Why is RIPTA proposing service changes?
RIPTA often receives feedback from passengers related to the current service in the West Bay area. We hear how the connections between routes are limited, and that some major destinations in the region have no service at all. The proposed changes are the start of an effort to reconfigure the bus service in the West Bay area in an effort to address these issues.
Transit Forward RI 2040 is the new transit master plan recently completed and adopted by the State to guide the State’s public transportation network. One of the recommendations of the plan is to provide local fixed-route service to new areas. In considering the plan’s recommendations, as well as feedback received from RIPTA passengers and drivers, RIPTA identified numerous areas with insufficient service levels or no service at all. The following are some of these areas:
- Center of New England, Coventry
- Bald Hill Road, Warwick
- New England Institute of Technology, East Greenwich
- Jefferson Blvd., Warwick
- CCRI, Warwick
- Kent County Courthouse, Warwick
- Westerly
- URI, South Kingstown
- South County Hospital, South Kingstown
- South County Commons, South Kingstown
The goal is to address the service shortfalls in the regional bus network. The proposed Fall 2021 changes begins to improve connections and provide access to more jobs, education centers, shopping opportunities, and services throughout the region. Proposed service to the locations listed above will be rolled out over the next few years, starting this fall. Future changes will continue the effort to improve connectivity and access to new locations. We are asking passengers to review the plan and provide comments regarding the proposed changes.
The changes revolve around the implementation of two new transit centers in the West Bay area, which RIPTA will construct over the next two years with financial assistance from a Bus and Bus Facilities grant from the Federal Transit Administration. One is located at the Warwick CCRI campus, and the other in South Kingstown at the University of Rhode Island. RIPTA is excited about the travel opportunities that completing these projects will offer our passengers. These locations will allow for enhanced scheduling and routing flexibility. The numerous passengers that already ride transit to the schools will also benefit from improved connectivity. Both schools are enthusiastic partners who want to encourage transit usage in Rhode Island and to their campuses.
Route Changes
Below is a brief description of each proposed route change followed by a link to a map of the service for you to explore. We invite you to review the proposed changes and submit your thoughts and suggestions directly on the map web page, or you can submit your comments via email to Marketing@RIPTA.com.
Route 8X Buttonwoods
- Route 8X will be discontinued.
- Jefferson Blvd. service will improve with hourly service with the realignment of Route 14.
- Please refer to Route 29 for service to Buttonwoods and Strawberry Field Rd.
Route 13 Coventry/Arctic
- All trips will serve CCRI.
- All trips will serve Phenix Hotel, replacing Route 29 with more frequent service.
- Warwick Mall will be removed from the route – passengers can reach the mall by transferring at CCRI to Routes 21, 22, and 30.
- Service frequency will be every 60 minutes all day.
Route 14 West Bay
- The proposed changes to Route 14 will offer new connections and a revised schedule designed to offer a regular, predictable frequency.
- Weekday and Saturday service will be every 60 minutes to the following locations:
- Downtown Providence
- Jefferson Blvd. (passengers can access TF Green Airport and the MBTA (Warwick Station stop) via the Interlink: www.pvdairport.com/get-here/interlink)
- CCRI Warwick campus
- Kent Hospital and Apponaug
- Main Street in East Greenwich
- Post Road, Quonset Business Park, and Wickford Junction in North Kingstown
- Scheduled trips will alternate between Newport and Narragansett.
Route 21 Reservoir Ave/Garden City/CCRI
- Changes to Route 21 are minor. Sunday service will extend to CCRI instead of terminating at RI Mall.
- Service frequency will not change.
Route 22 Pontiac Ave
- All trips will extend to CCRI instead of terminating at Warwick Mall.
- Service frequency will not change.
Route 29 West Shore/Conimicut
- Route 29 will offer peak hour trips that deviate to serve Strawberry Field Rd., Buttonwoods Ave. and Long St. These trips will provide trips for high school students as well as the commuters currently using Route 8X. Commuters will have numerous transfer opportunities available at CCRI.
- Service to Warwick Mall will be discontinued. Passengers going to Warwick Mall can transfer at CCRI to Routes 21, 22, or 30.
- Service to Phenix Hotel will no longer be on this route; see route 13 for service to this location.
- Route 29 will be rescheduled with an increase in frequency to operate every 75 minutes.
Route 30 Arlington/Oaklawn
- All trips will extend to CCRI instead of terminating at RI Mall.
- Service will operate every 50 minutes on weekdays, and every 40 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.
Route 62 URI/Providence Station
- Route 62 will be discontinued. See Route 66 for service options.
Route 66 URI/CCRI/PVD
- Route 66 will serve Providence, TF Green Airport, CCRI in Warwick, Wickford Junction, and will terminate at the University of Rhode Island.
- Passengers currently riding beyond URI to Narragansett can transfer at URI to the new Route 69, which will serve the same area Route 66 currently serves south of URI.
- In Providence, Route 66 will operate on the new Downtown Transit Connector (DTC), which offers fast and frequent service on multiple routes between Rhode Island Hospital, Kennedy Plaza, and Providence Station.
- Service will operate every 30 minutes on weekdays, and every 60 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.
Route 69 URI/Galilee – New Route
- Route 69 will replace Route 66 service between URI and Galilee in Narragansett. Passengers can transfer at URI.
- Service will operate every 60 minutes on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
203 Narragansett & 210 Kingston Flex Zones
- Combine the two Flex zones into a single zone
- Rename 203 Narragansett/South Kingstown Flex
- Narragansett gets weekend service, which they do not have today.
- There are no changes to the Zone itself.
- The time points at Spring St and Lee Ave, the YMCA, and John Clarke Child & Family will be eliminated.
Time points throughout the zone will be adjusted.
RIPTA wants your feedback!
Click the link below to review and comment on the proposed Fall 2021 service changes.
RIPTA encourages everyone to submit comments, both positive and negative.
What do you like about the proposed service?
What would you change?
https://platform.remix.com/map/00ba4ed1?latlng=41.61039,-71.48189,9.974
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to use the map: