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RIPTA to Hold Community Meeting in Pawtucket on Revised Proposed Service Changes

Community Meeting Scheduled at the Pawtucket Public Library on

Thursday, April 18 from 5pm to 7pm

Providence, Rhode Island – The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will hold a community meeting on revised proposed service changes on Thursday, April 18 from 5pm to 7pm at the Pawtucket Public Library, 13 Summer Street. This community meeting is in addition to the public hearings scheduled for Monday, April 8 in Providence and Monday, April 15 in West Warwick.

RIPTA first announced proposed reductions in service statewide in February as a direct response to its driver shortage, which is a longstanding issue that RIPTA has been trying to address over the past few years. Last month, RIPTA announced that proposed service changes, originally scheduled for April 6, 2024, would be postponed. This delay allowed RIPTA staff to further evaluate routes and make necessary adjustments to lessen the impact on passengers. Additionally, RIPTA is closely monitoring the effects of the recent increase in driver wages on its system.

After careful deliberation, RIPTA revised some of the previously proposed service changes in order to minimize disruptions for passengers. While some of these revised changes will result in reduced overall service levels, essential connections will still be maintained.

RIPTA will conduct public hearings as required to present these revised service changes, as well as review previously proposed service changes. In addition to the hearings, RIPTA will host a community meeting in Pawtucket. These meetings will address revised proposed service changes to Routes 3, 4, 6, 13, 16, 23, 71, 73, 76, 80 and 95x. Additionally, RIPTA will review proposed service changes that were previously presented in February for Routes Qx, 12x, 14, 18, 64, 21, 23, 51, 54, 58, 59x, 61x, 65x, 68, 72, 87, 92 and 95x, as well as introduce a new route.

Schedule for Public Hearings & Community Meetings

Monday, April 8, 2024: The Providence Foundation, 30 Exchange Terrace, Providence

Times: 12pm – 2pm & 5pm – 7pm

Monday, April 15, 2024: West Warwick Public Library, 1043 Main Street, West Warwick

Times: 12pm – 2pm & 5pm – 7pm

Thursday, April 18, 2024: Pawtucket Public Library, 13 Summer Street, Pawtucket

Time: 5pm – 7pm

These meetings will be accessible to people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency. RIPTA will provide translation and interpreter services for the deaf and hearing impaired, provided such a request is made at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date. A request for this service can be made by calling (401) 784-9500 ex. 1242 or 800-745-5555 (RI Relay TDD).

Proposed changes are as follows:

Increase in Trip Frequency or Number of Trips

Route 51 (Charles St./Twin River/CCRI)

Route 54 (Lincoln/Woonsocket)

Route 72 (Weeden/Central Falls)

Route 92 (East Side/Federal Hill/RI College)

Regular Route Eliminations

Route QX (Quonset Express)

Route 12x (Arctic/117 Express Park-n-Ride)

Route 59x (North Smithfield/Lincoln Mall)

Route 61x (Tiverton/East Bay Park-n-Ride)

Route 76 (Central Ave.) – This will be combined with Route 80 to create a new Route 70.

Route 80 (Armistice Blvd.) – This will be combined with Route 76 to create a new Route 70.

Route 88 (Simmons Village Service)

Route Segment Eliminations Eliminated Segment

Route 6 (Prairie Ave./CCRI/RW Zoo) This route will no longer serve Colony House

Route 14 (West Bay) All service between North Kingstown to Narragansett (Saturday only)

Route 16 (Bald Hill /New England Tech) All service between First & Main and Quonset

Route 58 (Mineral Spring/North Providence) Mineral Spring to Rte. 146 (one trip affected)

Route 68 (CCRI NPT/Mem. Blvd./First Beach) Newport Transportation Center to CCRI Newport

Elimination of Saturday Service

Route 18 (Union Ave.) – this route does not currently operate on Sunday.

Route 64 (Newport/URI/Kingston Station) – this route does not currently operate on Sunday.

Elimination of Sunday Service

Route 23 (Arctic/Crompton/Centre of NE)

Elimination of All Weekend Service

Route 6 (Prairie Ave./CCRI/RW Zoo)

Route 29 (CCRI Warwick/Conimicut)

Route 75 (Dexter/Lincoln Mall)

Reduction in Trip Frequency or Number of Trips

Route 6 (Prairie Ave./CCRI/RW Zoo)

Route 16 (Bald Hill /New England Tech)

Route 18 (Union Ave.)

Route 21 (Reservoir/Malls/CCRI)

Route 64 (Newport/URI Kingston)

Route 65x (Wakefield Express)

Route 87 (Fairmount/Walnut Hill)

Route 95x (Westerly Express)

Reduction in Span of Service

Route 3 (Oakland Beach)

Route 4 (Warwick Neck)

Route 13 (Coventry/Arctic/CCRI)

Route 16 (Bald Hill /New England Tech)

Route 23 (Arctic/Crompton/Centre of NE)

Route 71 (Broad St./Pawtucket Ave)

Route 73 (Mineral Spring/Twin River/CCRI)

New Route

Route 70

Under state law, the Authority must post the hearing schedule prior to holding any public hearings. All input from the public at the hearings will go to RIPTA’s Board of Directors; the Board will vote on the proposed service changes at its next board meeting in April. If approved, service changes would go into effect on Saturday, June 15, 2024. For more information on these changes, passengers can visit RIPTA.com/PublicHearings.

For information on RIPTA services, passengers may call (401) 781-9400 or visit RIPTA.com.

 

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