RIPTA to offer free rides to low-income seniors, persons with disabilities

RIPTA WILL REINSTATE its free fare program for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities on Saturday. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO
RIPTA WILL REINSTATE its free fare program for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities on Saturday. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Public Transit Authority announced on Wednesday that starting on Saturday, July 1, passengers enrolled in RIPTA’s reduced-fare buss pass program, a program for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, will travel for free.

The program had been discontinued in February, offering discounted rates instead, but with money allocated in the new budget, the free-pass program could return.

“The restoration of this program would not have been possible without strong collaboration with leaders in the Senate and House,” Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said in a press release. “I credit Senate President [Dominick J.] Ruggerio and Speaker [Nicholas A.] Mattiello for prioritizing the restoration of bus passes and am pleased that RIPTA will once again be able to offer this service to the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders.”

RIPTA had been charging members of the program 50 cents per boarding and 25 cents per transfer since Feb. 1.

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“RIPTA has long recognized the importance of a transportation benefit for the state’s most financially vulnerable residents – the challenge has long been how to fund the transit authority properly for providing this benefit,” said Ray Studley, CEO of RIPTA. “We thank our government partners for providing this temporary funding, which allows RIPTA to offer no-fare service to those most in need. We look forward to upcoming discussions about the best way to make this service sustainable.”

RIPTA officials said that passengers enrolled in RIPTA’s reduced-fare bus pass program will not have to make any changes to ride for free.

Chris Bergenheim the PBN web editor.

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