The Northeastern Connecticut Transit District (NECTD) is an agency providing multiple forms of public transportation in northeastern Connecticut. Six fixed routes (with deviation on request) provide week-round service to the towns of Brooklyn, Killingly, Plainfield, Putnam, and Thompson. Using fixed route service connections to WRTD can be made in Killingly and to SEAT in Plainfield respectively. With advance reservation NECTD also offers dial-a-ride service to the general public and door-to-door to select elderly and disabled persons. Dial-a-ride and door-to-door service is available to all towns served by NECTD's fixed routes as well as to Canterbury, Eastford, Hampton, Pomfret, Union, and Woodstock. Following a pilot program which began in 1977, NECTD was founded in October 1979, with its first service beginning in August 1980. History NECTAR (1977-1979) Prior to the start of NECTD service in 1980, the Northeastern Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (later the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments) operated a door-to-door bus service known as Northeast Connecticut Telephone and Ride (NECTAR). NECTAR began as a pilot program by the Northeastern Connecticut Regional Planning Agency and was funded by the Federal Highway Administration. Service was launched in September 1977 to examine the feasibility of a larger public transport system in northeast Connecticut. NECTAR began as a free service offering door-to-door transport for residents of Brooklyn, Canterbury, Eastford, Killingly, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Sterling, Thompson, and Woodstock. To use NECTAR residents of the ten towns served had to be added to a list by the organization to be served during peak hours, or call at least one day in advance for service between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Service was initially provided by three yellow Dodge maxivans. Citing that $89,000 was necessary to keep the system operational until July 1979, NECTAR ended its free services in April 1978. In September 1978 federal funding was secured assuring the service's continuation into 1979. In September 1979, the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments discussed the establishment of a new regional transit system to supersede NECTAR. In October, the Northeastern Connecticut Transit District (NECTD) was created and officials were appointed to its organization. The goal of NECTD, according to NECTAR/NECTD-affiliated transportation planner Tom Maziarz, consisted of "two districts offering door-to-door service and fixed bus route service along Rt. 12 between the districts." Preparation for NECTD (1979-1980) Although the structure of NECTD was created in 1979, the service did not begin until July 1980. During the beginning of