Ela Township Dial-A-Bus Holiday Schedule

Ela Township's bus service for township residents 55 and older has a special holiday schedule for December, in addition to its regular schedule.

The bus service is offering a trip to Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills for holiday shopping on Monday, Dec. 14. Riders will be picked up at their homes beginning at 9:15 a.m. The bus will return to the mall at 2:15 p.m. to take riders home. Riders must make their reservation by Friday, Dec. 11. The fare is $4 for a round-trip.

Regular bus service hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for township residents 55 and older who need transportation related to shopping, errands, hair appointments, etc. Hours are extended to 3:45 p.m. for riders with doctor, dentist or Good Shepherd appointments.

There will be no bus service on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24; Christmas Day, 25; and New Year's Day, Jan. 1.

All rides must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. The cost is $2 for one-way and $4 for a round-trip. Riders can request one additional stop for $1 more.

To schedule a ride, call (847) 438-6677.

Ela Township's senior/handicapped bus service starts at 8:30 a.m. for stops with no appointment time.

Riders with appointment times will be picked-up within the hour of their scheduled appointment time.

All appointments should be scheduled for after 9:15 a.m. All riders must be back on the bus by 1:30 p.m. The only exception is for doctor, dentist or Good Shepherd appointments, in which case the last scheduled pickup to go home is 3:45 p.m.

Bus rides should be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours in advance. You cannot call for a ride on the day of your appointment or requested stop. Riders are advised to reserve their ride as soon as they know their appointment time to ensure a seat is available the day they need it. Cancellations or changes may be made the same day, if necessary, by calling (847) 438-6677. Drivers are not responsible for these messages.

Those awaiting a ride should watch for the bus, as the driver can only wait five minutes at each stop. Drivers cannot leave the bus to ring doorbells, or to deliver grocery bags. All shoppers should limit their number of bags to five, or however many they can carry.

Senior Center Bus Schedule:

• Monday: Pickup at 8:30 a.m., back on bus at 2:30 p.m.

• Tuesday: Pickup at 8:30 a.m., back on bus at 12:30 p.m.

• Wednesday: Pickup at 10 a.m., back on bus at 2:30 p.m.

• Thursday: Pickup at 8:30 a.m., back on bus at 2:30 p.m.

For information, call (847) 438-6677 or visit elatownship.org/bus-service.

Ela Township serves more than 40,000 residents and covers 36 square miles. Within its borders are all or part of the villages of Barrington, Deer Park, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, North Barrington and portions of unincorporated Palatine and Mundelein.

The Ela Township Offices are located at 1155 E. Route 22 in Lake Zurich. For information about township programs and services, visit www.elatownship.org and like us on Facebook.

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