RIPTA to Hold Public Hearings on Revised Proposed Service Changes
Ridership Patterns & Workforce Shortage Drive Proposal for Service Changes
Hearings Scheduled for April 8 and April 15, 2024
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. The labor shortage, which is affecting transit agencies nationwide, has a direct impact on the level of service that RIPTA can provide. Since the February announcement, RIPTA’s starting driver wage has increased to $25.33 per hour in an effort to attract and retain new drivers.
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. The proposed changes, based on data which identified the lowest performing routes and trip times, include the elimination of routes or route segments, the decrease of service frequency and span, as well as the increase of service frequency on some high performing routes.
RIPTA will conduct public hearings as required to present these revised service changes, as well as review previously proposed service changes. These public hearings 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.
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
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.
Schedule for Public Hearings
The public hearing schedule is as follows:
Monday, April 8, 2024
The Providence Foundation
Commerce Center auditorium
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
These hearings 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 hearing date. A request for this service can be made by calling (401) 784-9500 ex. 1242 or 800-745-5555 (RI Relay TDD).
For information on RIPTA services, passengers may call (401) 781-9400 or visit RIPTA.com.
Cristy Raposo Perry
Director of Communications & Public Outreach
Phone: 401-784-9500 x1242
Email: raposo@ripta.com