June 28, 2012

Press Releases

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) announced today that Flex Zones 281 Woonsocket and 282 Pascoag/Slatersville were updated with the last seasonal service change on June 16, 2012. Both Flex Zones now serve the Walmart Supercenter located in Dowling Village on Route 146a in North Smithfield, Rhode Island by reservation only.

Flex Service, which is short for Flexible Service, is a reservation-based, curb-to-curb service designed to serve rural and suburban areas with little or no public transportation.  Flex Service is designed to be convenient, affordable public transportation, and provides the opportunity to connect to RIPTA’s fixed-route service. 

Flex Zone 281 Woonsocket now serves the new WalmartSupercenter located in Dowling Village on Route 146a in North Smithfield, Rhode Island by reservation only.

Flex Zone 282 Pascoag/Slatersville also serves the new Walmart.  The Flex van makes regularly scheduled stops at Walmart Monday through Friday at 11:00am and 1:40pm.  In addition, passengers can now board Flex Zone 282 at the new TransART shelter located on Sayles Avenue between Main Street and Sayles Avenue (north of the bridge on the sidewalk adjacent to the IGA market).  This new TransART shelter replaces the FlexStop formally located on the Pascoag Bridgeway between Main and High Streets.  The time points (8:55am, 3:00pm, and 5:20pm) have not changed.

The new TransART shelter is the result of RIPTA and the Town of Burrillville working together to enhance the vibrancy of Pascoag.  This shelter, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will help bolster Pascoag’s accessibility and vitality for transit riders and other pedestrians. The goal of the TransART program is to enhance the experience of those using RIPTA service by providing seating and shelter from the weather while introducing interesting and unique bus shelters to the streetscape environment. 

The TransART program is made available through federal transit funds. For all TransART projects, RIPTA will provide 80% of the project cost, and the remaining 20% is provided by the partnering agency/community.  The partnering agency/community is also responsible for maintaining the shelter.

For more information on TransART, Flex Service or other RIPTA programs, passengers can call 781-9400.