June 12, 2017
Press Releases
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) today announced the consolidation of bus stops in Kennedy Plaza, and a reduction in the amount of time that buses idle in the plaza while waiting for passengers. The changes, which improve pedestrian safety and support the creation of a more community-oriented Kennedy Plaza, are in addition to the recent move of Peter Pan Bus Lines and Greyhound Lines Inc. from the Plaza to Sabin Street. The changes are being made in conjunction with other RIPTA service adjustments. The transit authority makes regular service adjustments three times a year in response to seasonal changes and/or passenger use.
RIPTA will reduce bus idling, or ‘hold times’ in the plaza by tightening schedules so that buses arrive in the plaza closer to the time they are scheduled to depart. That change, combined with the relocation of private carriers from the plaza in May, means that the amount of time that buses idle in the plaza will be reduced by an estimated 29 percent on weekdays and 26 percent on weekends. (Peter Pan and Greyhound buses now stop in front of the Rhode Island Convention Center on Sabin Street.)
Regarding the consolidation of RIPTA stops at Kennedy Plaza, the Authority will remove Stops A, E, and F and those routes will be assigned to other stops in the Plaza. Passengers should be aware that some other routes will be assigned to different stops as well.
New maps of Kennedy Plaza and literature that details all service changes are available at the RIPTA Ticket Window in Kennedy Plaza and on www.ripta.com.
Part of the consolidation includes the introduction of a new “super stop” with two bus shelters and a larger waiting area at Bus Stop D. Bus Stop D will now extend all the way to the corner of Exchange Street. RIPTA officials noted that consolidating routes into fewer stops will create more open space for community activities at the West end of Kennedy Plaza.
RIPTA will also “interline” more routes at the Plaza. Interlining is when a bus arrives inbound at a stop as one route and departs the stop as another route using the same bus. This change – which will go into effect for Routes 1, 18, 19, 32, 33 and 40 – will create more seamless travel for passengers and create direct connections between Olneyville, Thayer Street and Wayland Square.
The change will also help make the Plaza safer for pedestrians. RIPTA estimates that the routes that will be interlined currently make about 3,000 turns per week in or near Kennedy Plaza. The amount of turns will be cut in half after the crosstown routes are interlined.
New Bus Stop Assignments for Kennedy Plaza Details
Below is a list of the bus stop assignments for Kennedy Plaza with the elimination of Stops A, E and F.
Route 3 (Warwick Avenue): Bus Stop D
Route 6 (Prairie/ Roger Williams Zoo): Bus Stop C
Route 55 (Admiral/Providence College): Bus Stop G
Route 58 (Southbound to RI Hospital- NEW SERVICE): Bus Stop B
Route 66 (URI/Galilee): Bus Stop Y
Route 92 (RI College – West): Bus Stop D
R-Line (Pawtucket – North): Bus Stop J
R-Line (Broad – South): Bus Stop D
Passengers are strongly encouraged to check new schedules for how service changes may affect them. They may also pick up the leaflet entitled Summer Service Changes Effective June 17, 2017 that is available at Kennedy Plaza; the leaflet is also viewable online. For schedules and more information, passengers may call 401-781-9400, or visit www.ripta.com.
RIPTA also announced other summer service changes effective Saturday, June 17, 2017:
2017 Summer Service Changes Overview
There are several notable service improvements being offered as part of these latest service changes. Route 58 (Mineral Spring/North Providence) will be extended on weekdays to provide service to Rhode Island Hospital – giving passengers who board in North Providence the ability to reach the hospital without making a transfer. Also, Routes 31 (Cranston Street) and 56 (Chalkstone Avenue) will have standardized 15-minute frequency on weekdays.
SEASONAL SUMMER SERVICES
Available for all Saturday and Sunday Home Games
From June 17 – August 27
RIDOT is funding a PawSox shuttle bus for all weekend games from Saturday, June 17 through Sunday, August 27. The shuttle will operate from Federal Hill via Broadway to downtown Providence, continue via the East Side tunnel to Hope Street, then direct to McCoy Stadium.
Providence-Newport Ferry Shuttle
Available June 16 – September 1
The highly successful Providence-Newport ferry service returns for the summer. Ferry passengers are encouraged to access the ferry via the Ferry Shuttle, which will begin at
Providence Station, then pick up at stop X in Kennedy Plaza, the RI Convention Center, and then continue directly to the Ferry Dock at India Point.
Express Weekend Service to South County Beaches
Available June 17 – August 14
Starting June 17th, express buses from Woonsocket (John Cummings Way at Community Care Alliance), Cranston City Hall, Central Falls (Dexter & West Hunt Streets), the
Pawtucket Transit Center and North Providence City Hall will run on weekends and holidays only to the Salty Brine, Roger Wheeler and Scarborough beaches in South County. These buses will stop at Kennedy Plaza, with the exception of the bus leaving from Central Falls and Pawtucket. The fare for these express buses will be the regular bus fare of $2.00 per boarding.
In addition, there is daily year-round service on Route 66 (URI/Galilee) from Kennedy Plaza running every 55 minutes during the week, every 45 minutes on Saturday and every 60 – 75 minutes on Sunday to the South County beaches. Therefore, if passengers want to come home early or late, they have more options.
