The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will hold public hearings starting Monday on proposed service cuts affecting 58 bus routes statewide as the agency grapples with a $17.6 million budget shortfall.
The cuts, scheduled to take effect Sept. 13 if approved, would eliminate entire routes, reduce service frequency and cut weekend service on dozens of lines across all five Rhode Island counties. RIPTA faces the deficit for fiscal year 2026, which began July 1.
“A first-class transit system is essential for driving economic development in our state,” said RIPTA CEO Christopher Durand. “Unfortunately, revenues have not kept up with operating costs and with federal COVID relief funding being fully spent, the Authority must now amend our services to align with the resources we have.”
The proposed reductions include eliminating 11 regular routes and flex services, including Route 68 serving CCRI Newport and Memorial Boulevard, Route 69 to Narragansett and Galilee, and Route 75 connecting Dexter and Lincoln Mall.
Six Park & Ride routes would also be eliminated, including the Pascoag, Arctic/117 Express, North Smithfield/Lincoln Mall, Wakefield and Westerly park-and-ride services.
Weekend service would end entirely on nine routes, including Route 4 to Pawtuxet Village and Warwick Neck, Route 13 serving Coventry and Arctic, and Route 55 connecting Admiral Street and Providence College.
The popular R-Line would see reduced weekend frequency from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night.
Route 1, a major corridor serving Eddy, Hope and Benefit streets, would lose service to T.F. Green Airport and see reduced weekday frequency from every 20 minutes to every 32 minutes.
RIPTA has reduced the original deficit from $17.6 million to $10 million through federal reimbursements, revised gas tax estimates and fuel savings. Recent General Assembly action to increase the gas tax also helped narrow the shortfall.
The agency is also considering fare increases and will conduct a comprehensive fare study to analyze impacts on ridership, revenue and equity before making changes.
Public hearings begin Monday at CCRI’s Knight Campus in Warwick from noon to 1:30 p.m., followed by a 5-6:30 p.m. session at Woonsocket Public Library. Additional hearings are scheduled through Aug. 6 in Newport, South Kingstown, West Warwick, Pawtucket, Providence and Barrington.
RIPTA’s Board of Directors will vote on the proposed cuts at a special meeting in August after reviewing public input.
Comments may be submitted through Aug. 6 by mail to RIPTA, Office of the CEO, 705 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI 02907; by email to marketing@ripta.com; or by calling (401) 784-9500, ext. 1101.
Translation and interpreter services are available with 72 hours’ notice by calling (401) 784-9500, ext. 1203.