June 9, 2014
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will implement summer service changes effective Saturday, June 21, 2014. RIPTA makes regular service adjustments three times a year in response to seasonal changes and/or passenger use. These summer service changes are part of the third phase of RIPTA’s implementation of its Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) which assessed the demand for transit service throughout the state.
Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA)
To ensure that Rhode Island’s transit services reflect the changes that have been occurring throughout the state, RIPTA has conducted a comprehensive evaluation, or COA, of its services. As a result of the COA, proposed changes have been identified for each route. These changes are designed to work within RIPTA’s existing budget and to direct transit resources where they would be most effective.
RIPTA held public hearings on proposed service changes in all five Rhode Island counties on May 29, May 30, June 3, June 4, June 5, and June 6, 2013. Riders and non-riders had the opportunity to review the proposed changes and provide public comment. RIPTA’s Board of Directors approved the COA recommendations on June 17, 2013.
RIPTA began implementing these improvements this past fall and will continue until all routes are complete. This is a cost-neutral project; the recommended changes are designed to work within RIPTA’s existing budget.
Two years since the release of the Authority’s Strategic Plan, RIPTA continues to make progress in its efforts to maintain a strong bus system and improve its services in a fiscally responsible manner.
2014 Summer Service Changes
These annual changes are major and include the launch of the R-Line, start of selected summer services, trip time changes, route eliminations, route enhancements, route renaming, as well as rescheduling for better on-time performance.
Summer services scheduled to start June 21st include the extension of daily service on Route 67 (Bellevue/Mansions/Salve Regina University) to the southern end of Bellevue Avenue and to the Cliff Walk and scheduled stops at Easton Beach on Route 231 South Aquidneck.
Other service changes include express service from Providence to Mineral Spring Avenue on Route 58 (Mineral Spring/North Providence) and the realignment of Routes 35 (Rumford/Newport Avenue) and 63 (Broadway/Middletown).
Routes 1 (Eddy St.), 42 (Hope St.) and 77 (Benefit/Broadway) have been consolidated into one line – Route 1 (Eddy/Hope/Benefit). This new super route will provide service to T.F. Green and the South Attleboro Train Station.
Express Weekend Service to South County Beaches
Available June 21 – August 11
Starting June 21st, express buses from the Woonsocket Depot, Cranston City Hall, Central Falls (Project Hope), the Pawtucket Transit Center and North Providence (Centerdale bus stop) 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 and every 65 minutes on the weekend to the South County beaches.
R-Line
RIPTA’s first Rapid Bus line, the R-Line, will replace RIPTA Routes 11 (Broad St.) and 99 (North Main/Pawtucket). This new service is designed to serve people quickly and efficiently on a 7-mile route between Pawtucket and Providence.
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 21, 2014 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
6 Prairie Ave./R.W. Zoo
R-LINE (11/99 Redesigned)
12X Arctic/117 Express
13 Arctic/Washington/Warwick Mall
17 Dyer/Pocasset
19 Plainfield/Westminster
21 Reservoir/Garden City
22 Pontiac Avenue
32 East Providence/Wampanoag
34 East Providence
35 Rumford/Newport Avenue
40 Butler/Elmgrove
42 Hope Street
54 Lincoln/Woonsocket
57 Smith St.
58 Mineral Spring/North Providence
59X North Smithfield/Lincoln Express
60 Newport/Providence
61X Tiverton/East Bay Express
63 Broadway/Middletown
64 Newport/URI
67 Bellevue/Mansions/Salve Regina University
73 Mineral Spring/CCRI/Twin River
77 Benefit/Broadway
78 Beverage Hill
98 Pawtucket Ave.