The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will hold a community meeting on revised proposed service changes on Friday, April 19 from 12pm to 2pm at the University of Rhode Island Memorial Student Union in Kingston. This community meeting is in addition to the public hearings scheduled for Monday, April 15 in West Warwick and the community meeting in Pawtucket on Thursday, April 18.
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 community meetings in Pawtucket and Kingston. 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 Upcoming Public Hearings & Community Meetings
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
Friday, April 19, 2024: URI Memorial Union, Senate Chamber, 50 Lower College Road, Kingston
Time: 12pm – 2pm
For more information on these changes, passengers can visit RIPTA.com/PublicHearings.
