State and local leaders gathered Wednesday to mark the launch of an expanded RIPTA Flex on Demand pilot that stretches the 231 Flex Zone north to take in major Aquidneck Island employers and residential sites.
The expansion, which runs April 29 through June 30, brings on-demand, app-based public transit to riders headed to Raytheon, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and West House, in addition to the zone’s existing footprint in Newport and Middletown.
Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, Rep. Terri Cortvriend and Erin Donovan-Boyle, president and CEO of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, joined Rhode Island Public Transit Authority officials at the announcement. Sen. Dawn Euer and Portsmouth Town Council member Mary A. McDowell also attended.
“Flex on Demand service will better connect people to work and help employers meet their workforce needs,” RIPTA Chief Executive Officer Christopher Durand said. He added that the pilot gives the agency a way to “identify commuting patterns, respond to real-time demand, and partner with employers to deliver service that supports their employees.”
Flex on Demand works much like a rideshare app. Passengers request a ride from a smartphone, see estimated pickup times and track the van in real time. Unlike many rideshare services, RIPTA does not charge surge pricing, and every Flex van is wheelchair accessible with curb-to-curb service.
A one-way trip costs $2, the same as a fixed-route bus fare. First-time users can claim a free ride by entering the promo code “FLEXME” in the app through May 31. Riders without a smartphone can book by calling 401-784-9500, ext. 1220, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The 231 Flex Zone runs Monday through Friday from 6:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
DiPalma framed the pilot as a test of whether transit can keep pace with how people actually move around the island. “Residents of Aquidneck Island, and all Rhode Islanders, deserve a strong public transportation system that truly meets their needs,” he said, calling the expansion an example of meeting riders’ needs “through adaptation, innovation, and a data-driven approach.”
Cortvriend said the expansion is “about connecting people to opportunity — whether it’s getting to work, accessing services or staying connected to the community.”
For the business community, Donovan-Boyle said the pilot fills a gap the region has long needed to address. The program, she said, is “precisely what the Greater Newport Region needs for affordable and convenient inter-island transportation,” noting it should help workers commute, allow professionals to reach midday meetings, keep cars off the road and ease parking pressure.
RIPTA officials said the pilot uses existing Flex Zone drivers and vans, letting the agency measure demand and tighten first- and last-mile connections to its fixed-route network without adding new resources. The data, they said, will guide future service decisions.
First-time riders can also sign up for Bus Buddy, a free RIPTA program that pairs new or returning passengers with a staff member who walks them through using the system.
Flex service launched in Rhode Island in November 2000 with the Narragansett Flex Zone and is designed for suburban and rural communities. Maps and details for each zone are available at RIPTA.com/FlexOnDemand or by calling 401-794-9500, ext. 2012.
