RIPTA Bus-Route Hearings Starting

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will hold two public hearings in Barrington today, May 29, on all of the proposed changes to 56 regular bus routes and all park-and-ride services statewide.

Both hearings will take place in the Barrington Public Library. The first hearing runs from 10 am to noon; the second runs from 6 to 8 pm.

The proposed changes in service are the result of RIPTA’s “Comprehensive Operational Analysis” – a statewide review of transit services.

The changes include proposed new routes and express services, scheduling improvements to better coordinate routes operating in the same corridor, modified route alignments, frequency changes to better match service with demand, and the discontinuation of certain routes and route segments, according to RIPTA’s website.

“The study has undertaken a detailed review process to identify where people live and work, how each bus route is performing today, and where changes might possibly be made to better serve riders,” according to the RIPTA website.  “Proposed changes are designed to work within RIPTA’s existing budget, and the intent is to direct transit resources where they would be most effective.”

The new hearings follow previous hearings across the state at which RIPTA gathered feedback from customers and community leaders. Click here at RIPTA’s website for more information on the hearings scheduled across RI and the proposed changes.