The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will reduce service on 45 bus routes beginning Saturday, Sept. 27, as part of its fall service adjustments.
The changes affect routes throughout the state, including frequency reductions, span cuts and complete elimination of weekend service on several routes. RIPTA said the adjustments follow regular seasonal changes that occur three times yearly.
“As we heard throughout our public hearings, RIPTA is essential for Rhode Islanders to get to work, school, and appointments, and to lead productive lives,” said Chief Executive Officer Christopher Durand. “These changes reflect those needs and ensure we can maintain service today while planning for a stronger future transit system.”
Among the most significant changes, weekend service will be eliminated entirely on eight routes: 6, 16, 23, 35, 58, 68, 69 and 75. Several express routes will lose trips, including Route 12x losing four weekday roundtrips and Route 95x eliminating seven total trips.
The R-Line, RIPTA’s highest-frequency route serving Broad Street and North Main Street, will see reduced service during peak hours from every 10-11 minutes to every 12 minutes. Weekend frequency will drop from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes during the day.
Other major routes facing cuts include Route 18 on Union Avenue, which will lose Saturday service entirely, and Route 60 connecting Providence to Newport, which will see reduced evening frequency.
Route 28 will change its endpoint, terminating at Ocean State Job Lot on Hartford Avenue instead of the former Stop & Shop on Atwood Avenue in Johnston.
Only one route will see improved service: Route 63 to Middletown Shops will increase Saturday frequency from every 45 minutes to every 40 minutes.
RIPTA said it has made operational adjustments over recent months to strengthen its financial position. With additional legislative funding and a budget framework developed with Gov. Dan McKee, the authority closed much of its deficit while avoiding route eliminations or driver layoffs.
The affected routes include: 3, 4, 6, 9x, 12x, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59x, 60, 61x, 63, 65x, 66, 68, 69, 72, 75, 76, 78, 87, 92, 95x and the R-Line.
Passengers can check new schedules at RIPTA.com or call 401-781-9400.
