View source for Rhode Island Public Transit Authority

{{Short description|Public transport agency in Rhode Island, US}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name            = 
| logo            = RIPTA Logo.png
| logo_size       = 
| image           = RIPTA Gillig Low Floor 0517.jpg
| image_size      = 300px
| image_caption   = A route 51 bus at [[Kennedy Plaza]] in 2008
| company_slogan  = Ride The Wave
| parent          = 
| founded         = 1966
| headquarters    = 705 Elmwood Avenue<br />[[Providence, Rhode Island]] united states 
| locale          = [[Rhode Island]] (statewide)
| service_area    =
| service_type    = [[transit bus]], [[paratransit]], [[demand responsive transport]]
| alliance        = 
| routes          = 59 fixed-route<br />7 demand-response
| destinations    = 
| stops           = 
| hubs            = 3 ([[Kennedy Plaza]], Newport Gateway Center, [[Pawtucket/Central Falls station]])
| stations        = 
| ridership = {{American transit ridership|RI RIPTA total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|RI RIPTA total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| lounge          = 3 (one at each hub)
| fleet           = 229 buses, 13 vans, 72 paratransit vans<ref name=RIPTA />
| fuel_type       = Diesel, Diesel-electric, CNG, Battery-electric
| operator        = 
| ceo             = Christopher Durand
| website         = [http://www.ripta.com www.ripta.com]
}}

The '''Rhode Island Public Transit Authority''' (RIPTA) provides [[public transportation]], primarily [[bus]]es, in the U.S. state of [[Rhode Island]].  The main hub of the RIPTA system is [[Kennedy Plaza]], a large bus terminal in downtown [[Providence, Rhode Island]]. Average daily ridership as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}} is {{American transit ridership|RI RIPTA total daily}}.<ref name=APTAdaily /> The agency operates 59 fixed-route bus routes and 7 demand-responsive routes, together serving 37 out of 39 Rhode Island municipalities.<ref name="RIPTA">{{Cite web |title=Facts & Figures |date=2022 |url=https://www.ripta.com/reports-facts-figures/ |publisher=Rhode Island Public Transit Authority |language=en-US |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>

==Service==
The agency operates 59 fixed-route bus routes and 7 demand-responsive routes, together serving 37 out of 39 Rhode Island municipalities.<ref name="RIPTA" /> [[Paratransit]] service is branded '''RIde'''<!--This is the correct branding--> with a service area corresponding to that of non-express bus routes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ripta.com/ride-paratransit-program/ |title=RIde Paratransit Program |publisher=Rhode Island Public Transit Authority |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref> RIPTA operates a fleet of 229 buses, 13 [[Cutaway van chassis|cutaway vans]] for Flex services, and 72 paratransit vans. They are maintained at two garages in Providence and one in Newport.<ref name=RIPTA />

Fares for fixed-route and Flex trips are $2, with day and monthly passes available. Reduced fares are available for people over 65 and with disabilities. Fares can be paid with cash or with Wave smart card or mobile app, or RIde fares are $4.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ripta.com/fares/ |title=Fares |publisher=Rhode Island Public Transit Authority |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>

==Routes==
[[File:Southbound R-Line bus on Park Row West, October 2014.JPG|thumb|left|An R-Line bus in downtown Providence]]
RIPTA operates 59 year-round bus routes: 50 local routes, one rapid route, and eight limited-service express routes. Most of RIPTA's fixed-route bus lines are centered on three major hubs: [[Kennedy Plaza]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[Pawtucket/Central Falls station]] in [[Pawtucket, Rhode Island|Pawtucket]], and Gateway Center in [[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport]]. <!--Two routes run between Providence and Newport and four routes between Providence and Pawtucket. Three routes run between Providence and [[Warwick Mall]], where they connect with a [[Coventry, Rhode Island|Coventry]]-Warwick Mall route and a Warwick crosstown route. A single circulator route is operated in [[Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket]]. -->

The [[R-Line (RIPTA)|R-Line]] is a limited-stop "Rapid Bus" route between Cranston and Pawtucket via Providence. It has some [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT) characteristics, including frequent service and [[transit signal priority]], but runs in mixed traffic without dedicated lanes. Nine routes combine to provide five-minute-or-better headways in the Downtown Transit Connector between Providence station and the Hospital District. This corridor has BRT elements including limited stops, bus shelters with real-time information, bus/bike lanes, and signal priority.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ripta.com/downtown-transit-connector-new/ |title=Downtown Transit Connector |publisher=Rhode Island Public Transit Authority |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>

In addition to fixed-route services, RIPTA also provides '''Flex Service''' service, primarily settled around less populated areas in the state. These [[Demand-responsive transport|demand-responsive]] routes have fixed schedules for certain stops, but allow passengers to reserve trips within certain geographic areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ripta.com/flex/ |title=Flex |publisher=Rhode Island Public Transit Authority |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref> RIPTA operates special services to connect with the seasonal Providence–Newport ferry, to provide seasonal access to South County beaches, and to serve [[Providence Public School District]] high schools.
{{clear left}}

=== List of routes===
<!--[[File:R-Line bus on Exchange Street, October 2014.JPG|thumb|right|An R-Line bus at Providence Station]]
[[File:RIPTA Gillig Low Floor 0517.jpg|thumb|right|A bus at Kennedy Plaza on the #51 route]]
[[File:RIPTA New Flyer C30LF 0201.jpg|thumb|right|A bus at Kennedy Plaza on the #54 route]]
[[File:Newport Bus.JPG|thumb|right|A tourist trolley at Gateway Center on the #67 route]]
[[File:RIPTA Optima Bus American Heritage Streetcar 16.jpg|thumb|right|A tourist trolley at Kennedy Plaza on the #92 route]]-->

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="text-align: center;" |Number
! scope="col" |Route
|-
|{{sort|00|[[R-Line (RIPTA)|R-Line]]}}||Broad/[[U.S. Route 1 in Rhode Island|North Main]]
|-
|{{anchor|1}}{{sort|01|'''1'''}}||Eddy/Hope/Benefit
|-
|{{anchor|3}}{{sort|03|'''3'''}}||[[Oakland Beach, Rhode Island|Oakland Beach]]
|-
|{{anchor|4}}{{sort|04|'''4'''}}||[[Warwick Neck, Rhode Island|Warwick Neck]]
|-
|{{anchor|6}}{{sort|06|'''6'''}}||Prairie / [[Roger Williams Zoo|Roger Williams Park Zoo]]
|-
|{{anchor|9X|9x}}{{sort|09|'''9x'''}}||[[Pascoag, Rhode Island|Pascoag]] Park-n-Ride 
|-
|{{anchor|10x|10X}}'''10x'''||[[North Scituate, Rhode Island|North Scituate]] Park-n-Ride
|-
|{{anchor|12x|12X}}'''12x'''||[[Arctic, Rhode Island|Arctic]]/[[Rhode Island Route 117|117]] Express Park-n-Ride
|-
|{{anchor|13}}'''13'''||Coventry/Arctic/[[Community College of Rhode Island|CCRI]]
|-
|{{anchor|14}}'''14'''||West Bay
|-
|{{anchor|16}}'''16'''||Bald Hill/[[New England Institute of Technology|NEIT]]/Quonset
|-
|{{anchor|17}}'''17'''||Dyer/Pocasset
|-
|{{anchor|18}}'''18'''||Union Ave
|-
|{{anchor|19}}'''19'''||[[Rhode Island Route 14|Plainfield]]/Westminster
|-
|{{anchor|20}}'''20'''||[[U.S. Route 1 in Rhode Island|Elmwood Ave]]/[[T.F. Green Airport]]
|-
|{{anchor|21}}'''21'''||[[Reservoir, Providence, Rhode Island|Reservoir]]/Garden City/CCRI
|-
|{{anchor|22}}'''22'''||Pontiac Ave
|-
|{{anchor|23}}'''23'''||Arctic/[[Crompton, Rhode Island|Crompton]]/Centre of New England
|-
|{{anchor|24L}}'''24L'''||[[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport]]/[[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]]/Providence
|-
|{{anchor|27}}'''27'''||Broadway/Manton
|-
|{{anchor|28}}'''28'''||Broadway/[[U.S. Route 6A#Johnston–Providence alternate route|Hartford]]
|-
|{{anchor|29}}'''29'''||CCRI Warwick/[[Conimicut, Rhode Island|Conimicut]]
|-
|{{anchor|30}}'''30'''||Arlington/[[Rhode Island Route 5|Oaklawn]]
|-
|{{anchor|31}}'''31'''||Cranston St
|-
|{{anchor|32}}'''32'''||[[East Providence, Rhode Island|East Providence]]/Wampanoag/Seekonk Square
|-
|{{anchor|33}}'''33'''||[[Riverside, Rhode Island|Riverside]]
|-
|{{anchor|34}}'''34'''||East Providence/Seekonk Square
|-
|{{anchor|35}}'''35'''||[[Rumford, Rhode Island|Rumford]]/[[U.S. Route 1A in Rhode Island|Newport Ave]]
|-
|{{anchor|40}}'''40'''||Butler/Elmgrove
|-
|{{anchor|50}}'''50'''||Douglas Ave/[[Bryant University]]
|-
|{{anchor|51}}'''51'''||[[Rhode Island Route 246|Charles St]]/[[Twin River Casino|Twin River]]/CCRI
|-
|{{anchor|54}}'''54'''||[[Lincoln, Rhode Island|Lincoln]]/[[Woonsocket, Rhode Island|Woonsocket]]
|-
|{{anchor|55}}'''55'''||Admiral/[[Providence College]]
|-
|{{anchor|56}}'''56'''||Chalkstone Ave
|-
|{{anchor|57}}'''57'''||[[U.S. Route 44 in Rhode Island|Smith St]]
|-
|{{anchor|58}}'''58'''||[[Rhode Island Route 15|Mineral Spring]]/[[North Providence, Rhode Island|North Providence]]
|-
|{{anchor|59x|59X}}'''59x'''||[[North Smithfield, Rhode Island|North Smithfield]]/Lincoln Mall Park-n-Ride
|-
|{{anchor|60}}'''60'''||Providence/Newport
|-
|{{anchor|61x|61X}}'''61x'''||[[Tiverton, Rhode Island|Tiverton]]/East Bay Park-n-Ride
|-
|{{anchor|63}}'''63'''||Broadway/Middletown Shops
|-
|{{anchor|64}}'''64'''||Newport/[[University of Rhode Island|URI Kingston]]
|-
|{{anchor|65X|65x}}'''65X'''||[[Wakefield, Rhode Island|Wakefield]] Express
|-
|{{anchor|66}}'''66'''||URI/CCRI Warwick/Providence
|-
|{{anchor|67}}'''67'''||Bellevue/[[Salve Regina University|Salve Regina Univ.]]
|-
|{{anchor|68}}'''68'''||CCRI NPT/Mem. Blvd./First Beach
|-
|{{anchor|69}}'''69'''||[[Narragansett, Rhode Island|Narragansett]]/[[Galilee, Rhode Island|Galilee]]
|-
|{{anchor|71}}'''71'''||[[Rhode Island Route 114|Broad Street]]/[[U.S. Route 1 in Rhode Island|Pawtucket Ave]]
|-
|{{anchor|72}}'''72'''||Weeden/[[Central Falls, Rhode Island|Central Falls]]
|-
|{{anchor|73}}'''73'''||Mineral Spring/Twin River/CCRI
|-
|{{anchor|75}}'''75'''||Dexter/Lincoln Mall
|-
|{{anchor|76}}'''76'''||Central Ave
|-
|{{anchor|78}}'''78'''||Beverage Hill Ave/East Providence
|-
|{{anchor|80}}'''80'''||Armistice Blvd
|-
|{{anchor|87}}'''87'''||Fairmount/Walnut Hill
|-
|{{anchor|88}}'''88'''||Simmons Village Service
|-
|{{anchor|89}}'''89'''||Walmart Cranston
|-
|{{anchor|92}}'''92'''||[[Rhode Island College|RI College]]/[[Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island|Federal Hill]]/[[East Side, Providence, Rhode Island|East Side]]
|-
|{{anchor|95x|95X}}'''95x'''||[[Westerly, Rhode Island|Westerly]] Park-n-Ride
|-
|203||Narragansett Flex
|-
|204||Westerly Flex
|-
|231||South Aquidneck Flex
|-
|242||West Warwick/Coventry Flex
|-
|281||Woonsocket/Manville Flex
|-
|282||Pascoag/Slatersville Flex
|-
|301||Westerly/Hope Valley Rural Ride
|-
|{{anchor|QX|Qx}}'''QX'''||[[Quonset Point]]
|}

==History==
[[File:Rhode Island FC vs New England Revolution May 7 2025.jpg|thumb|A RIPTA bus with a [[Rhode Island FC]] wrap.]]
RIPTA was created in 1964 by the [[Rhode Island General Assembly]] to supervise what had been a system of privately run bus and trolley systems. RIPTA began operating buses on July 1, 1966, inheriting services provided previously by the United Transit Company (formerly the [[Rhode Island Company]].<ref>[https://www.ripta.com/history/ RIPTA History]</ref> Woonsocket local service was expanded in 2011 to allow residents, many of whom do not own cars, to reach shopping areas outside town.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/food-stamps-put-rhode-island-town-on-monthly-boom-and-bust-cycle/2013/03/16/08ace07c-8ce1-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_story.html |title=Food stamps put Rhode Island town on monthly boom-and-bust cycle |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |author=Saslow, Eli |date=16 March 2013 |access-date=12 September 2014}}</ref> R-Line service began on June 21, 2014.

The 1 Eddy/Hope/Benefit and 35 Rumford lines were the first two RIPTA routes with stops outside of Rhode Island's borders, as both routes end in a northern terminus at the [[South Attleboro station|South Attleboro MBTA station]] in Massachusetts.<ref name="projoma">{{cite web |last1=LANDIS |first1=BRUCE |title=RIPTA prepares to reorganize routes to improve service |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/business/content/20130521-ripta-prepares-to-reorganize-routes-to-improve-service.ece |website=[[The Providence Journal]] |access-date=4 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> RIPTA was required to seek federal permission before the extending the routes across state lines to South Attleboro in 2013.<ref name="projoma"/> Soon, the 32 and 34 were extended over the Massachusetts border to [[Seekonk Square]]. In August 2019, RIPTA added a third line running to Massachusetts, the 24L, an express line which includes stops in [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]] and [[Somerset, Massachusetts|Somerset]] that connect to [[Southeastern Regional Transit Authority]] lines.<ref>{{cite web |author=Daily News staff |title=RIPTA adds new express service connecting Newport to Providence, Fall River |url=https://www.newportri.com/news/20190826/ripta-adds-new-express-service-connecting-newport-to-providence-fall-river |website=[[The Newport Daily News]] |access-date=27 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=24x Newport/Fall River/Providence |url=https://www.ripta.com/24 |publisher=Rhode Island Public Transit Authority |access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref> As part of the Summer 2025 service changes, RIPTA is proposing to extend Route 54 by less than a mile—from its current terminus in Woonsocket to the [[Stop & Shop]] in [[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham, MA]]. This extension would improve access for workers and shoppers while also offering a convenient layover location with restroom facilities for operators.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RIPTA Public Hearings - April 2025 |url=https://www.ripta.com/publichearings/}}</ref>

In November 2019, RIPTA received $8 million in federal funding to add additional hubs at the [[Community College of Rhode Island]] in Warwick and the [[University of Rhode Island]] in Kingston.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/ripta-to-build-new-mobility-hubs-at-uri-ccri/article_162d250c-0c89-11ea-90b5-437e245d159d.html |title=RIPTA to build new mobility hubs at URI, CCRI |newspaper=[[The Westerly Sun]] |location=Westerly, Rhode Island |date=November 25, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.ripta.com RIPTA home page]

{{Massachusetts-Rhode Island transit agencies}}
{{Blackstone Valley}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rhode Island Public Transit Authority| ]]
[[Category:Providence metropolitan area|.]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1964]]
[[Category:Intermodal transportation authorities in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Public transportation in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Transit agencies in the United States]]