News Summary
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has proposed cuts affecting 58 out of 67 bus routes due to a $10 million budget deficit, impacting essential services statewide. This includes the elimination of 16 routes and reduced frequencies on the remaining ones, leading to concerns over access to jobs and recreational activities. Public hearings are scheduled for July 2025, and a special meeting will take place on August 7 to discuss the changes, which are expected to start on September 13, 2025.
Rhode Island – The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has proposed significant service cuts affecting 58 out of its 67 bus routes due to a looming $10 million budget deficit. These reductions represent approximately 86% of the agency’s public transportation services, impacting daily commuters and essential connections statewide.
The proposed adjustments include the complete elimination of 16 routes, with marked changes to the trip frequency on 30 other routes. The modifications are set to disrupt vital links for residents, notably to the Block Island Ferry, weekend access to Roger Williams Park Zoo, and Newport’s beach trolleys. For instance, the R-Line—which is RIPTA’s top-performing route linking Cranston, Providence, and Pawtucket—will see a reduction in service from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes on weekends.
The affected routes include Regular Routes numbered 1, 3, 4, 6, 9x, 12x, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 50, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59x, 60, 61x, 63, 64, 65x, 66, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 80, 87, 88, 89, 92, 95x, 203, 231, 281, 301, and the R-Line. Additionally, Flex services that require advanced booking will be eliminated, and six Park & Ride services will be impacted either through cuts or reductions.
Service will be particularly diminished on weekends, with nine routes facing complete elimination, three routes losing Saturday service, and five routes no longer offering Sunday operations. This situation raises concerns over access to jobs, education, and recreational activities for many residents who rely on public transportation.
RIPTA CEO Christopher Durand acknowledged the agency’s reluctance to proceed with these cuts but attributed the necessity to ongoing financial constraints. While the implications of potential job losses are still unclear, previous estimates indicated that 90 to 100 employees may face layoffs as a result of the proposed changes.
A series of public hearings regarding the proposed cuts are scheduled to commence on July 28, 2025, in various locations across Rhode Island. The RIPTA board is expected to hold a special meeting on August 7 to vote on the proposal, with anticipated changes set to take effect on September 13, 2025.
The financial struggles faced by RIPTA have been exacerbated by a decline in ridership following the COVID-19 pandemic and the depletion of federal COVID relief funds that previously supported the transit authority’s budget. Although fare increases were suggested as a possible solution to mitigate the deficit, Durand has stated that adjustments to fares are currently not being considered.
Among the few routes unaffected by the proposed cuts are Qx, 40, 67, 10x, and 24L. Additionally, RIPTA is exploring other measures to reduce the deficit, including the potential resumption of outsourced paratransit trips, which could yield savings of around $2.4 million.
Advocacy groups have voiced their concerns regarding the proposed service cuts, emphasizing that these changes would significantly hinder access to essential services for many communities. Furthermore, public engagement during the decision-making process has faced criticism, indicating a lack of transparency regarding how and when information was communicated to the public.
As the public hearings approach, it remains to be seen how community input will influence the final decision regarding these critical changes to Rhode Island’s public transit system.
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