RIPTA RIDER OF THE MONTH

Vincent D., a Cranston resident, uses both our RIde Paratransit Program and our fixed-route bus service to travel around the state. He started riding RIPTA fifteen years ago, while a student at the University of Rhode Island (URI) when he would ride Route 60 from URI to Kennedy Plaza. Today, Vincent rides the bus or paratransit van to his job in Woonsocket and uses it to travel to his volunteer shift at Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island.

When he is called to cover a shift and is unable to set up a trip with RIde, he knows he can rely on Route 54 for transportation. “I love RIPTA because it also gives me the flexibility to change plans. I do a lot of volunteer work and it allows me to cancel my scheduled RIde on nice evenings and ride RIPTA buses to the market and pick up food - or even Dunkin’ to grab a decaf and visit friends.”

Vincent is also a member of the Rhode Island Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC), an independent advisory council that strives to improve public transit accessibility in the state. As an ATAC member, Vincent gives RIPTA input on accessibility issues – whether it is in regards to RIPTA services, policies or facilities. The overarching goal of this work is to make sure that persons with disabilities have equitable access to public transportation and that the transportation services comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“RIPTA improves my life by giving me the flexibility and availability to accomplish many tasks of daily living on a day,” Vincent said.

Keep an eye out for Vincent on Routes 1, 3, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31, 33, 34, 54, 55, 60, 72, and 78 and say hello!

For more information on the ATAC, click here.

2020 CENSUS: MAKE SURE YOU ARE COUNTED

Be counted!

There’s a lot at stake for Rhode Island as the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census approaches. Rhode Island receives $3.8 billion in federal funding each year based on the results of the census and the number of seats it holds in Congress is dependent on the census count.

That is why RIPTA and other state agencies are working together to urge all Rhode Islanders to make sure they participate. The funds that our state receives based on census results support dozens of services – including Medicaid, housing support, public transportation, food assistance and more.

Please make sure someone in your household responds when you receive your census inquiry in 2020.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION– A WINNING COMBINATION

Did you know that transportation is the second-largest household expense in America?

Building affordable housing in areas that have a high density of public transportation can help ease this financial strain on many households. That is one of the reasons our CEO, Scott Avedisian, was happy to take part in a recent panel discussion hosted by HousingWorks RI. HousingWorks at Roger Williams University is a clearinghouse of information about housing in Rhode Island.

They just released their 2019 report, which is rich with information and data. You can view it at https://bit.ly/2NnUZ2Y.

RIPTA IN THE COMMUNITY

STUFF A BUS FOOD DRIVE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2019

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.

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 (Cranston, North Kingstown or Coventry). 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 8,292 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 15 from 6AM to 9PM and on Saturday, November 16 from 8AM to 3PM:
148 Atwood Avenue, Cranston, RI
1173 Tiogue Avenue, Coventry, RI
5957 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI

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 an alternative mode of travel. One–on –one trip planning, bus scheduling information, and online 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: 11am – 1pm on November 15
Brown University: 7:30am – 2:30pm on November 13