Rhode Island Public Transit Authority

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
logo
image
RIPTA Gillig #0517 picks up customers on the #51 line at Kennedy Plaza.
Founded 1966
Headquarters 265 Melrose Street
Providence, RI 02907
Locale Rhode Island (statewide)
Service type transit bus, paratransit
Routes 62
Hubs 3 (Kennedy Plaza, Newport Gateway Center, Pawtucket Transportation Center)
Lounge 3 (one at each hub)
Fleet 240 (fixed-route)
16 (Flex)[1]
Daily ridership 67,957 (2006; weekday)[1]
Chief executive Alfred Moscola[2]
Web site www.ripta.com

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) provides public transportation, primarily buses, in the state of Rhode Island. The main hub of the RIPTA system is Kennedy Plaza, a large bus terminal in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. The authority serves over 71,000 people a day, in 38 out of 39 Rhode Island communities.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

Wiki letter w.svg This section requires expansion.

RIPTA was created in 1964 by the Rhode Island General Assembly to supervise what had been previously 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.[4]

[edit] Routes

RIPTA operates services in several categories. All services are operated from two garages, in Providence at 265 Melrose Street and Middletown at 350 Coddington Highway.

[edit] Fixed route

Most of RIPTA's fixed-route bus lines are centered around three major hubs in the cities of Providence at Kennedy Plaza, Pawtucket at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, and Newport at the Gateway Center. There are also single bus routes operating within Warwick and Woonsocket. Some routes are through-routed through Providence and Pawtucket, such as the 1, 42, and 77 lines.

[edit] Route List

  • 1 Eddy/Gaspee
  • 3 Warwick Ave
  • 6 Prairie Ave
  • 8 Jefferson Blvd
  • 9 Pascoag
  • 11 Broad St
  • 13 Arctic/Washington
  • 14 West Bay
  • 17 Dyer/Pocasset
  • 18 Union Ave
  • 19 Plainfield/Westminster
  • 20 Elmwood/Auburn/Airport
  • 21 Reservoir/Garden City
  • 22 Pontiac Ave
  • 23 Pastore/Warwick Mall/CCRI
  • 26 Antwells/Rhode Island College
  • 27 Broadway/Manton
  • 28 Broadway/Hartford
  • 29 Kent
  • 30 Arlington/Oaklawn
  • 31 Cranston St
  • 32 West Barrington
  • 33 Riverside
  • 34 East Providence
  • 35 Rumford/Newport Ave
  • 40 Butler/Elmgrove
  • 42 Hope St
  • 49 Camp St
  • 50 Douglas Ave
  • 51 Charles St
  • 52 Branch/Bryant University
  • 53 Smithfield Ave
  • 54 Lincoln/Woonsocket
  • 55 Admiral/Providence College
  • 56 Chalkstone Ave
  • 57 Smith St
  • 58 Mineral Springs/North Providence
  • 60 Providence/Newport
  • 63 Broadway/Middletown
  • 64 Newport/URI
  • 66 URI/Galilee
  • 67 Bellevue Mansions
  • 71 Broad St/Pawtucket
  • 72 Weeden/Center Falls
  • 73 Fairlawn/CCRI
  • 75 Dexter/Lincoln Mall
  • 76 Central Ave
  • 77 Benefit/Broadway
  • 78 Beverage Hill/East Providence
  • 79 Columbus Ave
  • 80 Armistice Blvd
  • 87 Fairmont/Walnut Hill
  • 90 Park & Rides/Downtown
  • 91 Gold Line Trolley
  • 92 Green Line Trolley
  • 99 Providence/Pawtucket

[edit] Trolley service

The East Side Trolley Tunnel, from the west end.
CNG trolley replica #16

In 1999, RIPTA introduced its trolley service, providing service using tourist trolley style replica buses manufactured by Chance Coach & Optima Bus on two downtown Providence circulator lines going north and south of Kennedy Plaza and through the East Side Trolley Tunnel, and on a number of lines running through the Newport Gateway Center in Newport.

[edit] Demand response/Flex service

#0651 works the 211 Flex Service on the URI campus.
RIde #0141 in downtown Providence.

In addition to fixed route services, RIPTA also provides Flex Service service primarily settled around less-populated areas in the state, servicing the communities of Bristol, Burrillville, Coventry, Kingston (including the University of Rhode Island), Middletown, Narragansett, Newport, North Smithfield, Portsmouth, South Kingstown, Tiverton, West Warwick, Westerly, and Woonsocket.

RIde is the demand-response service operated by RIPTA, providing primarily paratransit service throughout the service area of RIPTA. The vehicles used for both service are cutaway vans.

[edit] Fares

These are the current RIPTA fares.[5]

Base fare Senior/disabled fare Transfers 1-day pass 7-day pass Monthly pass Passes
$1.75
  • Peak: $1.75
  • Off-peak: 85¢
 50¢1 $5.002 $20.002 $55.00 3,4
  • e-RIPtik (10 trips): $17.001,3
  • 15-ride pass: $23.001,3
  1. The transfer fee is only charged when the base fare is paid. Passes and RIPtiks include transfers at no extra cost.
  2. These passes are only sold on RIPTA fixed-route and Flex vehicles.
  3. These passes are sold only at Kennedy Plaza, Shaw's, and Stop & Shop. 15-ride passes are also sold at Eastside Marketplace supermarket in Providence.
  4. Half-price monthly passes are available to students attending schools participating in the U-PASS program[6] [7]

[edit] Active Fleet

Not included here are cutaway vans normally used on Flex service and RIde paratransit and demand response services. All buses here are fully ADA compliant and feature bike racks.

Year Manufacturer/Model Length
(feet)		 Width
(inches)		 Fuel Fleet numbers In service
1992 TMC RTS T80206 40 102 Diesel 9201-9248 46
1998 Nova Bus RTS RTNFD82 40 102 Diesel 9801-9850 50
1999 Nova Bus RTS RTNFD62 30 102 Diesel 9930-9934 5
1999 Chance Coach AH-28 28 96 CNG 1-15 15
2000 Nova Bus RTS T82VN 40 102 Diesel 0030-0057 26
2001 Chance Coach AH-28 28 96 CNG (16 converted to diesel) 16-19 4
2001 Orion V 05.501 40 102 Diesel 0101-0127 27
2001 New Flyer C30LF 30 102 CNG 0201-0205 5
2003 Optima Bus AH-28 28 96 CNG 20 1
2004 Orion V 05.501 40 102 Diesel 0461-0485 25
2005 Gillig Low Floor G27E102R2 40 102 Diesel 0515-0550 36
Grand total of fixed-route buses: 240

Buses 9226 through 9248 have upholstered seats, all others have plastic or aluminum seats with felt lining.

The 2009 series of Gilligs is entering service in early December, 2009. As more of these buses are used, the 9200 series will be retired.

[edit] Retired Fleet

Since the inception of service in 1966, RIPTA has operated a variety of equipment inherited from predecessor operators, purchased new by the agency, and purchased second-hand from other properties.

Year Manufacturer/Model Length
(feet)		 Width
(inches)		 Fuel Fleet numbers Notes
1950 GMC TDM-4509 35 96 Diesel 504 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same numbers; orig. New England Transportation 392
1951 GMC TDM-4509 35 96 Diesel 501-503 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same numbers; orig. Short Line 201-202, 204
1953 GMC TDH-5105 40 102 Diesel 3801-3845 ex-UTC same numbers
1954 GMC TGH-3102 30 96 Gasoline 413 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same number; orig. Pawtuxet Valley 50
1955 GMC TGH-3102 30 96 Gasoline 400 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same number; orig. Orange St. Bus Line 12
1956 GMC TGH-3102 30 96 Gasoline 401-402 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same numbers
1957 GMC TGH-3102 30 96 Gasoline 100, 403 100 ex-Cranston Transvan C3, orig. Connecticut Ry & Lighting 414; 403 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same number
1960 GMC TGH-3102 30 96 Gasoline 404-407 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same numbers; 406-407 ex-Almeida Bus Lines 43-44
1960 GMC TDH-4516 35 102 Diesel 0801-0805, 1801-1815 ex-UTC same numbers
1962 GMC TDH-5301 40 102 Diesel 5003 ex-MTA/MBTA 275
1963 GMC TDH-5303 40 102 Diesel 5004-5014 ex-MTA/MBTA 5059, 5081, 5056, 5061, 5073, 5052, 5087, 5084, 5039, 5076, 5049
1964 GMC TDH-3501 30 96 Diesel 505-506 ex-Auch Inter-Borough Transit 643, 642
1965 GMC TGH-3501 30 96 Gasoline 408-409 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same numbers
1965 GMC TDH-3501 30 96 Diesel 507-508 ex-Auch Inter-Borough Transit 651-652; 508 orig. Huntingdon Coach 402
1966 GMC TGH-3501 30 96 Gasoline 410 ex-Transit Line, Inc. same number
1966 GMC SDM-5302 40 96 Diesel 4001 ex-Short Line/Bonanza 6623
1966 GMC TDH-5303 40 102 Diesel 5001 ex-MBTA 6020
1966 GMC TDH-4519 35 96 Diesel 6001-6102
1967 GMC SDM-5302 40 96 Diesel 4002-4004 ex-Short Line/Bonanza 6724-6726
1967 GMC TDH-5303 40 102 Diesel 5002 ex-MBTA 6154
1970 GMC PD-4905 40 96 Diesel 701-702 ex-Bonanza 7011, 7010
1970 GMC T6H-4521 35 96 Diesel 7001-7030
1970 GMC T6H-5306 40 96 Diesel 8001-8009
1970 GMC T6H-5306A 35 96 Diesel 9001-9006
1976 GMC T6H-4523 35 96 Diesel 761-769
1978 GMC RTS TW7603 35 96 Diesel 7801-7858, 7861-7879
1980 TMC CityCruiser T-30 30 96 Diesel 801-804
1981 GMC RTS T8J204 40 102 Diesel 8101-8134
1983 Neoplan AN-460A 60 102 Diesel 831-835
1985 GMC RTS T8J204 40 102 Diesel 4034, 4136, 4170, 4186 ex-NYCTA same numbers
1986 GMC RTS T8J206 40 102 Diesel 4361, 4365-4366, 4368, 4384, 4386, 4388-4389, 4405, 4473, 4493, 4495 ex-NYCTA same numbers
1985 Volvo B10M 40 102 Diesel 8501-8555
1988 Neoplan AN-440A 40 102 Diesel 8801-8864
1990 TMC RTS T80206 40 102 Diesel 9001-9028

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b RIPTA stats from the NTD Program
  2. ^ RIPTA looking to replace trolleys
  3. ^ "ripta.com RIPTA Accomplishments in FY2006". Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority. http://www.ripta.com/content1477.html ripta.com. Retrieved 2007-06-06.  (25,943,883 boardings in 2007) / 365 days = 71,079 daily
  4. ^ RIPTA History
  5. ^ RIPTA fares
  6. ^ In the final Assembly hours, college-student bus passes are the hot topic | General Assembly | projo.com | The Providence Journal
  7. ^ Lincoln Technical Institute Signs On for RIPTA's U-PASS Program

[edit] External links

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island_Public_Transit_Authority"