ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ATAC) & NEW RIPTA SURVEY

The Rhode Island Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) is an independent body that works with RIPTA to improve accessibility to public transportation in Rhode Island. The ATAC is expected to assist and monitor RIPTA Management with its compliance with all the applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other civil rights laws as they apply to public transportation systems in Rhode Island.

The next ATAC meeting will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2017 from 4pm to 6pm at 705 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI. Anyone is welcome to attend.

For more information on this committee, click here.

In another matter related to accessible transportation, RIPTA is working on updating Rhode Island’s Coordinated Public Transit/Human Services Transportation Plan as required by federal regulations. The Coordinated Plan, which must be updated every five years, is intended to identify the transportation needs of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals. It also creates an updated inventory of available transportation services for these populations – including transportation services provided by social service agencies and municipalities. The plan will identify gaps in services and prioritize options for addressing service needs.

In updating the plan, RIPTA is gathering information from the public as well as partner state agencies. Please help out by clicking on the following link and participating in our survey: https://goo.gl/forms/bksHhLHFjSTzhLkB3. You do not have to limit your comments to RIPTA services as this study is intended to examine all transportation options, whether they are provided by municipalities, other state agencies or private vendors.

DETOURS

GOVERNOR’S BAY DAY

RIPTA will waive the roundtrip fare on all service to South County Beaches on Route 66 (URI/Galilee) on Sunday, July 30 in celebration of the Governor’s Bay Day. Route 66 (URI/Galilee) also provides weekend only express service from Central Falls, Cranston, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket to Salty Brine, Roger Wheeler (Sand Hill Cove) and Scarborough State Beaches in South County.

For Governor’s Bay Day, service to the beach will be provided on a first come, first served basis. The standard one-way fare of $2.00, suspended for Bay Day, will resume on Monday, July 31, 2017. These buses will stop at Kennedy Plaza on the way to the South County beaches. Passengers should consult the Rte. 66 (URI/Galilee) schedule for details.

AS220’S ANNUAL FOO FEST - SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

RIPTA will detour the R-Line all day and night to accommodate AS220’s Annual Foo Fest. Empire Street will be closed during this time.

Details here.

DOMINICAN PARADE – SUNDAY, AUGUST 13

RIPTA will detour Route 6 (Prairie/Roger Williams Park Zoo) and the R-Line (Broad/North Main) from 9am until 12pm.

Details here.

RIPTA CELEBRATES VICTORY DAY – MONDAY, AUGUST 14

RIPTA will operate all regular fixed-route buses and trolleys on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Monday, August 14, 2017 in observance of Victory Day. RIPTA offices, including the Photo Identification and Ticket Sellers Offices in Kennedy Plaza, will not be staffed on the holiday.

Click here for details.

RIPTA IN THE COMMUNITY

Wheels at Work Rolls in to Providence Children’s Museum!

Kids get behind the wheel of working vehicles big and small during a special summer series at Providence Children’s Museum. Climb aboard a fire truck, sit atop a backhoe loader, examine the equipment in an ambulance, and meet the vehicles’ operators.

Explore a different vehicle each Wednesday morning in August. Get into the driver’s seat of a RIPTA bus on Wednesday, August 30 and check out its impressive dashboard.

Visit www.ChildrenMuseum.org for more information and a full calendar of events.

Mayor Jorge Elorza’s Seniors Day in the City

RIPTA is excited to participate at this event, which will be held on Saturday, August 26 at the Rhode Island Convention Center from 10:30AM to 2:30PM. Stop by the RIPTA table and say hello!

RIPTA’s Photo Identification staff will be on site to provide bus passes to qualified seniors and individuals with disabilities with valid documentation. Reduced Fare Bus Pass Program identification cards for qualified people with disabilities and seniors cost $10.00 (cash only) and are valid for 2 years.

For information on how to qualify for RIPTA’s Reduced Fare Bus Pass Program for Seniors and People with Disabilities, customers can call 784-9500, ext. 604 or visit ripta.com.

For more information on Mayor Jorge Elorza’s Seniors Day in the City event, please contact the Department of Senior Services at 401-421-2489.