May 10, 2017
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will implement summer service changes effective Saturday, June 17, 2017. RIPTA makes regular service adjustments three times a year in response to seasonal changes and/or passenger use.
2017 Summer Service Changes
These annual changes are moderate and include the start of selected summer services, trip time changes, route enhancements, and interlining. In an effort to create more efficient, seamless travel for passengers, RIPTA is interlining Routes 17, 18, 19, 32, 33, 34, and 40. Interlining is when a bus arrives inbound at a stop as one route and departs the stop as another route using the same bus. This will create direct connections between Olneyville, Thayer Street and Wayland Square.
Summer services scheduled to start June 17th include increased frequency on Route 67 (Bellevue/Mansions), as well as the start of the Providence / Newport Ferry Shuttle and new PawSox shuttle.
Express Weekend Service to South County Beaches
Available June 17 – August 14
Starting June 17th, express buses from Woonsocket (John Cummings Way at Community Care Alliance), Cranston City Hall, Central Falls (Dexter & West Hunt Streets), the Pawtucket Transit Center and North Providence City Hall will run on weekends and holidays only to the Salty Brine, Roger Wheeler and Scarborough beaches in South County. These buses will stop at Kennedy Plaza, with the exception of the bus leaving from Central Falls and Pawtucket. The fare for these express buses will be the regular bus fare of $2.00 one-way.
In addition, there is daily year-round service on Route 66 (URI/Galilee) from Kennedy Plaza running every 55 minutes during the week, every 45 minutes on Saturday and every 60 – 75 minutes on Sunday to the South County beaches. So if passengers want to come home early or late, they have more options.
Kennedy Plaza Bus Stop Changes
Effective Saturday, June 17, Kennedy Plaza Bus Stops A, E and F will be removed. In addition to these bus stops, some other routes have been relocated to different bus stops in Kennedy Plaza.
RIPTA is also introducing a new Super Stop with two bus shelters and a larger waiting area. Bus Stop D will now extend all the way to the corner of Exchange Street and buses may stop anywhere in that 120-foot area.
See below for your new bus stop.
Route 3 (Warwick Avenue): Bus Stop D
Route 6 (Prairie/ Roger Williams Zoo): Bus Stop C
Route 55 (Admiral/Providence College): Bus Stop G
Route 58 (Southbound to RI Hospital- NEW SERVICE): Bus Stop B
Route 66 (URI/Galilee): Bus Stop Y
Route 92 (RI College – West): Bus Stop D
R-Line (Pawtucket – North): Bus Stop J
R-Line (Broad – South): Bus Stop D
Passengers are strongly encouraged to check new schedules for how service changes may affect them. They may also pick up the leaflet entitled Summer Service Changes Effective June 17, 2017 that is available at Kennedy Plaza; the leaflet is also viewable online. For schedules and more information, passengers may call 401-781-9400, or visit www.ripta.com
The following routes will be affected by the summer service changes:
1 Eddy/Hope/Benefit
3 Warwick Avenue
6 Prairie/Roger Williams Zoo
17 Dyer/Pocasset
18 Union Avenue
19 Plainfield/Westminster
20 Elmwood Avenue
21 Reservoir/Garden City
31 Cranston Street
32 East Providence/Wampanoag
33 Riverside
34 East Providence
40 Butler/Elmgrove
50 Douglas Ave./Bryant University
55 Admiral/Providence College
56 Chalkstone Avenue
58 Mineral Spring/North Providence
66 URI/Galilee
67 Bellevue/Mansions
91 Ferry Shuttle
92 RI College/Federal Hill/East Side
PawSox Shuttle
Express Weekend Beach Bus