 |  Joe Monti, RIPTA’s Superintendent of Vehicle Maintenance, stands next to the charging port of one the new electric buses. Photo Credit: Proterra Inc. | SNEAK PEEK AT ELECTRIC BUSES It was quite a test ride! Governor Raimondo, the state’s full congressional delegation, and other dignitaries joined us recently to check out the three new electric buses we are leasing as we move toward introducing more of these zero-emission vehicles into our fleet. The three leased buses, manufactured by Proterra Inc., are the first all-electric transit buses in Rhode Island – and there are more coming! The state’s aggressive air quality improvement calls for the purchase of 16 to 20 electric buses starting in 2021. Under the plan, RIPTA is being allocated $10 million of the state’s share of the federal Volkswagen settlement funds. The new buses are being tested extensively and staff will be trained in the maintenance and charging of the vehicles before they are put into service – hopefully early in 2019. | RIPTA IN THE COMMUNITY STUFF A BUS FOOD DRIVE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2018 In the spirit of holiday giving, help RIPTA, Job Lot and i Heart Radio “Stuff a Bus!” during our annual food drive. Our goal is to stuff RIPTA buses chock full of non-perishable food and canned good items that will be donated the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Give back this holiday season! We are asking ALL public schools, PTO’s, private organizations, etc. to conduct food drives on their own, and then bring the items down to the closest participating Ocean State Job Lot Store (Coventry, North Kingstown or Woonsocket). Don’t have time to run a food drive? Visit participating food drive locations to drop off your donation. At last year’s Stuff a Bus Food Drive, RIPTA collected 8,391 pounds of food (over 4 tons!) thank you to everyone who helped! Let’s beat that number this year! STUFF A BUS FOOD DRIVE LOCATIONS
Stop by any of these Job Lot locations on Friday, November 16 from 6AM to 9PM and on Saturday, November 17 from 8AM to 3PM: 1173 Tiogue Avenue, Coventry, RI
5957 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI
1919 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI | RIPTA HONORS ROSA PARKS Saturday, December 1st - the date Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white male passenger - is Rosa Parks Human Rights Day. RIPTA salutes her by showcasing beautiful art e-signage commemorating her courage on buses as a reminder of who she was and what she represents. | RETHINK YOUR RIDE Commuter Resource RI (CRRI) will be participating in two benefits fairs in November. These benefits fairs give CRRI great opportunities to promote RIPTA services, pass programs, carpooling and alternative mode travel to a high volume of employees, faculty, students, and staff at each festive event. These events are excellent venues for CRRI to persuade individuals to get out of their single occupancy vehicle and to try and alternative mode of travel. One –on –one trip planning, bus scheduling information, and on-line information are some of the things shared with individuals looking to save commuting dollars, expand commute options, or simply just to stop by and say hello. Looking for more information on CRRI programs and services? Visit TryTransitRI.com. UPCOMING BENEFIT FAIRS
Blue Cross Blue Shield RI: November 8
Brown University: November 14 | SERVICE ALERTS RIPTA CELEBRATES VETERANS DAY RIPTA will operate all regular service on Monday, November 12, 2018. RIPTA offices, including the Ticket Sales Office in Kennedy Plaza, will be closed in observance of Veterans Day, an official state holiday. RIPTA CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING DAY RIPTA will operate all fixed-route services on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Thursday, November 22, 2018 in observance of Thanksgiving Day, an official state holiday. Click here for details. TURKEY TROT 5K – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22 RIPTA will detour Routes 1, 71, 72, 75, 78, and R-Line from 9am to 12pm. Roosevelt Avenue will be closed during this time. Details here. PROVIDENCE CITY HALL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 RIPTA will detour Routes 1, 6, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31, 58 and 92 West in Providence from 5pm to 6pm. Dorrance Street in front of City Hall will be closed during this time. Click here for details. PROVIDENCE WINTER FESTIVAL – NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 1 RIPTA will detour Routes 27, 28, 49, 56, 57, 60 and 62 will be detoured beginning with the first trip of the day on Friday through Saturday night. The East Approach Trolley Pavilion will be closed to traffic during this time. Bus Stops V, W and Y will be temporarily relocated during this time. Click here for details. | | |
