RIPTA to Hold 10 Public Hearings on Proposed Service Reductions
Statewide
High Fuel Costs And Reduced Revenue From State Gas Tax Produce
Shortfall And Drive Service Reduction Proposal
Proposed Reductions Would Also Impact ADA Service
(RIde ADA Service is only available in areas serviced by a RIPTA bus
route and during the times of day/days of the week RIPTA bus service is
operating on those routes)
Hearings Scheduled for July 26th through August 2nd in Narragansett,
Warwick, Bristol, Newport, and Providence
Providence, RI, June 30, 2011…The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
(RIPTA) will hold public hearings on proposed service reductions in all
five Rhode Island counties on July 26th - July 28th, August 1st, and
August 2, 2011. The Authority announced that the reductions in service
statewide are due to a $4.6 million shortfall for FY 2012 (which begins
on July 1st) that is caused principally by a reduction in revenue from
the state gas tax and the high cost of fuel to operate the system.
The proposed cuts would affect thirty-five (35) communities,
thirty-nine (39) bus routes, Flex zones and Park n’ Ride service and
include the following changes: eliminating routes or route segments;
decreasing service frequency; ending service at 10 PM on weekdays on
many routes; and shutting down service at 10 PM on weekends on many
routes. As a result, no service would operate past 10 PM. RIPTA is
also proposing to eliminate all Holiday Bus Service, all Flex Service in
Narragansett and some Park n’ Ride service.
Additionally, because ADA service is offered within a ¾ mile corridor
of fixed-route service, the Paratransit ADA service that RIPTA provides
through the RIde Program may also be reduced wherever there is
elimination of a route or segment of a route.
RIPTA Proposed Service Cuts 2011
“This is a very painful undertaking for RIPTA. However due to
current funding constraints we have no other choice but to consider cuts
to service. RIPTA will be diligent in ensuring that these cuts cause
minimal impact to our riders,” said RIPTA CEO Charles Odimgbe.
Pawtucket service will be greatly impacted by these proposed service
cuts. Five of Pawtucket’s routes may be completely shut down on
Saturday; four routes may cease to run on Sunday.
The proposed service reductions include the elimination of routes, or
route segments, or service as follows:
ELMINATION OF ALL SERVICE ON HOLIDAYS
COMPLETE Elimination of Regular Route and Flex Service
Rte. 8 Jefferson Boulevard
Rte. 29 Kent County
Rte. 32 West Barrington
Rte. 53 Smithfield Avenue
Rte. 73 Fairlawn/CCRI
Rte. 75 Dexter/Lincoln Mall
Rte. 80 Armistice Boulevard
Rte. 203 Narragansett Flex
Elimination of Saturday Service
Rte. 14 West Bay
Rte. 13 Arctic/Washington
Rte. 64 URI/Newport
Rte. 79 Columbus Avenue
Elimination of Sunday Service
Rte. 34 East Providence
Rte. 35 Rumford
Rte. 52 Branch Avenue
Rte. 77 Benefit/Broadway
Elimination of ALL WEEKEND Service
Rte. 76 Central Avenue
Route Segment Eliminations Eliminated Segment
Rte. 1 Eddy Street All service beyond Providence
city line
Rte. 19 Plainfield Street Discontinue Atwood Avenue
Service
Rte. 27 Manton Ave. All service beyond Providence city
line on Weekends
Rte. 28 Hartford Ave. All service beyond Providence city
line on Weekends
Rte. 57 Smith Street All service beyond Providence
city line on Weekends
Park n’ Ride Eliminations
Rte. 90 (Chopsist Hill) 1 Roundtrip
Rte. 90 (Exit 7/Route # 117) 1 Roundtrip
Rte. 90 (Westerly) 1 Roundtrip
Reduction in Trip Frequency or Number of Trips
Rte. 9 Pascoag Service reductions
Rte. 13 Arcti
c/Washington Weekday service reduced by 50%
Rte. 14 West Bay Service reductions
Rte. 34 East Providence Service reductions
Rte. 66 URI/Galilee Sunday & Saturday service
reduced by 50%
Service Ends at 10 pm on Weekdays
Rte. 1 Eddy Street
Rte. 11 Broad Street
Rte. 17 Dyer/Pocasset
Rte. 19 Plainfield Street
Rte. 20 Elmwood Ave.
Rte. 22 Pontiac Ave.
Rte. 27 Manton Ave.
Rte. 28 Hartford Ave.
Rte. 31 Cranston St.
Rte. 33 Riverside
Rte. 34 East Providence
Rte. 42 Hope Street
Rte. 50 Douglas Ave.
Rte. 52 Branch Ave. (All Friday Only tips)
Rte. 54 Woonsocket
Rte. 55 Admiral Street
Rte. 56 Chalkstone Ave.
Rte. 57 Smith Street
Rte. 60 Newport/Providence
Rte. 66 URI/Galilee
Rte. 78 Beverage Hill
Rte. 99 Providence/Pawtucket
Service Ends at 10 pm on BOTH Saturday & Sunday
Rte. 11 Broad Street
Rte. 54 Woonsocket
Rte. 60 Newport/Providence
Rte. 66 URI/Galilee
Rte. 99 Providence/Pawtucket
Service Ends at 10 pm on Saturday
Rte. 1 Eddy Street
Rte. 19 Plainfield Street
Rte. 23 Pasotore/Malls/CCRI
Rte. 27 Manton Ave.
Rte. 28 Hartford Ave.
Rte. 31 Cranston St.
Rte. 42 Hope Street
Rte. 52 Branch Ave.
Rte. 55 Admiral Street
Rte. 56 Chalkstone Ave.
Rte. 57 Smith Street
Rte. 78 Beverage Hill
Schedule for Public Hearings
The public hearing schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Newport City Hall Council Chambers
43 Broadway
Newport, RI 02840
Time: 2pm - 4pm
6pm - 8pm
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Burnside Building
400 Hope Street
Bristol, RI 02809
Time: 2pm - 4pm
6pm - 8pm
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Warwick City Hall Council Chambers
3275 Post Road
Warwick, RI 02886
Time: 2pm - 4pm
6pm - 8pm
Monday, August 1, 2011
University of Rhode Island
Feinstein Providence Campus Auditorium
80 Washington Street
Providence, RI 02903
Time: 2pm - 4pm
6pm - 8pm
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Narragansett Town Hall Assembly Room
25 Fifth Avenue
Narragansett, RI 02882
Time: 2pm - 4pm
6pm - 8:00pm
A 72-hour notice is required for persons with sensory impairment
requiring auxiliary aids at public hearings. To request this service,
members of the public should contact the RIPTA ADA Coordinator at
401-784-9553 (TDD) or 800-745-5555 (RI Relay TDD).
