Last week, RIPTA announced proposed service reductions to close the gap in its upcoming 2026 budget. The deficit is wide — $17.6 million — and this is reflected in the breadth of proposed service cuts, which include the elimination of entire routes, route segments, and services.

In its press release, RIPTA’s Chief Executive Officer Christopher Durand cited the conclusion of federal COVID relief funds as a source of the budget gap, saying “Revenues have not kept up with operating costs.”

Here are some of the numbers involved in the proposed changes:

$17.6 million — the budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year

67 — the number of routes that RIPTA operates

58 — bus routes affected by the proposed cuts

11 — the number of proposed regular routes and flex service routes to be eliminated completely

5 — the number of counties in RI affected by the service reductions

5 — proposed park & ride eliminations

12 — the number of public hearings being held on the proposed service reductions

9/13 — the date on which service reductions would take effect if implemented

Public hearings began Monday, July 28 and will run through August 6. For more information about the proposed service reductions and the complete schedule, check out RIPTA’s press release here.

Public Hearing Information

Wednesday, July 30

South Kingstown Town Hall, 180 High Street, Wakefield  

Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm

West Warwick Public Library, 1043 Main St, West Warwick

Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Kingston Free Library, 2605 Kingstown Road, Kingston 

Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm

 

Thursday, July 31

Pawtucket Public Library, Campbell Auditorium, 13 Summer Street, Pawtucket

Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm

 

Monday, August 4

Providence Foundation, 30 Exchange Terrace, Providence

Times: 12:00pm – 1:30pm and 5:00pm – 6:30pm

 

Wednesday, August 6

Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road, Barrington

Times: 12:00pm – 1:30pm and 5:00pm – 6:30pm

 

Presentation
PowerPoint from the presentations can be found here.

 

Dana Schneider is a writer who lives in Elmwood with her cat, Froggy. Her background is in public policy and poetry, and she’s interested in how we experience everyday life within and despite the structures that surround us.