RIPTA Testing Free Bus Rides In Central Falls

CENTRAL FALLS, RI — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) launched a pilot program for free bus rides in Central Falls.

The "Ride Free in Central Falls" pilot program will see RIPTA use technology to create a virtual boundary around Central Falls, which will identify when a passenger boards a bus in the city. Through a Wave smart card or mobile app, the bus driver will know to automatically waive the fare.

State officials said the pilot program will offer free fare for only trips starting in Central Falls. Trips originating outside Central Falls must pay the full fare.

"Access to public transportation makes it easier for riders to access employment, educational opportunities and health care," Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. "That access translates into a stronger local economy, which is good for all Rhode Islanders. This program will provide beneficial free fares to passengers in the densely populated City of Central Falls, while serving as a pilot to help RIPTA make informed decisions on future services statewide."

RIPTA was one of 25 cities across the U.S. to receive grant funding under the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) "Accelerating Innovative Mobility" (AIM) initiative. The goal of the program is to support the use of state-of-the-art technologies to improve transit services and transportation options for the public.

"We have many residents in our city that rely on public transportation, and I hope to see this RIPTA pilot program help ease the financial cost for our community relying on the bus daily," Mayor Maria Rivera said. "With easy access to RIPTA routes and now free starting rides in our city, I hope this also inspires other residents to take public transportation who don’t normally utilize RIPTA."

RIPTA officials said Central Falls is an ideal test city, because it covers a small geographic area but also has a high population density. The pilot program is scheduled to last one year from launch.

During this time, RIPTA will monitor the effectiveness of the pilot program by conducting surveys, focus groups and analyzing travel trends. The results could shape future state policy, state officials said.

RIPTA received $244,000 to partner with Central Falls to test the program. Central Falls contributed about $50,000 to the project, and RIPTA paid $11,000. The project funding includes covering lost fare revenue for RIPTA.

To get free bus rides, Central Falls can get a RIPTA Wave smart card at no charge, or they can download the Wave mobile app, available for both Apple and Android devices. Wave smart cards will be available at the following locations:

• Central Falls City Hall, 580 Broad St.
• Central Falls Public Library, 205 Central St.
• McKenna Center, 115 Illinois St.
• Central Falls Housing Authority, 30 Washington St.
• Jenks Park Pediatrics, 577 Broad St.
• Progresso Latino, 626 Broad St.
• RIC Workforce Development Hub, 934 Dexter St.
• Blackstone Valley Neighborhood Health Station, 1000 Broad St.