in Providence, Warwick, Barrington, Newport and Narragansett
PROVIDENCE, RI, June 28, 2010&The Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) voted on May 24, 2010, to hold public hearings on proposed fare increases and service modifications in all five Rhode Island counties on July 6, 2010, July 7, 2010 and July 8, 2010. The Authority announced that the proposed fare hikes and modifications in service statewide are due to a carryover deficit from FY 2010 (which began July 1, 2009) of $1.6 million and a $2.1 million shortfall for FY 2011 that is caused principally by a reduction in revenue from the state gas tax.
The proposed fare increases would raise the base fare from $1.75 to $2.00, and impact the cost of RIPTIKs, 10-Ride Passes, 15-Ride Passes, One-Day Passes, 7-Day Passes, Monthly Passes and ADA Fares. If approved by the RIPTA board, the fare increases would take effect September 1, 2010, and the proposed service reductions would take effect in August 2010 when RIPTA implements their regular fall service changes.
Proposed Fare Increases
The Authority is proposing to increase fares as follows:
Fare Media Current Proposed
Base Fare $1. 75 $ 2.00
Senior/Disabled (off peak) $ .85 $ 1.00
RIPTIKS (10) $17.50 $20.00
15-RIDE Pass $23.00 $26.00
Monthly Pass $55.00 $62.00
ADA (RIde Program) $ 3.50 $ 4.00
Proposed Service Modifications
ROUTE ELIMINATION APPROXIMATE # OF
PASSENGERS AFFECTED
Rte. 3 Warwick Avenue Holiday Bus Service* 2,242 per year
Rte. 11 Broad Street Sunday Service After 10PM 67 per day
Rte. 13 Arctic/Washington Saturday Service 285 per day
Rte. 26 Atwells/RI College Saturday Service 150 per day
Rte. 29 Kent County Saturday Service 195 per day
Rte. 30 Arlington/Oaklawn Holiday Bus Service* 1,740 per year
Rte. 33 Riverside Holiday Bus Service* 1,582 per year
Rte. 34 East Providence Holiday Bus Service* 964 per year
Rte. 35 Rumford Sunday Service 200 per day
Holiday Bus Service* 821 per year
Rte. 52 Branch Avenue Holiday Bus Service** 622 per day
Rte. 54 Lincoln/Woonsocket Morning and Afternoon 60 per day
Trips to Davies
Sunday Service After 10PM 18 per day
Rte. 60 Providence/Newport Sunday Service After 10PM 103 per day
Rte. 63 Broadway Holiday Bus Service* 833 per year
Rte. 64 Newport/URI Saturday Service 60 per day
Rte. 66 URI/Galilee Beach Bus 1,850 per season
Sunday Service After 10PM 38 per day
Holiday Bus Service** 1916 per year
Rte. 67 Bellevue/Mansions/Salve Holiday Bus Service*** 90 per year
Rte. 71 Broad Street Reduction of Sunday Service 65 per day Through-city to Providence via #99
Holiday Bus Service* 1,083 per year
Rte. 72 Weeden/Central Falls Holiday Bus Service* 1,279 per year
Rte. 73 Fairlawn/CCRI Saturday & Sunday Service 127 per day
Rte. 75 Dexter/Lincoln Mall Saturday & Sunday Service 267 per day
Holiday Bus Service* 433 per day
Rte. 76 Central Avenue Sunday Service 69 per day
Rte. 80 Armistice Blvd. Saturday & Sunday Service 72 per day
Rte. 87 Walnut Hill/Fairmount Holiday Bus Service* 1,225 per year
Rte. 91 Gold Line Trolley Reduce Saturday Service
Rte. 99 Providence/Pawtucket Sunday Service After 10PM 37 per day
ADA Service will only be available within ﾾ of RIPTA routes and during the same hours.
Unfortunately, we have to seek a fare increase and modifications to our service to balance the budget. The service modifications will be designed to retain as much service as possible while reducing costs and maximizing efficiency. RIPTA will continue to implement cost-effective reliability improvements including adjusting running times to compensate for congestion. We continually strive to provide the best possible quality of service to our customers with the current funding system we do have. said RIPTA General Manager Alfred J. Moscola.
Under state law the Authority must post the hearing schedule 30 days prior to holding any public hearings. The posting will appear in area newspapers on Tuesday, June 1, 2010, enabling public hearings to begin on Tuesday, July 6, 2010. All input from the public at the hearings will go to RIPTAs Board of Directors in July and the board will vote on the fare increases and service modifications proposals at its July 19, 2010 Board meeting.
Schedule for Public Hearings on Proposed Fare Increases
The public hearings will be held in Warwick, Providence, Barrington, Narragansett and Newport according to the following schedule:
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Newport Public Library
300 Spring Street
Newport, RI 02840
Time: 2 pm-4 pm & 6 pm-7:45pm
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Warwick City Hall
Council Chambers
3275 Post Road
Warwick, RI 02886
Time: 2 pm-4 pm & 6 pm-8pm
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Barrington Public Library
2nd Floor Auditorium
281 County Road
Barrington, RI 02806
Time: 2 pm-4 pm & 6 pm-8pm
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Narragansett Town Hall
Assembly Room
25 Fifth Avenue
Narragansett, RI 02882
Time: 2 pm-4 pm & 6 pm-8pm
Thursday, July 8, 2010
University of Rhode Island
Feinstein Providence Campus Auditorium
80 Washington Street
Providence, RI 02903
Time: 2 pm-4 pm & 6 pm-8pm
A 72-hour notice is required for persons with sensory impairment requiring auxiliary aids at public hearings. To request this service, members of the public should contact the RIPTA ADA Coordinator at 401-784-9553 (TDD) or 800-745-5555 (RI Relay TDD).
For information on RIPTA services, passengers may call 781-9400 or visit ripta.com.