PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island College students are now able to ride R.I. Public Transit Authority buses for free under an agreement reached between RIC and RIPTA.
The college is joining a network of higher education institutions in Rhode Island that take part in the U-Pass program, which allows students to use their student IDs to access RIPTA’s system statewide, including nights, weekends and during vacations.
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Almost all private colleges and universities in the state have all or some students enrolled in the U-Pass program, which is funded by the participating schools. The new program at RIC will be open to the school’s 7,700 undergraduate and graduate students.
“Approximately 85% of our students commute to campus,” said Rhode Island College President Frank D. Sánchez. “Providing unlimited access to RIPTA will be a tremendous support for many students, [which] will also free up additional parking and reduce traffic congestion on campus. It will also provide benefits for our resident students, who will have a safe, reliable transportation option for exploring our city and state.”
RIC students who want to participate can do so using their regular RIC ID card, which is available at the Student ID office in the Student Union.
“We are excited to welcome RIC into this popular program,” said RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian. “This program allows college students to take advantage of the many desirable destinations in our state while providing access to off-campus jobs and connections to regional train and commuter rail service. It ensures that students are comfortable using public transit and will always have that as a safe, accessible form of transportation.”
RIPTA officials also announced that Route 55 (Admiral Street/Providence College) is being extended to service RIC’s main campus on Mount Pleasant Avenue in Providence. That location is also served by Route 92 (RIC/Federal Hill/East Side) and students will have robust service seven days a week.
