RIde Anywhere Paratransit Expansion Studies
RIPTA has completed two recent studies on expanded paratransit service. The first study, completed in 2022, led to a year-long statewide paratransit pilot program known as RIde Anywhere. The second study, completed in 2025, reported on findings from that pilot. The Rhode Island General Assembly made the RIde Anywhere program permanent starting in FY26.
About RIde/ADA Paratransit
The RIde paratransit program was designed to complement RIPTA’s fixed-route system. Qualifying riders, whose disabilities prevent them from independently using the fixed-route bus, must apply and be approved to use the service.
Like other transit agencies, RIPTA follows federal ADA guidance and must provide paratransit service to and from locations within ¾ of a mile of fixed-route bus routes during their hours of operation. This allows RIPTA to provide paratransit riders with the same level of service as fixed-route riders.
Statewide Paratransit Expansion Study: 2022
RIPTA performed the Statewide Paratransit Expansion Study in response to a Rhode Island General Assembly request to evaluate the needs of individuals with disabilities traveling outside the current paratransit service area.
Through the 2022 study, RIPTA considered different alternatives to addressing paratransit travel demand. The study included interviews with RIde staff, a review of current services, demographic analysis, estimates of future demand, cost estimates for statewide service, and two rounds of public outreach. In December 2022, RIPTA produced a final report estimating the number of individuals potentially served by several alternatives and the resources needed to support them. Given RIPTA’s resource constraints during the study period, including a severe driver shortage and reliance on contracts with taxis to meet RIde demand, the report concluded that any expansion should be incremental and would require additional resources.
Statewide Paratransit Expansion Study 2022
RIde Anywhere Pilot Program: 2024—2025
Rhode Island’s FY24 budget then tasked RIPTA with creating a pilot program to expand beyond the current paratransit service area, utilizing $500,000 in existing operating funds. This meant that RIde paratransit customers were no longer restricted to traveling within ¾-mile of a fixed-bus route, as required by ADA. During the pilot, both RIPTA-operated RIde vehicles and contracted taxi operators provided the requested trips.
RIde Anywhere Pilot Evaluation Study: 2025
To fulfill a state budget requirement, RIPTA reported back to the Rhode Island General Assembly on the RIde Anywhere paratransit pilot program in May 2025. This study involved an analysis of RIde Anywhere trips and the collection of feedback from surveys and interviews. The final report describes pilot program utilization and recommends best practices for consideration going forward.
RIde Anywhere Pilot Evaluation Study May 2025