Hope St Winter Stroll Detour Sign Channel KP Lobby 2013

RIPTA ACCOMMODATES HOPE STREET WINTER STROLL ON DECEMBER 5

RIPTA will detour Route 42 (Hope Street) to accommodate the Hope Street Winter Stroll. The detour will be in effect beginning at 3:00pm on Thursday, December 5 until 8:30pm that night. Click here for details.

Downtown Jingle 5k Detour Digital Boards 2013 (2)

RIPTA ACCOMMODATES DOWNTOWN JINGLE 5K ON DECEMBER 8

RIPTA will detour fifteen bus routes in the downtown Providence area on Sunday, December 8, 2013 in order to accommodate the Downtown Jingle 5K Road Race. Routes 1, 3, 6, 11, 19, 20, 22, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 60, 66, and 92 will be detoured from 10:30am until 12:00pm. All RIPTA bus lines are to expect minor delays around Kennedy Plaza during this time. Click here for details.

RIPTA TO RUN HOLIDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 AND WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

RIPTA will operate all regular fixed-route bus service on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Wednesday, December 25, 2013 in observance of Christmas Day and Wednesday, January 1, 2014 in observance of New Year’s Day. RIPTA offices, including the Photo Identification and Ticket Sales Offices in Kennedy Plaza, will not be staffed on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Also, the Flex Service reservation line (1-877-906-FLEX) and the RIde reservation line (461-9760) will not be staffed on either holiday. Click here for details.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO TRY TRANSIT!

The Beat Traffic, Try Transit program, launched earlier this summer, is designed to ease traffic congestion on the Interstate through Providence during peak travel times. Commuters can take advantage of discounted bus fares from select Park n' Ride lots across the state as well as free parking at select commuter rail stations. Click here for a complete list of participating lots and more information on how you can beat traffic!

RIPTA’S WINTER SERVICE CHANGES TO TAKE EFFECT SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2014

RIPTA will implement winter service changes effective Saturday, January 18, 2014. RIPTA makes regular service adjustments three times a year in response to seasonal changes and/or passenger use.

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the changes:

▪ New service to Stop & Shop Supermarket on Phenix Ave in Cranston. (Route 17)
▪ Service every 15 minutes on Westminster Street from Olneyville Square to Kennedy Plaza (Routes 17 and 19 combined).
▪ Service every 15 minutes on Elmwood Ave from the Cranston Price Rite/Job Lot to Kennedy Plaza. Service every 30 minutes to the airport. (Route 20)
▪ Service every 15 minutes from Kennedy Plaza to Twin River and CCRI Lincoln (Routes 51 and 54 combined)
▪ More direct, every 30 minutes, service from Woonsocket to Providence: Route 54 will no longer operate via Charles Street but run direct from Woonsocket to Walmart North Smithfield, Lincoln Mall, CCRI Lincoln, Twin River and then straight to Kennedy Plaza. Route 51 will be rerouted to run from CCRI and Twin River and service Charles Street every 30 minutes.
▪ More service on Saturdays on Aquidneck Island. (Route 60)
▪ More early morning service on Chalkstone Avenue. (Route 56)
▪ Three round trip Express trips from Arctic Center/Route 117 Park-n-Ride Lot to downtown Providence (Check out the new 12X schedules, trips will also be shown on the Route 13 schedule).
▪ New Route 59X running Express service from North Smithfield to Park Square, Lincoln Mall and then direct to downtown Providence. Read about the new Route 59X and other upcoming changes in the Woonsocket Call. Click here for the article.

RIPTA IN THE COMMUNITY

FILL A BUS TOY DRIVE - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

RIPTA is partnering with the Providence Bruins, WBRU, and Public Kitchen & Bar for the 2nd Annual Fill A Bus Toy Drive to benefit the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The public is invited to help Fill A Bus on Friday, December 6, 2013 from 3pm-7pm at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center before the Providence Bruins game. Each person who donates a brand new, unwrapped toy will receive prizes from RIPTA, WBRU and the Providence Bruins. The first 100 people to drop off a new toy will receive a complimentary lunch card courtesy of Public Kitchen & Bar, located inside the Providence Renaissance Hotel.

STUFF A BUS FOOD DRIVE – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

In the spirit of holiday giving, help RIPTA, Panera Bread, Coast 93.3 and B101 “Stuff a Bus!” Our goal is to stuff a RIPTA bus chock full of non-perishable food and canned good items that will be donated the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Each person who donates will receive a special surprise from Panera Bread. Give back this holiday season. Join us at Panera Bread this Saturday, December 7, 2013 at the new Panera Bread in Lincoln on George Washington Highway from 12p to 2p.

At last year’s Stuff a Bus Food Drive, RIPTA collected 2,993 pounds of food and $1,392 in donations. Every dollar enables the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to acquire 3 pounds of healthy food. So in total, the 2012 food drive resulted in 7,169 pounds of food for Rhode Islanders in need. Thank you to everyone who helped! Let’s beat that number this year!

RIPTA IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF FEED 1,000

For the second year, PMG Charities is hosting a FREE festive holiday meal for Rhode Islanders in need. On Saturday, December 15th, from noon to 4 PM, organizers hope that 2,000 people will enjoy a free meal at the RI Convention Center along with holiday music, cookies, a coffee station, and snacks. Gift bags filled with toiletries will be distributed, and children will receive donated toys.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will provide complimentary public transportation from Operation Stand Down, Amos House, McCauley House, and Crossroads to the RI Convention Center on Saturday, December 15, 2013.

How can you help? Complete the sponsorship form online or send a check to PMG Charities. You can also volunteer on the day of the event or donate supplies such as coats, gloves, hats, scarves, toilet paper, baby wipes, and travel size toiletries.

Visit the website and Facebook page for more details on how to get involved in this important event!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

RIPTA wishes you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season. May you be surrounded by loved ones and find time for sharing treasured moments together. Thank you for supporting RIPTA. We look forward to your continued support in 2014!