.
Failing to adhere to these guidelines could result in loss of riding privileges.


 

PLEASE REMEMBER:

The MVRTA Office of Special Services provides curb-to-curb services with MVRTA lift-equipped vehicles and is intended to safely and efficiently accommodate as many passengers per trip as possible.

These services are:

Reliable and economic public transportation.
Shared ride services
Advance reservation services, which must be booked at least one to two days in advance depending on the services you are requesting
Curb-to-curb services

These services are not:

Ambulance services
Taxi services
Emergency services
On-call services

Please note that the MVRTA does not operate on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.