The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) provides public transportation throughout Rhode Island. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) provides public transportation throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including commuter train service to Providence and Warwick (TF Green Airport).
Transportation
Public Transit
RIPTA
Update on the East Side Tunnel: https://www.ripta.com/tunnel/
Ride RIPTA buses or trolleys for free with a Brown ID.
Current faculty, staff, and students are able to ride any RIPTA bus or trolley anytime, anywhere in the state at no charge. Brown’s investment in RIPTA's University Pass Program (U-PASS) program is one of many transportation initiatives benefiting its employees, students, and the broader community.
NOTE: Individuals with a Brown Visitor ID are not eligible for the RIPTA U-PASS program.
How It Works
Swipe your Brown ID through RIPTA's fareboxes and take a seat – it's that easy! Rides will be electronically counted and RIPTA will bill the University monthly. The University will review monthly statistics to ensure that only current, valid IDs are in use. IDs that are canceled, lost, stolen, or obsolete will be reported to RIPTA and will not work with the fareboxes.
IDs are for use on RIPTA only by the person pictured on the ID. Sharing your ID for RIPTA use is strictly prohibited and may result in your card being confiscated by the RIPTA driver.
RIPTA Contact Information
The RIPTA information number is 401-781-9400. Additional RIPTA information can be found on the RIPTA website or by contacting RIPTA's Commuter Resource RI “Commute Advisors” at 1-888-887-4782.
Sign up for RIPTA Email Alerts
You can sign up for email alerts for the routes you use on the RIPTA Schedules page.
Click on the route you would like to receive alerts for, then click on “Receive Updates for This Schedule,” provide your email, then click “Subscribe.”
RIPTA Proposed Service Changes
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RIPTA to Hold Statewide Public Hearings on Proposed Service Changes |
Ridership & Workforce Shortage Drive Service Changes ProposalHearings Scheduled February 12 – 15, February 19 and February 21 RIPTA will hold public hearings on proposed service changes in all five Rhode Island counties on February 12 – 15, February 19 and February 21, 2024. The Authority announced that the reductions in service statewide are a direct response to its driver shortage, which is a longstanding issue that RIPTA has been trying to address over the past few years. This shortage is not related to the proposed FY2025 budget. Despite extensive recruitment efforts, drivers continue to retire more quickly than RIPTA can recruit new ones. RIPTA is actively working with Amalgamated Transit Union leadership to find a solution to this issue. The labor shortage, which is affecting transit agencies nationwide, has a direct impact on the level of service that RIPTA can provide. RIPTA must recalibrate its schedules with the level of service it can consistently run, so that service is accurate and reliable for passengers. The proposed service changes are based on data which identified the lowest performing routes and trip times; changes include redistributing resources from low-performing routes to high-performing routes. The proposed service changes would affect thirty-three (33) regular bus routes and include the elimination of routes or route segments, the decrease of service frequency, as well as the increase of service frequency on some high performing routes. Additionally, because ADA service is offered within a ¾ mile corridor of fixed-route service, the paratransit ADA service that RIPTA provides through the RIde Program would also be reduced wherever there is the elimination of a route or a segment of a route. “Our goal is to ensure we can meet 100% of our scheduled service 100% of the time. In order to do that, as painful as it is, we must make prudent changes, particularly given our workforce challenges,” said Scott Avedisian, RIPTA CEO. “In the meantime, we are actively working with our union to create a new starting wage for drivers that should address our recruiting challenges and help RIPTA better execute its mission.” Avedisian added that “aligning our current staffing levels with the service we can provide will eliminate missed trips and improve the passenger experience.” RIPTA plans to reinstate service based on ridership – and in line with statewide Transit Master Plan goals - once the Agency can significantly increase its workforce to offset retirements. Public hearings will address service changes to Routes 4, 6, 9x, 13, 14, 16, 18, 21, 29, 30, 51, 54, 58, 64, 65x, 69, 71, 72, 75, 87, 92 and 95x and the elimination of Routes QX, 10x, 12x, 23, 59x, 61x, 68, 73, 76, 80 and 88. Additionally, emergency temporary service changes made in Fall 2022 to Routes 22, 27, 28, 31, 50, 55, 56, 57, 60, 63, and 67 will also be addressed. The proposed service changes are as follows: Increase in Trip Frequency or Number of Trips Trip Time Changes for Better Service Reliability Regular Route Eliminations Route Segment Eliminations Route 14 (West Bay): North Kingstown to Narragansett Segment (Saturday only) Route 16 (Bald Hill /New England Tech): New England Tech to Quonset Segment Route 58 (Mineral Spring/North Providence): Mineral Spring to Rte. 146 Segment (one trip affected) Elimination of Saturday Service Elimination of Sunday Service Elimination of All Weekend Service Reduction in Trip Frequency or Number of Trips Route Realignment Under state law, the Authority must post the hearing schedule prior to holding any public hearings. All input from the public at the hearings will go to RIPTA’s Board of Directors in February and the Board will vote on the proposed service changes at its February 22, 2024, Board meeting. If approved, service changes would go into effect on Saturday, April 6, 2024. For more information on these changes, passengers can visit RIPTA.com/PublicHearings. Schedule for Public Hearings The public hearing schedule is as follows: Monday, February 12, 2024 Tuesday, February 13, 2024 Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Thursday, February 15, 2024 Monday, February 19, 2024 Wednesday, February 21, 2024 These hearings will be accessible to people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency. RIPTA will provide translation and interpreter services for the deaf and hearing impaired, provided such a request is made at least 72 hours prior to the hearing date. A request for this service can be made by calling (401) 784-9500 ex. 1242 or 800-745-5555 (RI Relay TDD). For information on RIPTA services, passengers may call (401) 781-9400 or visit RIPTA.com. |
MBTA
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), more commonly known as the T, is one of the oldest public transit systems in the United States. It's also the largest transit system in Massachusetts.
As a division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the MBTA provides subway, bus, Commuter Rail, ferry, and paratransit service to eastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island.
Brown does not currently offer discounts on MBTA Service.