The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will implement winter service changes on Saturday, Jan. 17, including adjustments to routes serving Newport County.
Two routes directly serving Newport County are among the 14 affected by the changes: Route 24L, which connects Newport, Fall River and Providence, and Route 61x, the Tiverton/East Bay Park & Ride express.
Both routes will see weekday trip time adjustments. The Route 24L changes are designed to improve reliability and provide more appropriate recovery time for operators, while Route 61x adjustments aim to better accommodate riders’ work schedules, according to RIPTA.
Route 66, which connects Providence to the University of Rhode Island and passes through parts of the East Bay, will also see changes. A weekday morning trip was shifted to ensure southbound riders have a reliable connection to the URI Bay Campus via Route 64 at Kingston Station. Weekend morning trips were also adjusted for better connections to MBTA service to Boston.
The changes are cost-neutral and were determined using performance data comparing scheduled service to actual on-street conditions, RIPTA said. The agency also sought input from bus operators.
“Listening to our riders and our frontline employees is essential to delivering the kind of service our community expects and deserves,” CEO Christopher Durand said in a statement.
RIPTA makes service adjustments three times annually in response to seasonal changes and passenger demand.
Passengers are encouraged to check new schedules at ripta.com/servicechanges.