RIPTA Transit Forward RI 2040 by nelsonnygaard

Rhode Island Transit Master Plan

Recommendations December 2020

Adopted by the State Planning Council on December 10, 2020

Acknowledgments Transit Forward RI presents a program to enhance and further develop Rhode Island's passenger transportation network to better meet the near- and long-term mobility needs of our state's residents, workers and visitors. The project is a collaboration between the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), and the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning.

Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Scott Avedisian Chief Executive Officer

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Peter Alviti, Jr., P.E. Director

Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning Meredith Brady Associate Director for Planning

Project Manager Sarah Ingle Director, Long Range Planning Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Title VI Notice to Beneficiaries

The Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning (RIDSP) operates its programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination laws administrated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), or both that prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and disability. These protected categories are contemplated within RIDSP’s Title VI Program consistent with federal interpretation and administration. Additionally, the RIDSP provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with US Department of Transportation (USDOT) policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166.

Disclaimer The preparation and publication of this document were financed in part by funds provided by the USDOT, FHWA, and FTA. The provision of Federal financial assistance should not be construed as denoting U.S. Government approval of plans, policies, programs or projects contained herein.

Table of Contents P Preface...............................................................................i 1 Introduction .....................................................................1 2 Recommendations at a Glance ......................................3 3 Why and Where Transit Needs to Improve .................7 4 Initiative 1: Improve Existing Services .........................11 5 Initiative 2: Expand Services to New Areas ...............21 6 Initiative 3: Develop High Capacity Transit ...............29 7 Initiative 4: Improve Access to Transit......................35 8 Initiative 5: Make Service Easier to Use ....................41 9 Costs and Benefits......................................................47 10

Next Steps ..................................................................55

Preface COVID-19 and Its Impacts on the Plan

Transit Forward RI 2040

COVID-19 and Its Impacts on the Plan The first draft of the Transit Forward RI 2040 plan was produced in March 2020 just as COVID-19 stay at home orders were issued. Transit demand plummeted and by early April, RIPTA ridership was down by over 75% compared to March. It has since been increasing, but is still down by approximately 50%. Providence Line ridership declined by over 90% and is not yet recovering in the same manner as bus ridership.

Long-Term Outlook Looking at 2021 and beyond, the economy will gradually re-open and most travel demand should return. However, there will likely be some changes. To the extent that some workers continue to work at home either full-time or part of the time, overall commuting

Impacts-to-Date There have been dramatic changes in the number of people traveling and when they travel. A lower proportion of people are traveling during traditional peak periods and more are traveling during the midday and early evening. Also, a high proportion of those who are now working at home are white, have higher incomes, and work traditional nine to five hours. Those who are still commuting are largely essential workers who must work on site, and a high proportion are people of color with lower incomes and who work non-traditional hours. Consequently, ridership declines have been very different throughout the state.

Short-Term Outlook A vaccine is now available but will take months to be widely distributed and negative impacts of the pandemic on transit ridership will continue until that time. In the interim, people are expected to return to work gradually. The need to social distance will continue to encourage many former transit riders to drive, making traffic congestion worse. By June 2020, while transit ridership was still only back to half of pre-pandemic levels, Rhode Island’s automobile traffic had returned to 99% of February levels. Social distancing requirements also mean that buses can carry only partial loads, and RIPTA has reduced its acceptable maximum loads from 39 to 20. Consequently, RIPTA must provide more service to carry fewer riders. Revenues will remain down throughout the short-term, as fewer riders produce less fare revenue.

Rhode Island Angel of Hope and Strength by Shepard Fairey ii

Preface

levels may be lower than they otherwise would be. Still, a balanced transportation system will be essential to meeting Rhode Island’s transportation needs, and transit will continue to be the second most popular way for people to get to and from work. Transit improvements will also be the most effective way to minimize increases in traffic congestion, as reflected in Rhode Island’s Congestion Management Plan.

•

Much of the Frequent Transit Network will consist of light rail and/or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines, Rapid Bus lines, and Transit Emphasis Corridors. Light rail, BRT lines, and Transit Emphasis Corridor services will run in dedicated transit lanes. All will also include transit signal priority. While the development of these lines will take many years, RIPTA and RIDOT can begin to develop transit lanes and transit signal priority in the short-term in the future LRT/BRT and Rapid Bus corridors – to provide partial benefits sooner and to avoid the state’s most important transit routes from becoming bogged down in worsening traffic congestion. An additional short-term improvement would be the extension of R-Line service to Central Falls.

•

The development of light rail and BRT lines typically takes eight to 10 years. Given this long timeframe, and in spite of current difficulties, RIPTA should begin project development for the first LRT/BRT line in Year 1.

•

Most commuter rail improvements had already been slated for the mid to long-term. The opening of the Pawtucket/ Central Falls Station and service there should proceed in the short-term. The development of an Amtrak station at TF Green Airport should occur following a bounce back in air travel. More frequent Providence Line service between Providence and Boston will be led by Boston’s MBTA, and had already been slated as a long-term project.

•

There is currently no demand for some projects such as service to special events. However, these continue to be included in the short-term in anticipation that special events will restart in 2021 or 2022.

Plan Adjustments Transit Forward RI 2040 is a plan for improvements over the next 20 years. Over a 20-year period, the plan remains valid, and will help Rhode Island become stronger economically and make it a better place to live, work, and play. However, the implementation plan presented in Chapter 10 has been adjusted to move some elements forward and to move others back. Maps presented throughout this document depict proposed improvements through 2040. In general: •

Short-term improvements should focus first on the core system where demand is highest. As described in Chapter 5, the plan includes a significant amount of expansion to new areas, mostly to provide service coverage to areas with moderate to low demand. Until the pandemic is over, demand in most of these areas will remain too low to support service. While the start of service expansion to new areas remains in the short-term, this would begin later in the period rather than sooner.

•

Many short-term improvements would be inexpensive to implement and could help draw people back to transit and should proceed quickly. Two examples include the use of MBTA monthly passes on Amtrak trains between Providence and Boston and appbased reservations, fare payment, and vehicle tracking for Flex service.

•

The plan emphasizes more frequent service for longer hours including the development of a Frequent Transit Network of routes that would provide service at least every 15 minutes throughout most of the day. This network would be developed over time. Given current ridership demand patterns, initial frequency improvements should focus on more frequent midday and evening service.

iii

Introduction What's This All About?

Transit Forward RI 2040

What's This All About? Rhode Island's economic health and quality of life are directly tied to the strength of its transit network. Just as RhodeWorks identified and is implementing improvements to the state road network, Transit Forward RI is designed to support corresponding improvements to the state’s transit services. These improvements are designed to enhance mobility, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encourage active transportation, support economic development, and make Rhode Island a better place to live, work, and play. Rhode Island begins from a strong starting point. Although demand for transit greatly exceeds what is now provided, RIPTA’s services are already much better than those in other similarly sized cities in New England, as well as larger cities such as Nashville, Kansas City, and Fort Worth. A plan of this scale will take time to implement in its entirety, but Rhode Island can – and will – begin introducing improvements in the short-term with the goal of fulfilling the plan’s vision by 2040. Many plan components are funded and poised to advance. In the short-term, among other things, riders will see faster transit services in dedicated lanes, investments in stops and regional hubs, and increased transit frequency. The plan represents the results of months of data-driven analysis, public and stakeholder outreach, and pragmatic debate among state transportation leaders. The plan is bold and ambitious, and it is vital to Rhode Island regaining its economic leadership regionally and nationally. This plan has been designed to achieve four major goals:

Recommendations at a Glance

Recommendations at a Glance Recommendations at a Glance Providence Metro Area Services Statewide Services

Transit Forward RI 2040

Recommendations at a Glance Transit Forward RI is based on five major initiatives:

Initiative 1

Improve Existing Services

Initiative 2

Expand Services to New Areas Initiative 3

Develop High Capacity Transit

Initiative 1

Improve Existing Services A major shortcoming of existing services is that they operate infrequently and for short hours. A major focal point of the plan is to provide more frequent service for longer hours, including the development of a Frequent Transit Network to provide frequent services to the state’s major destinations, faster and more frequent Providence Line service, and more. Initiative 2

Expand Services to New Areas To bring service to more people, service would also be expanded to new areas. These improvements will include new local services, new crosstown routes, new service partnerships, an Amtrak station at TF Green Airport, and new Flex service to, from, and within the Quonset Industrial Park.

Initiative 3

Initiative 4

Improve Access to Transit Initiative 5

Make Service Easier to Use

Develop High Capacity Transit The development of High Capacity Transit Services - Rapid Bus, Bus Rapid Transit, and Light Rail - would make transit in high-demand areas much more attractive by making it frequent, fast, and reliable. Initiative 4

Improve Access to Transit Together, these initiatives will produce a great leap forward to produce a world class transit system for Providence and Rhode Island, greatly enhancing Rhode Island's attractiveness and competitiveness to employers and residents. These initiatives are summarized here, with service maps presented on the following pages.

A positive transit experience includes getting to and from transit stops. Transit Forward RI will provide more and better options to get to and from transit comfortably and safely. Initiative 5

Make Service Easier to Use RIPTA and RIDOT will adopt new technologies and methods to make service easier to use, including easier fare payment and better integration of available services.

Recommended Providence Metro Area Services

RECOMMENDED SERVICES PROVIDENCE METRO AREA

Recommendations at a Glance

To view the map online, visit: http://transitforwardri.com 5

Transit Forward RI 2040

RECOMMENDED SERVICES STATEWIDE

Recommended Statewide Services

24X

To view the map online, visit: http://transitforwardri.com 6

Why and Where Transit Needs to Improve

Why and Where Transit Needs to Improve The Demand for Transit in Rhode Island Providence Metro Area Services Statewide Services

Transit Forward RI 2040

The Demand for Transit in Rhode Island In much of Rhode Island, the demand for transit greatly exceeds what is provided. This mismatch is greatest in the Providence core, but exists in many other places as well.

Demand for Service is Highest in Urban Areas The demand for transit is highest – by far – in the Providence metro area. Demand is very high in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and parts of North Providence, and high in East Providence, Warwick, and much of Cranston. Transit demand in most of the rest of the Providence metro area is moderate. Key improvements that are needed include: Transit Needs to Be More Frequent The most important driver of transit ridership is how frequently the bus comes. At present, RIPTA defines frequent service as every 20 minutes or better, while the more common national definition is every 15 minutes. Using either standard, only one bus route – the R-Line – provides frequent service from at least 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. RIPTA needs to provide frequent service on many more routes. Service Needs to Operate for Longer Hours At present, only four bus routes begin service before 5:00 AM and only five operate until after midnight. Especially to connect people with jobs with non-traditional hours, more service needs to operate for longer hours. Service Needs to be Faster With few exceptions such as rail in dedicated rights-of-way, taking transit will take longer than driving. However, to the extent that the difference can be reduced, more people will choose transit. There are a number of ways to make service faster. With the R-Line, RIPTA made service faster by introducing Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and consolidating stops to better balance travel times with walk times. The Downtown Transit Connector (DTC) will provide exclusive lanes for buses in downtown Providence. Additional options include queue jump lanes, transit signal priority, off-board fare payment, and more.

There is Demand for Higher Quality Services In general, RIPTA and RIDOT provide service in the areas where demand is highest and in other areas where there is sufficient underlying demand for transit service. However, many of the higher demand markets remain under-served, in that there is demand for more robust services than are currently provided. In particular, there is a clear demand for more frequent service for longer hours. Major Metro Area Corridors With the exception of the R-Line, which provides Rapid Bus service, major corridors are currently served by local bus service. In most of these corridors, there is demand for more frequent service and/ or service for longer hours. In some, there are also opportunities to upgrade service to Rapid Bus, BRT, or even light rail. Areas and Corridors with High Transit Propensity in Providence

Why and Where Transit Needs to Improve

There is Also Demand for New Fixed-Route Transit Services Outside of the Providence Metro Area A number of areas around Rhode Island warrant more transit service than is currently provided, including new local bus routes, Flex services, and regional services.

Boston Commuter Demand is Very High While most Rhode Island residents work in Rhode Island, the highest demand for commuter transit service is to and from Boston. This is for a number of reasons, but two are particularly important: 1.

Opportunities for New Transit Services in Rhode Island

MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak service is faster than driving and much more reliable

2. Parking costs in Boston are very high High levels of service (40 MBTA round trips and 38 Amtrak one-way trips) also make these trips convenient. The proportion of Rhode Island residents who use transit to commute to Boston ranges by station from 47% to 76%. While more work trips are made to Providence overall, the demand for commuter service is much lower. This is because the factors that make transit so attractive to Boston are not in place for trips to Providence: 1.

Transit is much slower. All express buses operate on congested roadways, and MBTA commuter rail between Wickford Junction and Providence runs slowly to avoid conflicts with Amtrak trains.

2. Parking in Providence is relatively inexpensive for most, and free for many. The proportion of Rhode Island residents who use transit to commute to Providence, by route, is 10% or lower, and usually less than 5%.

Better Rail Service Can Strengthen Economic Ties with Boston Rail ties between Rhode Island and Boston are already very good. The MBTA runs 40 weekday round trips between Providence and Boston and Amtrak runs 38 one-way trips. In total, there are more trains between Boston and Providence than between Boston and any other terminal city. Providence is also one of the highestridership commuter rail stations outside of Boston and one of the highest ridership stations in the entire Amtrak system. However, there is still much room for improvement, and stronger links with Boston would strengthen Rhode Island economically. Opportunities include faster MBTA service, additional trains to fill gaps in existing schedules, joint MBTA and Amtrak ticketing, and the operation of more MBTA service south of Providence to Warwick/TF Green Airport. 9

Transit Forward RI 2040

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Park n’ Ride

MANVILLE

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South County Hospital

Stop & Shop SOUTH KINGSTOWN

N20

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N18

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SOUTH KINGSTOWN

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Roger Williams University

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BRISTOL

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See Providence Metro Map

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Existing services between Woonsocket and Providence and between Newport and Pawtucket are well-used, but very basic. Upgraded services such as Regional Rapid Bus with better stop facilities, transit priority, and bus on shoulder operations would make service faster and more comfortable. Other markets where there is demand for stronger regional service are Newport to Kingston/URI and to and from Quonset.

Government

Recreation ld Pi ainfie

Scituate Reservoir

Parks & green spaces

LOCAL

Plainfield Pike

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DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE

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Intermodal connectivity hubs with direct access to the RI transit network. Regional and Local.

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Regional Rapid Bus; at least every 30 mins peak

Note: There would be local mobility hubs in each community. However, these are not shwon on the map as specific locations have not yet been determined.

East

Rhode Island has some of the strongest regional transit markets in the Northeast, if not the United States. These include Woonsocket – Providence and Newport – Providence via the West Bay. Other strong markets include Newport – Providence via the East Bay and Narraganset – South Kingstown – Kingston – Providence.

XX XX

Transit Center

Hartford Ave

10X

NORTH PROVIDENCE

LOCAL

Snake Den State Park

Chopmist Hill Park n’ Ride

Every 15-minutes peak or most of day Every 20-minute during peak periods Every 30-minutes peak for most of day Every 60-minutes throughout day

REGIONAL

Hartford Pike

LOCAL

BRT; 10-minute frequency for most of day Rapid Bus; 10-minute frequency for most of day

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Rt 44/ Putnam Pike Park n’ Ride

JOHNSTON

Mobility Hubs

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Light Rail; 10-minute frequency for most of day

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CENTRAL FALLS

Better Regional Services Could Strengthen Economic Ties between Rhode Island’s Communities

44 Putn

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Lonsdale Ave

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SMITHFIELD

George Washington Hwy

LOCAL

Bryant University

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Lincoln Mall Park n’ Ride

Lincoln Mall Fidelity

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Although relatively inexpensive and free employer-provided parking in Providence reduces commuter transit demand, there are still opportunities for improvement. These include more frequent peak period express service to provide riders with more flexibility.

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Proposed Regional Rapid Bus Service D

Better Express Services Could Improve Providence Commutes

Initiative 1 | Improve Existing Services

Initiative 1: Improve Existing Services Local Bus, Express Bus, and Flex Services Rail Service to and from Boston

Transit Forward RI 2040

Initiative 1

Improve Existing Services A fundamental starting point for Transit Forward RI will be to improve existing services. Existing services will be improved in a number of different ways: Local Bus, Express Bus, and Flex Service •

Development of a Frequent Transit Network

•

More frequent serice for longer hours

•

Transit Priority to make service faster

•

More frequent and faster express bus service

•

Flex service improvements

Rail to and from Boston

•

Faster service

•

More frequent service

Initiative 1 | Improve Existing Services

A Frequent Transit Network Will Make It Easy to Get to Rhode Island's Most Popular Destinations

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Light Rail; 10-minute frequency for most of the day

BRT; 10-minute frequency for most of the day Rapid Bus; 10-minute frequency for most of the day Extension of Rapid Bus service; half as much service Every 15-minutes peak or most of the day Every 20-minute during peak periods Every 30-minutes peak or most of the day. Every 60-minutes throughout the day.

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Corridors with high-frequency transit service (every 10 mins or better in each direction) with BRT-type amenities

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Elmwood Ave

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Garfield

Cra

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Hillside Midway Rd

Ave on

Pontiac Ave

Bald Hill Rd

Laurel Hill

Dyer Ave Budlong Rd

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Cransto ond wL Ne Hill Bald

Rd Hill

St Francis St

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Ave idge Glenbr

Av et ss ca Po

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Atwood Ave e wn Av Oakla Ave on ond wL Ne t eS en c vid Pro Rd

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Gentian Ave Mount Pleasant Ave

River Ave

Fruit Hi ll Ave

George Waterman Rd

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Bald Hi ll Rd

Quaker Ln

Oakland Ave

t dS on m Es Esmond St

Comstock Pkwy t eS en c

Ave on ond

Shore

Warwick City Park

ive

Little Warwick Vets Pond Memorial HS

West

ll R

Mink St

Crescent Park Carousel

S an

School St

114

ds Av

Main St

nd River St

cket Av

32 Wampanoag Trail

Paw tu

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114 A

Lifespan Medical Office

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Hig

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Newport Ave

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114

61X 60

X X

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Evergreen Apts

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C hu

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Ave

Armington Corner

Providence River

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Warwick Pond

Fie

Riv

side Bl

Walmart

TF Green Airport

Post Rd

Dave’s Marketplace

t Rd

Pawtuxet River

ence

Martin y

Hunts Mills Taunton Park-n-Ride

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Airport Rd

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Long

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Av Allens

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Bradley Hospital

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29 Post Rd

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Johnson & Wales Harborside

Harbor 3 4

Pawtuxet Oxboes Park

ns Veteraorial 14 Mem ive Dr 29

Upper Narragansett Central Business Park Pond

Shaw’s

term

60 24X 195

Taunto

LOCAL

Stop & Shop 3

TF Green Gre REGIONAL e Station REGIONAL 14 n Con 66 necto rR d 8

Greenwood Church Park n’ Ride Gorton Pond

Price Rite Job Lot

LOCAL

Metacomet Golf Course 32

LOCAL

CRANSTON

Pos

Cowesett Ave

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex

66 65X 95X

Diamond Hill Rd

Cowesett Corners Stop & Shop

N11

Butto

Ginsu Way

Route 117 Park n’ Ride

Kent County YMCA

Park Av

Gate

N11

Roger Williams Park

Toll

WARWICK

Toll Gate High School

Av East Av

66 65X 95X

Kent Hospital

ss R

Stop & Shop

95 TF

Knight St 65X 66 95X

LOCAL

Cro

14 66 65X 95X

ich

CCRI

it aso Henderson Mass Bridge 35Hen Wampanoag d Plaza/ 32 ersLOCAL on 34 E xp Stop & Shop 33 y 33

Pilgrim HS

E as

ee 22 29 30 Warwick Mall

Blackstone Park WAYLAND SQUARE

Angell St 32 35 24X 33 61X 34 40 Waterman St

Roger Williams Zoo

Whole Foods

t St

Centerville Rd

Kent Count Courthouse

Cowesett Rd

E as Mayfield Ave

Centerville Rd

ial Av

Ave

DMV Traffic Tribunal

Colon ct Rd

Butler Hospital

PROVIDENCE

65X 14 95X 66

N12 Cranston HS East

Garden City Park n’ Ride

k an

o Shaws sset

e Av

Soc

Aquedu

6 N9

Colony House RIPTA

78 35 78

Wannamoisett Country Club

Pitman FOX POINT Eastside Wickenden St Marketplace 92 Taunton Ave 92 78 60 E Prov REGIONAL Govt Ctr t St in Newport Ferry Po 34

Sacket

Brewery Parkade Stop & Shop Mashapaug Pond

LOCAL

Ave

Blackstone St Rhode Island Hospital N9 3 6 CCRI N8 4 St Joseph Liston Hospital 14 66 N13 N13 rs Ave 65X tte Po 95X rs Ave R Thurbe

ott ers Hu N13 ntin Ave gto N13 nA ve

LOCAL

60 78

Narragansett Park Plaza

35 Beverage Hill Rd

RUMFORD

Lloyd

LOCAL

Prairie

N12

22 30

295

Rhode Island Mall

242 West Warkwick/ Coventry Flex

ond

ARCTIC VILLAGE 13

Ave

RISD

REGIONAL REGIONAL

DHS

Spectacle Save-A-Lot Pond

Brown

DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE

Alvarez High School

N11 Park Av

30 31 P

t Ave

LOCAL

Ave

Chestnut Hill Ave 30 18

Ganset

Bald Hill Rd

ence St

WEST WARWICK

Provid

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex

Union

N117

Park Av N11

Hope HS

Providence Station LOCAL

Slater Park

N117

PROVIDENCE

Miriam Hospital

Doyle St Whole N117 Foods

N12

ice Blvd

Columbus Ave

Rochambeau Ave

REGIONAL REGIONAL

eW endenc Indep

Randall Pond

N12

Stop & Shop

295

in St

al S

Price Rite

N13 Chapin Ave

CRANSTON

Av Phenix

River Point Park

mir

Cranston Print Works Pond Dyer Pond

ld Pike

CRANSTON

East Ma

ngly

JOHNSTON

N12

d St

Olneyville Square

19 N117

Garden City

Phenix Hotel

ith

Killi

od Av

295

Roger Williams Medical Center

Armist

PAWTUCKET

78 78

7th St 58

Peter Pan North Burial Ground

LOCAL

Smithfield Ave

N Main St 58 Bra Park n’ Ride nc Walmart h Av e 51 72

Atwells Ave 10 92 OLNEYVILLE 30 FEDERAL HILL 27 9X ay 10X Broadw Hartfor 27 d Ave N117 LOCAL Westminster St 31 28 19 28

Neutaconkanut Park

At wo

Cranston Industrial Park

Charles

10X 9X

Walmart

Amflex Dr

71 N12

las

9X 10X 6

55 Providence College

Sisson St Park n’ Ride

Ave

St P n’ R

La Salle Academy

Job Lot

146 Charles

rts Ex

295

Plainfield Pike

Pond

J Robe

Plainfie

Branch

Dennis

al S

N9 s St N7 Orm 56 VA Medical EAGLE N9 SQUARE N7 Center

Chalkstone Ave

Ave

mir

LOCAL

Save-A-Lot

ille

10X Hartford 9X

REGIONAL

LOCAL

Stop & Shop

REGIONAL

las

27 56

Rhode Island College Mt. Pleasant High School

LOCAL

I-295/US 6 Park n’ Ride

13 Main St

Shaw’s

Highlan

College Rd 92 55

Stop & Shop

Canada

High Service Ave

ith

146

Memorial Hospital

295

72 51

eld

Grace St Park n’ Ride

73 N10

g Ave N10

las

ille A

Fatima Fruit Hill Hospital Park n’ Ride

ithfi

Minera

e N10 g Av73 l Sprin

Blvd

McCoy Stadium

Summit

env

l Sprin

Benefit St 35

l Av Centra

ice Armist t St 76 Walcot

DOWNTOWN PAWTUCKET

Av e

Gre

Minera

Price Rite

Weeden St

Stop & Shop

Ten Mi

N10

LOCAL

Pik

term LOCAL

NORTH PROVIDENCE

N10 N1058 58

Benefit St N117

Pawtucket/ Central Falls Station Tolman

las

LOCAL

t 72 ss S N6 Cro 75

246 146

10X

73 51 54

Wenscott Reservoir

Stop & Shop

The Frequent Transit Network would consist of a total of 19 routes with service frequencies of 15 minutes or better.

Putnam Pike

LINCOLN

SMITHFIELD

N12 LOCAL N12

CENTRAL FALLS De

ike

River

Smithfield Crossing

Olney Pond

et P

73 51 Twin 54

Market Basket

South Attleboro Station

Broad

uiss

r Ro

isq

ive

L ou

in R Tw

Old

CCRI Lincoln Park n’ Ride

295

N6 75

Blackstone River

Lincoln Woods State Park

73 51 54

Broad St

LOCAL

CCRI

Bradley St

LOCAL

Tripps

Frequent Transit Network

The most important way to improve transit service is to make it frequent. Frequent transit is typically defined as services that operates every 15 minutes or less. Frequent transit allows riders to use services without a schedule and connect areas of highest demand to one another. Networks of frequent transit allow for short, convenient transfers, which greatly expand the reach of travel by transit in a shorter amount of time.

LOCAL

Intermodal connectivity hubs with direct access to the RI transit network. Regional and Local.

Transit Center

Interstate Highway

US Highway

Park-n-Ride Train Station Airport Ferry Education

146 RI Highway Parks & green spaces

Government

Buildings

Healthcare

Water

Recreation

Railroads

Shopping

Ferry Routes

Transit Forward RI 2040

More Frequent Service for Longer Hours Will Make it Much Easier to Travel by Transit In addition to the Frequent Transit Network, more frequent service for longer hours would also be provided on nearly all other routes – changes designed to make service more convenient and to better match service levels with demand. All routes would be classified according to one of the route classifications shown below. Nearly all routes would operate more frequently and for longer hours. Equally important, far fewer routes would operate infrequently.

Changes in Service Frequencies (Number of Routes) Route Type

Today

Recommended

Light Rail, BRT, and Rapid Bus (Every 10 Minutes)

Regional Rapid Bus

Frequent Local (Every 15 Minutes)

Local (Every 16 to 30 Minutes)

Local (Every 31 to 60 Minutes)

Local (Less frequent than every 60 Minutes)

Express

Flex Zones

TOTAL

Earlier and later service will also be provided to serve a greater range of work hours as well as more flexibility for other types of trips.

Changes in Service Spans (Number of Routes) Number of Routes

Today

Recommended

Service Before 6 AM

Service After 10 PM

Service After Midnight

TOTAL

ve tA ke

PAWTUCKET Initiative 1 | Improve Existing Services

Main

Smithfield Ave

os St

la s

Ave

p r in g

ug al S M in e r

N117 Transit Emphasis Corridors and Transit Priority Will Make Transit Faster35

Narragansett Park Plaza

E as t A

P aw

p r in

er S

Wi ls o

Elmgrove Ave

Hop e

C amp

n St

N M ai

Oakland Ave

Mount Pleasant Ave

Av e

ad w a

Pawtu cket A ve

N Bro

cke t A ve

i al

Tripps

Eddy St

P aw t u

Elmwood Ave

s to

S Broa

d w ay

g ans e

ns t

N ar r a Bradley

Lifespan Medical Office

Wampanoag Trail

114 A

Garfield

Cr a

t Ve

v rA ive ll R Fa ve Mink St

Laurel Hill

la n

ive

Dyer Ave

Colony House

enc

vid

Ave

tt S acke

Ave

Brewery Parkade Stop & Shop Mashapaug Pond

Allens

Prairie

Alvarez High School

ra Vete

Pro

Ellery St

nt Cla ral ss HS ica

C omm

e r c i al

Wa y

Ives St

b in

fro Ma nt D ss r as oi t

Thayer

St Francis St

Val le y

St St ai n er at SM SW Dyer St ce n rra

Glenb ri

am illi

B u t le r

Ave

ke t

lvd

e Av

NSTON

tuc

la s

tone B

Chestnut Hill Ave

P aw

B la c k s

Seekonk Rive

River Ave

Silv

e Av

dge

Ave

la s

Gentian Ave

s Pond

Newport Ave

ke t

tuc

s St

High Service Ave

a Pon

C h ar le

Canad

Beverage Hill Rd Upper RI Narragansett ithfi Aside from more frequent service, the other improvement that passengers want the most is faster service. High-capacity transit lines would Central Business Park Pond el d 146 ma operate at least partially in dedicated lanes free from traffic delays, and Rapid Bus and Regional Rapid Bus routes would operate with queue jump Rd 35 Job tal lanes, transit signal priority, and bus on shoulder use that would Lot minimize traffic-related delays. There would also be: Shaw’s Smithfield Ave 7th St BrancCorridor (TEC) between Olneyville RUMFORD • An east-west Transit Emphasis Square and East Providence. This TEC would be similar to the Downtown h Ave Peter Pan Transit Corridor (DTC) and would use Broadway through Federal Hill, Angell and Waterman Streets on College Hill, and the Henderson Save-A-Lot Miriam North Burial Ad PROVIDENCE Bridge and Henderson Expressway in East Providence. Hospital m ir Ground RI t al S Wannamoisett projects. N Main Stthroughout Rhode Island as part of roadway improvement t • Transit priority at traffic chokepoints 146 Charlesat key locations Rochambeau Ave Country Club Bra Park n’ Ride St P n’ R n ch Walmart Ave East-West Transit Emphasis Corridor and Associated Services Providence Ad College Rd Butler College 44 95 m ir Hospital al S Sm La Salle t i t hS Academy t e Island College Doyle St Mt. Pleasant 40 Whole N117 High School Roger Williams Foods Blackstone Medical Center 35 Park Hope HS ve A WAYLAND d y Chalkstone Ave t o S Ll Or ms SQUARE s oi t Sisson St Henderson ssa a VA Medical M Angell St LOCAL Bridge Park n’ Ride EAGLE Center Brown 32 35 SQUARE 24X Hunts 35Hen 95 Wampanoag RISD 33 der Mills Plaza/ 61X 40 32 s 34 o 34 LOCAL nE Stop & Shop Taunton Price Rite Waterman St x 33 py Atwells Ave Park-n-Ride 10 33 Pitman FOX DOWNTOWN OLNEYVILLE FEDERAL POINT 32 nton Ave Eastside PROVIDENCE HILL 27 Wickenden St Tau Marketplace ay E Providence w d a Shaw’s Taunton Ave o Br 27 EAST H ar t f o High School Wa rd Av N117 t LOCAL E Prov e er m PROVIDENC t Govt Ctr an Westminster St nt S i Newport Ferry A o ve P 34 RI Olneyville Square 195 24X 61X 114 A y St Wa r r e Chapin Ave N117 C oun t n Ave PROVIDENCE Blackstone St Rhode Island Hospital 34 33 DHS ve A Evergreen n Metacomet o i Un RI Apts Golf Course 32 CCRI 24X St Joseph 114 Pot Liston t er Hospital s Hu Me ntin Ave mo M a r t in ve A r i al g to s r 195 e St t Pk w nA Pot 61X ve e y v er s A Armington T hur b on Print Corner

River St

Scho

Transit Forward RI 2040

Better Express Bus Service Will Improve Commutes At present, service on some express routes is very limited, with only one or two trips in each direction. Three types of express bus improvements would be made: • More frequent service: At present, service on some express routes is very limited, with only one or two trips in each direction. Service on all routes would be increased to at least four AM inbound and four PM outbound trips. • The use of commuter coaches to provide more comfortable service. • Bus on Shoulder service: Bus on shoulder service would be implemented on Regional Rapid Bus and express routes, in cases where only moderate roadway changes (such as changes to signing and striping) would be needed.

Commuter Coach Bus in New York City

Proposed Express Bus on Shoulder Operations

Initiative 1 | Improve Existing Services

Flex Service Improvements Will Improve Service to the Suburbs and Lower-Density Areas RIPTA’s Flex services currently require prior day advance reservations by phone and sometimes deny rides because the service is full. To improve service, the following improvements would be added to RIPTA’s existing phone-based system: • App-based same-day/on-demand booking • App-based fare payment • App-based vehicle tracking In addition, and as required, the capacity of the existing services would be increased to accomodate all demand.

Transit Forward RI 2040

More Frequent Commuter Rail Service Will Serve a Greater Range of Trips In Spring 2019, the Rhode Island Governor's Office and RIDOT began discussions with their Massachusetts counterparts on ways to enhance and shorten the trip time between Providence and Boston. Concepts ranging from cross-honoring MBTA commuter rail passes on Amtrak trains to pilot/demonstration services to full electrification on the Providence Line continue to be investigated by both states. In addition, RIDOT remains very active with Massachusetts on efforts to improve commuter rail service overall through Rail Vision and the Northeast Corridor Commission. In November 2019, the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) passed a number of resolutions related to commuter rail improvements, including the Providence Line. The MBTA envisions a commuter rail system that will be more similar to rapid transit and will include the following features: • All-day frequent service • Electrified service that uses Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) railcars • High level platforms and all-door boarding and alighting The MBTA FMCB identified the Providence lines as one of the first three lines for these improvements (although a schedule has not yet been set). A key element will be that service between Providence and Boston would operate more frequently, which would be major improvement from today’s service levels. South of Providence, where service levels will be determined by Rhode Island and demand is significantly lower, service to TF Green would be improved to 20 round trips on weekdays, nine on Saturdays, and seven on Sundays. To and from Wickford Junction, where demand and ridership are fairly low, service will be maintained at 10 round trips per weekday. In addition, cross-honored fares with Amtrak will be implemented to provide access to select Amtrak trains, which will provide additional service. This is described in more detail below in the fare integration section.

Initiative 1 | Improve Existing Services

Faster Commuter Rail Service Will Reduce Travel Times The planned improvements will also include elements to make service faster. These details also need to be worked out, but important improvements could include: • High-level platforms at all Massachusetts stations will significantly reduce dwell time at stations • The use of electrified trains will reduce acceleration times

Cross-Honored Fares with Amtrak will Fill Gaps in Service and Provide Access to Faster Service RIDOT is planning to implement a cross-honor fare agreement with Amtrak that will provide the ability for Providence Line passholders to ride select Amtrak trains. This will provide more frequent service to passholders as well as access to faster and more comfortable trains, and fill gaps in off-peak service. 19

Initiative 2 | Expand Service to New Areas

Initiative 2: Expand Service to New Areas Local Fixed Route Service to New Areas New Crosstown Routes Wickford/Quonset Flex Service Amtrak Service to TF Green Airport Network of Mobility Hubs Expanded Seasonal/Special Event Services Service Partnership Program 21

Transit Forward RI 2040

Initiative 2

Expand Service to New Areas Transit Forward RI will provide a vareity of new services: • Bus services to new areas • New crosstown bus routes • Wickford/Quonset Flex service • Network of mobility hubs • Amtrak station at TF Green Airport • Expanded seasonal and special event services • A Service Partnership program to encourage publicprivate partnerships to expand transit service

Initiative 2 | Expand Service to New Areas

New Local Fixed-Route Services Will Bring Transit to More People New local fixed-route services would be developed in areas where there is moderate to high demand, but are currently either unserved or underserved. These routes would be: • Providence •

N7 Valley Street

• Woonsocket •

N16 Bellingham-Manville

• Newport •

N18 Hillside/Valley

•

N20 Newport-Narragansett

• Narragansett •

N20 Newport-Narragansett

• Westerly •

N19 Westerly-Bradford

• New crosstown routes in the Providence Metro Area (see following page)

Woonsocket

Newport

Westerly

Transit Forward RI 2040

New Crosstown Services Will Make Non-Downtown Trips Faster Most of RIPTA’s services operate to and from downtown Providence, while large numbers of people make “crosstown” trips to other places. A major impediment to providing more crosstown service is that few crosstown roads exist in the Providence Metro Area. Still, a number of opportunities exist, and four new crosstown routes are recommended: • N9 VA Hospital - Eddy Street via Dean Street • N10 Mineral Spring Ave • N11 Cranston/Park Ave • N13 Olneyville Square - Eddy Street In addition, Route 58 Branch Ave would be converted to a crosstown route and Route 29 Kent County would continue to provide crosstown service across Warwick. Crosstown service would also be improved through the development of mobility hubs and more frequent service for longer hours at those locations.

Proposed Crosstown Routes

Initiative 2 | Expand Service to New Areas

Wickford/Quonset Flex Service Will Improve Service to an Important Job Site

Amtrak Service to TF Green Airport Will Improve Interstate Connections

New Flex service would be developed in Wickford and the Quonset Industrial Park to enhance employee access to Quonset. The new service would provide connections between Regional Rapid Bus services and commuter rail.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently awarded a grant to RIDOT to undertake preliminary engineering and environmental review for the development of an Amtrak stop at TF Green Airport. Based on a favorable outcome of this phase, funding for construction, and the agreement of Amtrak, some or all Northeast Regional trains would stop at TF Green Station, providing one of the closest air to intercity rail connections in the country.

With longer spans of service on regional bus routes, connections would be available to Quonset for long hours from Providence, South County, Newport, and points in between.

Transit Forward RI 2040

A Network of Mobility Hubs Will Improve Connections Throughout Rhode Island Mobility hubs are sites where multimodal transportation options, information resources, placemaking features, and traveler amenities are brought together in a well-designed, publicly accessible space to support a variety of different types of trips. Transit Forward RI will develop a network of mobility hubs throughout the state. They will be the first point of entry into the regional public transportation network for many travelers, and connecting points for others. They will provide an enjoyable user experience and build a strong relationship between the community and transportation providers. Mobility hubs vary in size and function based on the types of options available and volumes: •

Large regional mobility hubs such as Kennedy Plaza, Providence Station, and the Newport Visitors Center typically include services and amenities such as indoor shelter, restrooms, bicycle facilities, and staffed or technology-enhanced information kiosks. Regional mobility hubs are located at the ends of major transit lines and in downtowns and major regional activity centers.

•

Smaller community mobility hubs that provide mobility services for their immediate surrounding neighborhoods are generally located in village centers and other activity centers in lower density suburban areas. Community mobility hubs typically include bus stops, outdoor shelters, real-time signage, bike/car share, and park and ride lots.

Initiative 2 | Expand Service to New Areas

s r Tu np e Sla te rs

vil le

y Hw

d R ll ge

ain

Broa Ave East

W Greenville Rd

Av ir vo er es

Elmwood Ave

Main St

N19

Walmart Stop & Shop

Westerly Airport

North Rd

Conanicus Ave

Av e

Bristol Ferry Rd

E Main Rd

ain Rd n Rd E Mai

MIDDLETOWN

63 N18

138 64 N20

St George’s School

Narragansett Ave

JAMESTOWN

63 Fort Adams

LOCAL

Green End Ave

14 REGIONAL N18

Harrison Ave NEWPORT

LO C

65X

TO B

Narragansett High School

Commodore Perry Hwy

Middletown Park n’ Ride LOCAL

N20

S Pier Rd NARRAGANSETT

Burn

Know

66 Sand

side Ave Scarborough Beach lesw ay

Hill Co

ve Rd Roger Wheeler State Beach

Aldi

Westerly Hospital

Burlingame

N20

Union St

K IS

WESTERLY

URI Bay Campus

LOCAL

BRADFORD

Westerly Station

Weetamoo Woods

LO C

Main

Stop & Shop SOUTH KINGSTOWN

LOCAL

South County Hospital

TO BLOCK ISLAND

LOCAL

Rt 1 & Rt 138 Park n’ Ride

Point Judith Rd

CHARLESTOWN

N19 shaw

SOUTH KINGSTOWN

Post

West Greenwich

ASHAWAY

South County Trail

Main Street

Westerly

Worden Pond

Ministerial Rd

RI HOPKINTON

138

K IS

Tr a y nt

Ashaway/Hopkinton Park n’ Ride

sfield

Wakefield Mall Park n’ Ride

Gate 17

LOCAL

oore RI M

177

I Flex

TIVERTON

138

Boston Neck Rd

211 UR

ou C So

Great Swamp

Stop & Shop

RI Jamestown Bridge

Rt 1A & Rt 138 Park n’ Ride

138

Portsmouth Park n’ Ride

TO B

CONNECTICUT

RHODE ISLAND

Kingston Station

24X

ain Rd

Schneider Electric

61X

ve Fall Ri 61X

West Kingston Park n’ Ride

64 N20

REGIONAL

Richmond Airport

LOCAL LOCAL

Warwick/CCRI

Oxbow Apts

ain Rd

24X 60

CONANICUT ISLAND

65X UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

RICHMOND

Fish Rd Park n’ Ride

LOCAL

PORTSMOUTH

TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD

138 Carolina

95X

Warwick/Arctic

r Expy

138

24X

Stop & Shop Kin gs tow nR d

MOUNT HOPE BAY

114

NORTH KINGSTOWN

Wyoming/Richmond Park n’ Ride

Wood River Health

rry Fe nd Isla nce Pru

Hw y dman

WICKFORD Phillips St

1 HOPE VALLEY

Warren

tac

Post Rd

ain M

Post Rd

Rd enec k Hill

Noos

Col Ro

Martha’s Vineyard Fast Ferry

EXETER

Airport

Victory Hwy

Scituate

LOCAL

Mt Hope Bridge

Park n’ Ride

Wickford Junction Station

Ten Rod Rd

LA IS

102

Quonset Business Wickford Junction Park

REGIONAL

N289: Wickford/ Quonset Quonset

95X RI

165

PRUDENCE ISLAND

LOCAL

65X

E OD RH

NORTH KINGSTOWN

Roger Williams University

LOCAL

Mt. Hope Bridge Park n’ Ride

Rt 2 & Rt 4 Park n’ Ride

Prudence Island Airport

LOCAL

HOPKINTON

VFW Hall at Hope Park n’ Ride

Ferry

61X

LOCAL

East Greenwich Park n’ Ride

Goddard State Park

BRISTOL

Hope

65X 66

Colt State Park

NARRAGANSETT BAY

Division St

GREENWICH BAY

om Av

WEST GREENWICH

Tiverton

Metac

EAST GREENWICH

Big River

102

Smithfield/Bryant University

North Rd

WARWICK

Gooding Ave Park n’ Ride

See Providence Metro Map

tory

Vic

os nc Bro

Lonsdale Ave

2 Sla82 P ters asc vill oag eF / lex

CONNECTICUT

d St

RHODE ISLAND

Broa

Stop & Shop

Little Compton

114 3

West Greenwich Park n’ Ride

Child St

Warren Park n’ Ride

LOCAL

95X

WARREN

LOCAL

ck Av

•

Lincoln

War wi

•

Johnston

Police Cove Park n’ Ride

County Rd

Centerville Rd

LOCAL

Ferry Routes

Franklin St

•

61X 60

Jamestown

•

eA gu Tio N14

Railroads

24X

BARRINGTON

sto

•

Hopkinton

Water

White Church Park n’ Ride

LOCAL

Richmond

Buildings

Healthcare

LOCAL

COVENTRY

Providence/Olneyville

Government

EAST PROVIDENCE

WARWICK

•

Seekonk Square Mall

Shopping

Roger Williams Park LOCAL

LOCAL

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex St in N14 Ma

Flat River Rd

WEST WARWICK

Glocester

CRANSTON

tow

•

66 14

Foster

te A

Kin

•

LOCAL

Exeter

tua

Flat River Rd

North Providence

Parks & green spaces

Education

LOCAL

•

ield Pi

rin

Wampanoag Plaza

Ferry

LOCAL LOCAL

N15

New Shoreham

Hil lR

US Highway

146 RI Highway

LOCAL

PROVIDENCE

Interstate Highway

Train Station Airport

10X

Park-n-Ride

•

PAWTUCKET

•

ith

East Greenwich

•

Snake Den State Park

TF Green Airport

Ha rkn ey

Intermodal connectivity hubs with direct access to the RI transit network. Regional and Local.

LOCAL

Note: There would be local mobility hubs in each community. However, these are not shwon on the map as specific locations have not yet been determined. Transit Center

Cumberland

Mobility Hubs

•

NORTH PROVIDENCE

Scituate Reservoir

Express Bus MBTA Commuter Rail New Flex Service

•

Regional Rapid Bus; at least every 30 mins peak

REGIONAL

Cranston/Pawtuxet

Pik

•

REGIONAL

Beach Pond State Park

XX XX

LOCAL

10X LOCAL

Plainf

Narragansett

Portsmouth

Every 15-minutes peak or most of day Every 20-minute during peak periods Every 30-minutes peak for most of day Every 60-minutes throughout day

Recreation

Sci

North Smithfield

BRT; 10-minute frequency for most of day Rapid Bus; 10-minute frequency for most of day

XX XX XX XX

•

Middletown

North Kingstown/ Quonset Gateway

CENTRAL FALLS

Cranston/Knightsville

East Providence

Rt 44/ Putnam Pike Park n’ Ride

JOHNSTON

Light Rail; 10-minute frequency for most of day

•

LINCOLN

term

•

ill R

Coventry

•

10X

tory

College Hill

•

Greenville Shopping Center

Vic

•

Charlestown

•

Stop & Shop

•

Pik

Plainfield Pike

Central Falls

146

East

ill R

•

Tu n LOCAL

•

North Central Airport

Chopmist Hill Park n’ Ride

Burrillville

George Washington Hwy

54 75

295

Hartford Ave

mis

•

SCITUATE

•

295

gla

University of Rhode Island

Hartford Pike

LOCAL

Bristol

LOCAL

Lincoln Mall

LOCAL

SMITHFIELD

44 Putn

FOSTER

•

LOCAL

Amica

•

MANVILLE

GLOCESTER

Newport Visitors Center

Community Mobility Hubs • Barrington

N16

Fidelity

CHEPACHET

•

le H w

North Kingstown/Wickford Junction

LOCAL

W hipp

CUMBERLAND

Walmart

Lincoln Mall Park n’ Ride

Bryant University

•

Pawtucket/Central Falls

Pascoag Park n’ Ride

Nate

Rehabilitation Hospital

Pik

•

Warwick/TF Green Airport

SOCKET

Park n’ Ride

Providence/Jewelry District

•

gla

•

Woonsocket/Downtown

eld

North Smithfield Park n’ Ride

•

hfi

MASSACHUSETTS

LOCAL

mit

Providence/Providence Station

NS NORTH SMITHFIELD

•

g/ scoa 2 Pa

RHODE ISLAND

282 Pascoag/ Slaterville Flex

PASCOAG

Regional Mobility Hubs Providence/Kennedy Plaza

Fle x

East Ave

Transit Services

Main Rd

gla

SLATERSVILLE

S Mai n St

Sm Fairmount St 87 ith fie ld Rd

dway

146

There will be nine regional mobility hubs and at least one community mobility hub in each community.

LEGEND

Main

Woonsocket Municipal Park n’ Ride

Zambarano Memorial Hospital BURRILLVILLE

•

t Price Rite l S N6 N16 ocia Pine SREGIONAL Swam p Rd 54 87 t Landmark nS Medical Ctr to n Cli WOON- N6 CVS

Community and Regional Mobility Hubs

Transit Forward RI 2040

Additional Service Will Better Serve Special Event and Seasonal Demands

Service Partnerships Will Engender Public-Private Partnerships

RIDOT currently provides seasonal ferry service to Newport and Bristol. RIPTA provides seasonal services to beaches and in Newport, as well as shuttle services from Providence Station and Downtown to the ferry terminal on India Street

Due to financial constraints, transit systems can never provide as much service as all constituents want. To provide additional services beyond what could otherwise be provided, several transit agencies have developed programs that enable local governments, businesses, and other entities a way to directly fund specific transit service improvements – a process known “service partnerships.”

To better support tourist-related businesses and residents and visitors, RIPTA and RIDOT will include annual budget set-asides for the operation of special event services.

These programs enable stakeholders to purchase additional services while providing transit agencies the financial means to satisfy requests for new or expanded services. In other parts of the country, service partnerships have been used to enhance transit services in a wide range of scopes and contexts. These have included: •

A $40 million-dollar annual contribution from the City of Seattle to King County Metro for expanded bus service.

•

Direct investments Amazon and Microsoft to provide more frequent service for longer hours on public transit routes that serve their corporate campuses.

•

Purchasing of specific bus trips or routes that enable shift workers to access suburban office buildings in cities like Rochester, NY and Cincinnati, OH.

•

The funding of additional service by many communities in the Phoenix area.

RIPTA can develop a Service Partnership program that can specify how outside organizations can partner with RIPTA to provide additional service. As described above, these service partnerships could include the expansion of traditional transit services, as well as new rideshare, microtransit, Flex, shuttle, or other services.

Initiative 3 | Develop High Capacity Transit Services

Initiative 3: Develop High Capacity Transit Services Rapid Bus Regional Rapid Bus Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit

Transit Forward RI 2040

Initiative 3

Develop High Capacity Transit Services High Capacity Transit services are those that serve high volume markets with fast and frequent high-quality service. Recommended urban services include Rapid Bus, Bus Rapid Transit, and/or Light Rail, which are summarized below. The R-Line is an example of Rapid Bus service. At a statewide level, Regional Rapid Bus services are also recommended. Rhode Island can make incremental advances to High Capacity Transit in the short-term through investments in transit priority infrastructure and reallocation of right-of-way.

Initiative 1 | Improve Existing Services

Rapid Bus Will Extend R Line-type Service Throughout the Metro Area

Post Rd

St ge t ta Co

George Bennett Hwy

East Av

e Av son Wil

dway

Bradley St

ercial

st S

hore

Ave

e cket Av

Light Rail; 10-minute frequency for most of the day

XX XX

Stop & Shop

rwic

kA Bishop ve Hendricken HS

Oakland Beach Ave

Express Bus MBTA Commuter Rail

Corridors with high-frequency transit service (every 10 mins or better in each direction) with BRT-type amenities

st S ew

ate

Warwick Neck Ave Sa mu el Go Longmeado w Ave r to nA ve

S an

4 29 Tid We

Regional Rapid Bus; at least every 30 mins peak

Transit Emphasis Corridors

hore

Ave

rch

4 Barton Ave

Mobility Hubs

REGIONAL

Paw tu Bullocks Point Ave

Shaw’s

Willet Ave

XX Providence XX River XX XX

W ce er m

dway S Broa

Tripps

Pawtu cket Av e

Butler

N Broa

Comm

Elmgrove Ave Ives St

Narragansett Pkwy

nt View

LEGEND

Bea

l Dr tria dus k In rwic

RIVERSIDE

Crescent Park Carousel

CONIMICUT

Post Rd Wa

Newport Ave

tA ke uc wt

e Thayer

Eddy St

Broad St kA ve rwic Wa

Warwick Ave

e ck Av War wi

on Blvd Jeffers

Way

Blackstone River

Roosevelt

George St

Main St

Camp St Hope St

N Main

e rn ho wt

Rd st Po r ive et R

tux Paw

on Blvd

Jeffers t Rd Pos

in Ma

oa Br Elmwood Ave

Elmwood Ave

P on Ave

tiac P on

Pontiac Ave

Broadw

Lonsdale Ave

Smithfield Ave Power Rd Smithfield Ave t gS prin er S

ntr Cla al ss HS ica

iac

nt Po Pontiac Ave Rolfe Sq

Ave tiac

Hillside Midway Rd

Ave

Greenwich Ave

bin

an Cr

Elmwood Ave

s to

Ellery St

t nS Cra

nsto

Garfield

oir

Budlong Rd

on St Cranst on ond

wL Ne

Rd Hill Bald

e Av Laurel Hill

Dyer Ave

Atwood Ave

e wn Av Oakla Ave on ond wL Ne t

Bald Hill Rd

eS en c vid Pro t

Hill Bald

en c vid Pro

Bald Hi ll Rd

Quaker Ln

St Francis St

Vall

Ave idge Glenbr

et ss ca Po

St eld infi Pla e Pik eld infi Pla

rW ilo Sa

Silv

River Ave

Fruit Hi ll Ave

George Waterman Rd

Gentian Ave Mount Pleasant Ave

Oakland Ave

t dS on m Es Esmond St

Comstock Pkwy t eS en c

Ave ond

on wL

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex

ive

St Main St Pro vid

ll R

Mink St

60 61X

School St

114

cket Av

Av River St

Paw tu

hin

nd 32 Wampanoag Trail

hla

Hig

ial

r ts

Av e

ke t

tuc

P aw

a illi

St We

e Ln

Shore

Warwick City Park

Little Warwick Vets Pond Memorial HS

West

Newport Ave

Ave

195

114 A

Lifespan Medical Office

Crescent Park Carousel

3 Suburban Pkwy Greenwich Bay

t Ve

Bro

24X

Citizens Bank Facilities Bay View

PAWTUXET

t Pk w

County

Transit Services

ck Av

ke t

t Blvd

ds Av

Main St

tuc

Riv

ganset ganset

War wi dy

114

61X 60

Cresce

nwoo

Pawtuxet River

P aw

Seekonk River

ence

Narra

in A ve APPONAUG Rd Shore 29 8 West 8

S an

Evergreen Apts

33 Academy

WARWICK

Narra

Warwick Pond

114 A

4 VILLAGE

3 29 8

Long

vation

vid

rans

in A

er Reser

Vete

Pro

Av Allens

EAST PROVIDENCE

Armington Corner

Providence River

C hu

N8 14

le Riv

St er at SW Dyer St ce n rra Do

TF Green Airport

Ten Mi

Ave

side Bl

E Providence High School

Ave

X X

Dave’s Marketplace

t Rd

Cowesett Ave

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex

66 65X 95X

29 Post Rd

Martin y

Airport Rd

Pos

Cowesett Corners Stop & Shop

Diamond Hill Rd

Route 117 Park n’ Ride

Kent County YMCA

ns Veteraorial 14 Mem ive Dr 29

Pk w

Johnson & Wales Harborside

Walmart

n Ave

Post Rd

Butto

Ginsu Way Kent Count Courthouse

Gorton Pond

rial

Hunts Mills Taunton Park-n-Ride

n Ave

Shaw’s

term

Warre

3 4

TF Green Gre e Station REGIONAL 14 n Con 66 necto rR d 8

Greenwood Church Park n’ Ride

Upper Narragansett Central Business Park Pond

60 24X 61X 195

Taunto

Bradley Hospital

Shaws

Fie

Centerville Rd

Harbor 3 4

Pawtuxet Oxboes Park

Stop & Shop 3

Gate

Price Rite Job Lot

Pilgrim HS

LOCAL

CRANSTON

Toll

WARWICK e

Park Av

Roger Williams Park

Toll Gate High School

Centerville Rd

Cowesett Rd

East Av

Kent Hospital

14 66 65X 95X

Knight St 65X 66 95X

66 65X 95X

LOCAL

Stop & Shop

CCRI

ial Av

N8 R

242 West Warkwick/ Coventry Flex

E 29 ast A

ros

t St

e Av

ARCTIC VILLAGE 13

et C

ich

ence St

22 29 30 Warwick Mall

Colon ct Rd

LOCAL

Metacomet Golf Course 32

Roger Williams Zoo

Cranston HS East

LOCAL

Whole Foods

Provid

Aquedu

Ave

E as Mayfield Ave

in St

65X 14 95X 66

N12

cket t

it aso Henderson Mass Bridge 35Hen Wampanoag d Plaza/ 32 erson 34 E xp Stop & Shop 33 y 33

PROVIDENCE

Colony House RIPTA

Garden City Park n’ Ride

k an

o Shaws ss

Soc

DMV Traffic Tribunal

22 30

295

Rhode Island Mall

River Point Park

t Ave N12

LOCAL

ond

WEST WARWICK East Ma

Ganset

Ave

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex

Bald Hill Rd

CRANSTON

Brewery Parkade Stop & Shop Mashapaug Pond Spectacle Save-A-Lot Pond

Park Av

6 N9

Prairie

Blackstone St Rhode Island Hospital N9 3 6 CCRI N8 4 St Joseph Liston Hospital 14 66 N13 rs Ave 65X Potte 95X rs Ave R Thurbe

Alvarez High School

Av Ne

ott ers Hu N13 ntin Ave gto nA ve

ain

od 30

295

30 31 P

DHS

Blackstone Park WAYLAND SQUARE

Pitman FOX POINT 60 Wickenden St Eastside Marketplace 92 78 Taunton Ave 78 60 E Prov t Govt Ctr tS Newport Ferry Poin 34

Ave

Angell St 32 35 24X 33 61X 34 40 Waterman St

LOCAL

ngly

N117

Park Av

N12

d St

N12

Phenix

56 Chalkstone Ave

Ave

CRANSTON

Garden City

Phenix Hotel

N13 Chapin Ave

Union

Stop & Shop

295

Olneyville Square

Chestnut Hill Ave 30 18

Dyer Pond

Randall Pond

RISD

REGIONAL

DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE

78 35 78

Wannamoisett Country Club

Butler Hospital

Price Rite

Lloyd

Narragansett Park Plaza

PROVIDENCE

Doyle St

Providence Station Brown

Slater Park

Beverage Hill Rd

N12 REGIONAL

Columbus Ave

Rochambeau Ave

Whole N117 Foods Hope HS

e 56

Killi

Cranston Print Works Pond

ld Pike

ice Blvd

RUMFORD

Miriam Hospital

PAWTUCKET

78 78

tone Bl

al S

las

mir

Armist

N117

Blacks

ith

Benefit St 35

l Ave

Charles

Roger Williams Medical Center

19 N117

Providence College

Memorial Hospital

7th St 58

Peter Pan North Burial Ground

LOCAL LOCAL

Neutaconkanut Park

Walmart

Amflex Dr Cranston Industrial Park

REGIONAL

Atwells Ave 10 92 OLNEYVILLE 30 FEDERAL HILL 27 9X ay 10X Broadw Hartfor 27 d Ave N117 Westminster St 31 28 19 28

JOHNSTON

Plainfie

Plainfield Pike

13 Main St

La Salle Academy

Smithfield Ave

N Main St 58 Bra Park n’ Ride nc Walmart h Av e 51 72

St P n’ R

9X 10X 6 10X 9X

Highlan

146 Charles

31 Cranston St

N117 Hope/Dyer-Pocasset (which would replace the northern end of Route 1 Hope/Eddy and Route 17 Dyer-Pocasset)

al S

27 Broadway-Manton

•

Pond

rts Ex

20 Elmwood Ave

78 Beverage Hill-East Providence

J Robe

295

Southern part of R-Line

•

Canada

Dennis

eW endenc Indep

•

mir

71 N12

Job Lot

Ave

Save-A-Lot

•

las

ille

Transit Signal Priority

od Av

•

Branch

LOCAL

N9 s St N7 Orm 56 Sisson St VA Medical N9 Park n’ Ride EAGLE SQUARE N7 Center

Chalkstone Ave

27 56

Ave

Stop & Shop

At wo

•

Rhode Island College Mt. Pleasant High School

10X Hartford

The R-Line is currently RIPTA’s only Rapid Bus service, with 10-minute frequency most of the day, high quality stations, more limited stops, queue jump lanes, transit signal priority, and special branding. The southern portion of the R-Line, as well as six other rapid Rapid Bus lines would be developed: •

Shaw’s

LOCAL

I-295/US 6 Park n’ Ride

•

College Rd 92 55

146

Blvd

Grace St Park n’ Ride

72 51

73 N10

g Ave N10

Stop & Shop

10X

Effective Connections

ith

High Service Ave

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Technologies

eld

Minera

Centra

McCoy Stadium

Summit

Fatima Fruit Hill Hospital Park n’ Ride

ithfi

Ave N10 Spring 73

Stop & Shop

ice Armist t St 76 Walcot

DOWNTOWN PAWTUCKET

ille A

l Sprin

Price Rite

Weeden St

las

env

Gre

Minera

Broad

Real-Time Passenger Information

Benefit St N117

Pawtucket/ Central Falls Station Tolman

Av e

N10

LOCAL LOCAL

NORTH PROVIDENCE

N10 N1058 58

Premium Stations

Pik

las

Stop & Shop

LOCAL

t 72 ss S N6 Cro 75

Market Basket

South Attleboro Station

N12

CENTRAL FALLS

246 146

•

ike

LINCOLN

Putnam Pike

73 51 54

Wenscott Reservoir

295

•

et P

SMITHFIELD

term

•

73 51 Twin 54 River

Smithfield Crossing

Olney Pond

uiss

o ad

•

isq

er R

N6 75

L ou

iv in R

Unique identity and Branding

Lincoln Woods State Park

Old

CCRI Lincoln Park n’ Ride

295

Rapid Bus lines have a combination of the following elements: •

73 51 54

CCRI

er fro Ma nt D ss r as oit

LOCAL

Broad St

Proposed Rapid Bus Routes

Rapid Bus services have many of the same features as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services but operate in mixed traffic rather than dedicated bus lanes. They require fewer resources than BRT systems but provide higher-quality service than local buses.

LOCAL

Intermodal connectivity hubs with direct access to the RI transit network. Regional and Local.

Transit Center

Interstate Highway

US Highway

Park-n-Ride Train Station Airport Ferry Education

146 RI Highway Parks & green spaces

Government

Buildings

Healthcare

Water

Recreation

Railroads

Shopping

Ferry Routes

Transit Forward RI 2040

Regional Rapid Bus Will Provide Fast, High Quality Service to Connect Rhode Island's Regional Centers St

Sm Fairmount St 87 ith fie ld Rd

gla s

SLATERSVILLE

r Tu Sla te rs

MANVILLE

d e

146

North Central Airport

75 71

Stop & Shop

D ou gla s term

Ave

W Greenville Rd

Ferry

LOCAL

Education Seekonk Square Mall

CRANSTON

White Church Park n’ Ride LOCAL

Main St

Victory Hwy

rry Fe nd Isla ce

Martha’s Vineyard Fast Ferry

WICKFORD

lR ec

Point Judith Rd

Rd Post

Know

66 Sand

Weetamoo Woods

ve Rd Roger Wheeler State Beach

North Rd

MIDDLETOWN

63 N18

138 64 N20

Harrison Ave NEWPORT

LOCAL

Green End Ave

14 REGIONAL

Fort Adams

LO C

Hill Co

Union St

Middletown Park n’ Ride

St George’s School

Narragansett Ave

TO B

side Ave Scarborough Beach lesw ay

Burlingame

NARRAGANSETT

Burn

K IS

Ministerial Rd

ou C h So

Walmart Stop & Shop

Narragansett High School

N20

S Pier Rd

LO C

N19

TO B

Aldi

Westerly Airport

Main

Commodore Perry Hwy

TO BLOCK ISLAND

Westerly Hospital

South County Hospital

138

LOCAL

JAMESTOWN

K IS

Tr a nt

y Main Street

WESTERLY

LOCAL

BRADFORD

Westerly Station

South County Trail

CHARLESTOWN

65X

Wakefield Mall Park n’ Ride

Stop & Shop SOUTH KINGSTOWN

URI Bay Campus

ASHAWAY

LOCAL

Worden Pond

N20

Great Swamp

RI HOPKINTON

Rt 1 & Rt 138 Park n’ Ride

tow

Ashaway/Hopkinton Park n’ Ride

SOUTH KINGSTOWN

66 gs

95 LOCAL

sfield

Boston Neck Rd

I Flex

CONNECTICUT

RHODE ISLAND

211 UR

177

N18

ain Rd

oore RI M

138

TIVERTON

Kingston Station

Kin

Schneider Electric

Rt 1A & Rt 138 Park n’ Ride

TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD

West Kingston Park n’ Ride

Gate 17

LOCAL 14

64 N20

REGIONAL

Richmond Airport

RI Jamestown Bridge

138 65X

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

RICHMOND

Conanicus Ave

Carolina

95X

61X

Portsmouth Park n’ Ride

138

Wood River Health

rin

Stop & Shop Kin gs tow nR d

Wyoming/Richmond Park n’ Ride

Stop & Shop

ain Rd

sto

Sp LOCAL

HOPKINTON

N19 shaw

Oxbow Apts

24X 60

CONANICUT ISLAND

NORTH KINGSTOWN

Fish Rd Park n’ Ride

LOCAL

PORTSMOUTH

1 HOPE VALLEY

py ver Ex Fall Ri 61X

138

114

Phillips St

EXETER

24X

ain Rd

Airport

MOUNT HOPE BAY

24X

Quonset Business Wickford Junction Park

Mt Hope Bridge

Park n’ Ride

Wickford Junction Station

Ten Rod Rd

Pru d

102

Av e

Post Rd

ain M Post Rd

Hw y dman

95X RI

165

North Rd

Rd enec k Hill

Noos

Col Ro

REGIONAL

N289: Wickford/ Quonset Quonset

LOCAL

PRUDENCE ISLAND

LOCAL

LA IS

NORTH KINGSTOWN

Rt 2 & Rt 4 Park n’ Ride

Roger Williams University

LOCAL

Mt. Hope Bridge Park n’ Ride

65X

102

WEST GREENWICH

tory

LOCAL

E OD RH

Vic

Beach Pond State Park

EAST GREENWICH

Big River

Prudence Island Airport

East Greenwich Park n’ Ride

61X

VFW Hall at Hope Park n’ Ride

65X 66

BRISTOL

LOCAL

Ferry

West Greenwich Park n’ Ride

Colt State Park

NARRAGANSETT BAY

Goddard State Park

95X

Division St

GREENWICH BAY

Hope

WARWICK

Gooding Ave Park n’ Ride

See Providence Metro Map

Stop & Shop

om Av

LOCAL

Metac

114

LOCAL

ain

e gu Tio N14

Child St

Warren Park n’ Ride

Franklin St

Centerville Rd

N14

e Av

COVENTRY

Hill R

WARREN

LOCAL

Flat River Rd

66 URI-Galilee

County Rd

BARRINGTON

ck Av

14 LOCAL

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex t

Flat River Rd

War wi

54 Lincoln-Woonsocket

WEST WARWICK

Police Cove Park n’ Ride

61X 60

WARWICK

TF Green Airport

tac

te A

Ferry Routes

EAST PROVIDENCE

Bristol Ferry Rd

tua

Railroads

24X

Elmwood Ave

Sci

Ha rkn ey

Water

E Main Rd

vo er

66 14

Roger Williams Park LOCAL

LOCAL

14 West Bay

60 Providence-Newport

Buildings

Healthcare

Shopping

Pike

field

Scituate Reservoir

Government

Recreation Plain

ill R

Parks & green spaces

LOCAL

DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE

LOCAL

US Highway

146 RI Highway

LOCAL

PROVIDENCE

Interstate Highway

Train Station Airport

10X

Park-n-Ride

Plainfield Pike

d kH

Intermodal connectivity hubs with direct access to the RI transit network. Regional and Local.

E Main

ill R

LOCAL

ith

N15

SCITUATE

Tu n

Express Bus MBTA Commuter Rail New Flex Service

LOCAL

PAWTUCKET

FOSTER

East

mis

10X LOCAL

Chopmist Hill Park n’ Ride

Regional Rapid Bus; at least every 30 mins peak

Transit Center

10X

NORTH PROVIDENCE

LOCAL

XX XX

REGIONAL

LOCAL

Snake Den State Park

Hartford Ave

Every 15-minutes peak or most of day Every 20-minute during peak periods Every 30-minutes peak for most of day Every 60-minutes throughout day

Hartford Pike

BRT; 10-minute frequency for most of day Rapid Bus; 10-minute frequency for most of day

XX XX XX XX

Note: There would be local mobility hubs in each community. However, these are not shwon on the map as specific locations have not yet been determined.

Rt 44/ Putnam Pike Park n’ Ride

JOHNSTON

Mobility Hubs

Broa

Greenville Shopping Center

Light Rail; 10-minute frequency for most of day

LOCAL

CENTRAL FALLS

East

Pik

44 Putn

d St

Lonsdale Ave

LINCOLN

Broa

•

R Pik

295

SMITHFIELD

George Washington Hwy

54 75

GLOCESTER

•

295

Amica

LOCAL

Lincoln Mall

LOCAL

Bryant University CHEPACHET

LOCAL

REGIONAL

•

ple Hw

N16

tory

Vic

W hip

CUMBERLAND

Walmart

Lincoln Mall Park n’ Ride

gla

Nate

Rehabilitation Hospital LOCAL

Bro

Park n’ Ride

2 Sla82 P ters asc vill oag eF / lex

Fidelity

CONNECTICUT

LEGEND Transit Services

MASSACHUSETTS

fie

North Smithfield Park n’ Ride

Pascoag Park n’ Ride

LOCAL

ith

LOCAL

RHODE ISLAND

NORTH SMITHFIELD

CVS

RHODE ISLAND

oa Pasc

S Main

vill eF

lex

282 Pascoag/ Slaterville Flex

PASCOAG

282

WOON- N6 SOCKET

East Ave

nto Cli

dway

Main

146

BURRILLVILLE

Regional Rapid Bus service would be similar to urban Rapid Bus service and would be designed to connect regional centers. As with urban Rapid Bus, Regional Rapid Bus would feature high quality stations, limited stops, the use of queue jump lanes and transit signal priority, and special branding. Regional Rapid Bus would also include the use of highway shoulders to bypass congestion. Four existing routes would be upgraded to Regional Rapid Bus: •

t Price Rite l S N6 N16 ocia Pine SREGIONAL Swam p Rd 54 87 t Landmark nS Medical Ctr

Woonsocket Municipal Park n’ Ride

Zambarano Memorial Hospital

Main Rd

Proposed Regional Rapid Bus Routes D

One of the most effective ways to encourage transit use is to increase travel speed by implementing transit priority strategies. Highway bus routes are often slowed by congestion, and the development of transit priority for these routes and better circulation in and out of a station can make service faster and more convenient.

Initiative 3 | Develop High Capacity Transit Services

Light Rail and/or Bus Rapid Transit Will Provide Much Higher Quality Service

Post Rd

St ge t ta Co

st S

hore

Pawtu cket Av e

ercial

Comm

cket Av

Ave

Shaw’s

Light Rail; 10-minute frequency for most of the day

XX XX

29 Rd

4 29 Tid

rwic

Bishop Hendricken HS

Oakland Beach Ave

Express Bus MBTA Commuter Rail

Corridors with high-frequency transit service (every 10 mins or better in each direction) with BRT-type amenities

st S

Stop & Shop

ate

Warwick Neck Ave Sa mu el Go Longmeado w Ave r to nA ve

S an

Regional Rapid Bus; at least every 30 mins peak

Transit Emphasis Corridors

hore

Ave

Bea

rch

4 Barton Ave

Mobility Hubs

REGIONAL

y W ce er m

Paw tu

Bullocks Point Ave

Narragansett Pkwy

nt View

Willet Ave

XX Providence XX River XX XX

dway

Bradley St

Newport Ave

Av e son Wil dway

N Broa

fro Ma nt D ss r as oit

Ives St

S Broa

Tripps

tA ke uc e East Av

Elmgrove Ave

Butler

Thayer

Eddy St

Broad St ve kA rwic Wa

Warwick Ave e ck Av War wi

l Dr tria dus k In rwic

RIVERSIDE

LEGEND

CONIMICUT

Post Rd

Way

Broad St

Roosevelt

George St

Main St

Camp St Hope St

e rn ho wt

Rd st Po r ive et R

tux Paw

on Blvd Jeffers on Blvd

Jeffers

t Rd Pos

in Ma

oa Br Elmwood Ave

Elmwood Ave

P on Ave

tiac P on

Pontiac Ave

Broadw

Lonsdale Ave

Smithfield Ave Power Rd Smithfield Ave t gS prin er S Silv

ntr Cla al ss HS ica

iac

nt Po Pontiac Ave Rolfe Sq

Ave tiac

Hillside Midway Rd

Ave on

Greenwich Ave

St Francis St

s to

Ellery St

Elmwood Ave

t nS Cra

nsto

Garfield

oir

Budlong Rd

on St Cranst

ond wL Ne

Bald Hill Rd

Hill Bald

Rd Hill

e Laurel Hill

Dyer Ave

Atwood Ave e wn Av Oakla

Ave on ond

wL Ne t eS en c vid Pro Rd

t eS en c vid Pro Bald Bald Hi ll Rd

bin

Vall

Ave idge Glenbr

Av et ss ca Po

St eld infi Pla e Pik eld infi Pla

rW ilo Sa

Quaker Ln

N Main

River Ave

Fruit Hi ll Ave

George Waterman Rd

Gentian Ave Mount Pleasant Ave

Oakland Ave

t dS on m Es Esmond St

Comstock Pkwy t eS en c

Ave on

ond

ive

Shore

Warwick City Park

ll R

Mink St

Little Warwick Vets Pond Memorial HS

West

e 60 61X

School St

114

cket Av

Main St

Av River St

Paw tu

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex

nd 32 Wampanoag Trail

St Main St Pro vid

hla

Hig

ial

Av e

hin

ke t

tuc

P aw

a illi

S an

Crescent Park Carousel

r ts

Newport Ave

Av e

195

114 A

Lifespan Medical Office

Transit Services

3 Suburban Pkwy Greenwich Bay

ke t

t Ve

Bro

t Pk w

County

24X

Crescent Park Carousel

ck Av

tuc

t Blvd ganset

War wi

P aw

Seekonk River

Riv

ganset

ence

Narra

ds Av

114

Cresce

nwoo

Pawtuxet River

rvatio

rans

vid

in A ve APPONAUG Rd Shore 29 8 West 8 St

61X 60

PAWTUXET 4 VILLAGE

3 29

34 Evergreen RI Apts

Citizens Bank Facilities Bay View 33 Academy

WARWICK

C hu

Long

EAST PROVIDENCE 114 A

Armington Corner

Providence River

Narra

Warwick Pond

Fie

in A

er Rese

Vete

Pro

Av Allens

TF Green Airport

le Riv

St er at SW Dyer St ce n rra

side Bl

E Providence High School

Ave

X X

Dave’s Marketplace

n Ave

Airport Rd

N8 14

Ten Mi

Martin

3 4

t Rd

Cowesett Ave

242 W Warwick/ Coventry Flex

66 65X 95X

Pk w

Pos

Cowesett Corners Stop & Shop

Diamond Hill Rd

Route 117 Park n’ Ride

Kent County YMCA

29 Post Rd

Warre

Johnson & Wales Harborside

Walmart

ns Veteraorial 14 Mem ive Dr 29

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Gorton Pond

Upper Narragansett Central Business Park Pond

Hunts Mills Taunton Park-n-Ride

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Shaws

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Harbor 3 4

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Taunto

LOCAL

Stop & Shop 3

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Gate

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Roger Williams Park

95 TF

Centerville Rd

Kent Count Courthouse

Cowesett Rd

Toll Gate High School

Centerville Rd

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6 N9

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Garden City

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Cranston Print Works Pond Dyer Pond

d St

N13 Chapin Ave

Stop & Shop

295

Olneyville Square

19 N117

Price Rite

Summit

78 35 78

Wannamoisett Country Club

Butler Hospital

N12

Providence Station

Narragansett Park Plaza

35 Beverage Hill Rd

RUMFORD

Doyle St

Whole N117 Foods Hope HS

Slater Park

N117

Rochambeau Ave

REGIONAL REGIONAL

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Columbus Ave

LOCAL

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295

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The development of light rail and/or BRT would make transit in the highest demand areas much more attractive by making it frequent, fast, and reliable. Light rail or BRT – with the choice to be determined based on more detailed project development work –would be developed in Rhode Island’s key north-south corridor between Central Falls and CCRI Warwick via Pawtucket and Providence. BRT would also be developed between Providence and CCRI Warwick via TF Green Airport: LRT or BRT: N12 Central Falls and CCRI Warwick via Pawtucket and Providence Station

Blvd

McCoy Stadium

Grace St Park n’ Ride

73 N10 72

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Stop & Shop

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High Service Ave

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Long span of service, often 18 hours a day or more

isq

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Putnam Pike

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73 51 54

LINCOLN

SMITHFIELD

Common characteristics of both include:

•

73 51 Twin 54

Smithfield Crossing

Frequent service, typically every 10 minutes or less

o ad

River

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is similar to light rail, except that service is provided with buses rather than rail vehicles. Since the late 1990s, nearly 200 cities around the world have developed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services that can provide Light Rail-like service without the high costs associated with rail infrastructure. BRT typically has lower capital and operating costs than Light Rail Transit and faster, more reliable, and more easily identifiable service than typical buses.

•

in Tw

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CCRI Lincoln Park n’ Ride

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Light Rail Transit (LRT) is electrified rail service that operates in a variety of urban environments including completely exclusive rightsof-way, in exclusive lanes on roadways, and in some cases in mixed traffic. It serves high volume corridors at higher speeds than local bus services.

N6 75

George Bennett Hwy

Lincoln Woods State Park

73 51 54

CCRI

LOCAL

Blackstone River

Proposed Light Rail and BRT Routes

LOCAL

Intermodal connectivity hubs with direct access to the RI transit network. Regional and Local.

Transit Center

Interstate Highway

US Highway

Park-n-Ride Train Station Airport Ferry Education

146 RI Highway Parks & green spaces

Government

Buildings

Healthcare

Water

Recreation

Railroads

Shopping

Ferry Routes

Transit Forward RI 2040

Initiative 4 | Improve Access to Transit

Initiative 4: Improve Access to Transit Walking

Driving Biking Other

Transit Forward RI 2040

Initiative 4

Improve Access to Transit For people to be able to use transit, they must be able to get to it and then get to where they are going after they leave it. The overwhelming majority of transit riders walk to and from local transit services, a very large proportion drive to regional services, and a much smaller, but increasing number of people bike to and from transit services. In addition, newer options, such as scooters, are becoming increasingly popular. Transit Forward RI includes a wide variety of first mile/last mile improvements: •

Walking/Pedestrian Improvements

•

Driving/Park and Ride Lots and Passenger Drop-Off and Pick-up Areas

•

Bicycling Improvements

•

Other improvements including •

TMA/Employer Shuttles

•

Rideshare Partnerships

•

Microtransit

In addition, a key to making first mile/last mile connections work will be to ensure that connections can be made at convenient and comfortable locations. The development of mobility hubs is one way in which this will be done. Connections will also be facilitated at transit stations and major stops.

Initiative 4 | Improve Access to Transit

Pedestrian Improvements Will Extend the Reach of Transit Over 90% of transit riders walk to and from transit. As a result, pedestrian improvements provide greater first mile/last mile benefits than all other approaches combined. In places where pedestrian conditions are good, people will walk farther to transit; where they are bad, people will not walk as far. Pedestrian improvements thus extend the reach of transit and increase ridership. Pedestrian improvements will be implemented at and around: •

Mobility Hubs

•

Rapid Bus stops

•

Transit Emphasis Corridor stops

•

Commuter rail stations

•

LRT/BRT Stations

These improvements will include: •

Better sidewalks around transit stops and in neighborhoods, that meet ADA standards

•

New pedestrian crossings around transit stops and stations can improve access as well as rider safety and comfort

•

Wayfinding, including signs pointing to transit services (and pedestrian network maps at transit stations and major stops)

Local communities can assist these efforts significantly. For example, the City of Providence's Great Streets plan focuses on pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and includes a large number of improvements that would ease access to and from transit. This plan can also provide guidance to other communities.

Transit Forward RI 2040

Facility Improvements Will Make It Easier to Drive to Transit The second most common way that people get to and from transit is by driving or being dropped off or picked up. This is especially the case with commuter rail and express bus routes, where large volumes of commuters park at stations and stops and are dropped-off and picked-up. Serving this demand requires parking spaces and curb space for private pick-ups and drop-offs and rideshare and taxi pick-ups and drop-offs. A variety of improvements can be implemented. These include: •

New park-and-ride lots along express routes: •

Johnston at the intersection of I-295 and US Route 6 to serve Route 9X Pascoag Park-n-Ride and 10X North Scituate

•

Lincoln in the vicinity of the CCRI and Twin Rivers to serve Route 54 Woonsocket -Providence Regional Rapid Bus

•

Pascoag near the outer end of Route 9X Pascoag Park-n-Ride

•

Portsmouth near the intersection of Ferry Road and Boyd’s Lane to serve both Route 60 Newport-Providence via East Bay and the new Route 24 Newport-Fall River-Providence

•

Parking and passenger drop-off and pick-up areas at some outer area light rail and BRT stations

•

Upgrades at existing stations and stops

Park-and-Ride Lot in Barrington

Initiative 4 | Improve Access to Transit

Bikes Will be Better Accommodated Bicycling, whether by a personal or shared bicycle, is another important way to make short trips and connect with transit. Three types of transit-related bicycling improvements will be implemented: •

Sharing of bus lanes with bicycles

•

Bikeshare and bike storage at regional mobility hubs

•

Bikeshare and bike racks at urban rail stations and transit stops

Transit Forward RI 2040

Other Improvements Will Also Be Made

TMA Shuttle Operated by the Route 128 Business Council in Suburban Boston

A number of other improvements will also be made, mostly through the Service Partnerships program described in Initiative 2.

TMA/Employer Shuttles As part of the Service Partnerships program, RIPTA and RIDOT can create incentives for the development of TMAs or employer shuttles. These incentives could include financial incentives that could be less expensive than new publicly funded rideshare partnership and microtransit services. With the development of mobility hubs throughout the state, TMA or employer shuttles could provide connections between mobility hubs and more isolated worksites. The shuttles could be traditional shuttle services or Flex-like microtransit services.

Transportation Management Associations Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) are member-controlled, member-funded organizations that provide transportation services for a particular area, such as an industrial park, medical center, commercial district, or mall. Employment areas that lack concentrated density but still form a congregation of employees are prime targets for TMAs, which can partner with transit agencies to provide transportation services. Many TMAs run shuttles to and from major activity centers and transit stops.

Rideshare Partnerships Many areas have developed rideshare partnerships with Uber, Lyft, and other competitors. Through these partnerships, subsidized rides are provided to and from mainline transit services. Rideshare partnerships would be developed through the Service Partnership program.

Scooters Scooters will also be accommodated at mobility hubs and transit stations and stops, as permitted by local ordinances.

Scooter Parking at Providence Station

Initiative 5 | Make Transit Easier to Use

Initiative 5: Make Transit Easier to Use Fare Capping/Earn As You Go

Better Information Fare Integration Mobility as a Service

Transit Forward RI 2040

Initiative 5

Make Transit Easier to Use In order to improve service for existing transit riders as well as to entice new ones, the full experience of riding transit must be intuitive and seamless. Transit Forward RI proposes a number of ways in which to make transit services easier to use:

•

Fare Capping

•

Better Information and Signage

•

Fare Integration with other regional service providers, such as the MBTA

•

Implementation of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platforms

Initiative 5 | Make Transit Easier to Use

Fare Capping/Earn as You Go Will Make Fare Payment Much More Flexible Six different fare options are available for full fare riders, which range from $2 for a single trip to $70 for a monthly pass. The monthly pass provides the best value, but requires an upfront payment for low income riders that can often be difficult. In addition, many riders don’t have the same travel patterns every day. RIPTA will soon be introducing smartcard fare payment and fare capping to make fare payment more flexible. With the introduction of smartcard fare payment, RIPTA will also be able to introduce fare capping, which is also known as “Earn as You Go,” through which all riders will pay single trip fares up to maximum fare levels for daily, weekly, and monthly use. Earn as You Go will make transit more affordable for lower income riders, provide more flexibility for all riders, and encourage the use of transit on a more spontaneous basis. Although there are still details to be worked out, fare capping will work as follows: • All riders will pay single ride fares for all trips with total costs that will max out at daily and monthly pass rates. • On a daily basis and at current fare levels, riders would pay $2 per trip until they spend $6 which is the current cost of a daily pass. For the rest of the day, all subsequent rides would be free. • Daily expenditures would also roll up to monthly pass costs. After spending $6 per day for 11 days and $4 on the 12th day, all subsequent trips for the rest of the month would be free. Earn as You Go will also be implemented for riders who use discount fares. Current Fares

Fares with Fare Capping

Single Ride

Transfer

Free for one hour

1 Day Pass

$2 per trip for the first three trips. Free for all subsequent trips

1 Day Pass

7 Day Pass

$25

10 Ride Pass

$20

$70

$6 per day for the first 11 days and $4 for the 12th day. Free for the rest of the month.

Monthly Pass

View TransitCenter's video on Fare Capping at https://vimeo.com/254685338

Fare capping is a new concept that is currently being used by DART in Dallas and TriMet in Portland, OR. Outside of the United States, it is used in the following cities: London, Great Britain; Dublin, Ireland; and Sydney, Australia. 43

Transit Forward RI 2040

Better Information Will be Provided

Fares Will be Integrated

RIPTA and RIDOT will provide information in a variety of ways to make transit options easier to understand:

Fare integration will enable transit riders to use a single pass to ride services provided by multiple transit providers. Four types of fare integration will be implemented to allow use of:

• A single website for regional transit information. This single website would provide information on services provided by RIPTA, RIDOT, and other available service such as the Providence Line and GATRA services • The provision of schedule and real-time information via websites and smartphone apps • Real-time information at major stations, stops, mobility hubs, and park-and-ride lots • Route information, including schedules and maps, at all busy stops • Wayfinding and local information signage at major stops, stations, and mobility hubs

• MBTA passes honored on Amtrak trains between Providence and Boston • MBTA passes honored on RIPTA buses • SRTA passes on RIPTA Newport-Fall River-Providence service • RIPTA monthly passes on rail trips between Wickford Junction and Providence

Initiative 1 | Improve Existing Services

Mobility as a Service Will Make All Available Options Easier to Understand and Use Mobility as a Service (MaaS) integrates various forms of transportation services into a single platform to provide flexibility and convenience for travelers. People frequently make trips using multiple modes – for example, a bus to a downtown station, then bikeshare to their destination, and maybe Lyft back in the evening if the weather is bad. At present, this usually means that travelers must learn about these options from many different sources and pay separately. MaaS provides the ability to plan, book, and pay for different options using a single smartphone app. MaaS integrates different public and private transportation services into one app, where users can book transportation, pay for it, and understand the multitude of options to travel from point A to point B. Through MaaS, RIPTA could create its own app or partner with an app developer to enable partnerships with private transportation companies to allow subscription transportation service. This subscription would allow passengers to have access to RIPTA-provided transit as well as scootershare and rideshare, for example, all for a fixed cost per month. It is important to note that MaaS is very much an emerging technology that is still in its infancy. At present, many apps that focus on a single service are starting to provide information on other services. Other efforts are starting from the ground up.

Mobility As A Service

ALL YOUR TRANSPORT IN ONE PLACE

Payments

Routing

Transportation Providers

TNC

RIPTA can develop MaaS as technology allows, with a focus on the following areas • Integration of transit and first mile/last mile connections • Transit schedule and real-time information • Trip planning and booking

Infrastructure

• Fare payment

Benefits and Costs

Benefits and Costs Benefits of Transit Benefits and Costs

Transit Forward RI 2040 Transit Forward RI 2040

Transit is critical Rhode Island both today Benefits offor Transit and in the future because it...

5 8

MAKES RHODE ISLAND A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND VISIT

CONTRIBUTES TO ACTIVE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

ATTRACTS TALENT AND MAKES RHODE ISLAND MORE COMPETITIVE

SUPPORTS A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

SUPPORTS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

BOOSTS THE STATE'S ECONOMY

SUPPORTS ACCESSIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND MOBILITY BEYOND THE AUTO

HELPS PEOPLE LIVE INDEPENDENT LIVES

Goal 2

Transit Forward RI has been developed with a focus on improving transit service – to make it easier for Rhode Islanders to get around, and in a way that makes the state a more attractive place to live, work, and play, and to strengthen the economy.

Make Transit Attractive and Compelling Objectives • • • •

Goal 3

Benefits and Costs

Goal 4

Goal 1

Benefits and Costs

Make existing services more convenient Improve passenger experience Better integrate different services Increase awareness of transit

Connect People to Life's Activities Objectives •

Connect people with jobs and activities that are part of daily life

•

Emphasize services that will benefit the largest numbers of people

•

Develop a unified cross-agency transit decision-making framework

Grow the Economy and Improve Quality of Life Objectives •

Prioritize transit improvements that support RI's economic development policies

•

Provide services that will help Rhode Island retain and attract younger residents

•

Provide services that help people live independently as they age

•

Expand service to new areas that are transit-supportive

•

Build on existing asets including RIPTA services, the Northeast Corridor and proximity to Boston

Ensure Financial and Environmental Sustainability Objectives •

Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including leveraging private funds

•

Achieve and maintain a state of good repair

•

Develop cost-effective, implementable transit solutions

•

Develop services that achieve a high level of public and political support

•

Work with communities, businesses, and others to build partnerships that support proposed transit strategies

•

Reduce greenhouse emissions 49

Transit Forward RI 2040

Benefits Ridership RIPTA currently carries approximately 52,600 passengers per day, and 4,700 commuter rail passengers ride to, from, and within Rhode Island. This ridership would increase to 83,600 to 84,900, depending upon whether BRT or LRT is selected for Central Falls-Pawtucket-ProvidenceCCRI/Warwick service, and 8,300 on commuter rail. Total ridership would increase up to 63% from 57,300 passengers per day to 91,900 to 93,200.

Accounting for less frequent early morning and late night service, this would reduce average commuter rail frequencies to an average of less than 25 minutes. Providence-Boston Commuter Rail Average Weekday Service Frequencies (Minutes)

Weekday Ridership

Travel Times

Service Improvements Longer Hours of Service At present, only 22 RIPTA routes operate past 10 PM and only five operate past midnight. Transit Forward RI will increase these numbers to 32 and 19, respectively. Frequency of Service At present, RIPTA services operate – on average – every 29 minutes, and commuter rail between Providence and Boston operates at an average of every 60 minutes. Transit Forward RI will reduce RIPTA service frequencies to an average of every 19 minutes. On the Providence line, the MBTA's Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) resolved in December 2019 that service in its densest corridors should operate every 15 to 20 minutes. RIPTA Average Weekday Service Frequencies (Minutes)

In-vehicle travel times will be reduced by 14 to 15%. For RIPTA riders, average trip times will be reduced by five minutes. On longer trips and where premium services are developed, savings will be higher. Transit Forward RI set a goal of reducing commuter rail travel times between Providence and Boston to less than 60 minutes. The FMCB's December 2019 resolution includes a number of actions to reduce travel times. While specific estimates are not yet available, the goal of less than 60 minutes appears to be achievable, and even lower travel times are possible. RIPTA Average In-Vehicle Travel Times (Minutes)

Providence-Boston Commuter Rail In-Vehicle Travel Times (Minutes)

Benefits and Costs

Residents Served

Percent of Minority Residents within 1/2-mile of Frequent Transit

Today, service is provided within 1/2 mile of 69% of Rhode Island’s residents and 86% of its jobs, but most is infrequent and operate for hours that are short. Thus while service is technically available, it does not provide an attractive option for most people. Transit Forward RI will provide a much higher quality of service. Total Residents Served by Frequent Transit Today, only 8% of Rhode Island’s residents have access to service that operates at least every 15 minutes. Planned improvements will increase the number of residents served by over fivefold to 49%. Percent of All Residents within 1/2-mile of Frequent Transit

Younger Residents Served by Frequent Transit Rhode Island, like all states, needs to retain and attract younger residents to ensure future success, and younger people want to live in places with excellent transit. At present, only 11% of residents aged 20 to 39 are served by frequent transit. This will increase to 56%. Percent of Residents Aged 20-39 within 1/2-Mile of Frequent Transit

Low-Income Residents Served by Frequent Transit Improvements for low income residents will be even greater. At present, fewer than 20% of Rhode Island’s low-income residents have access to frequent transit. This will increase to over 70%. Percent of Low-Income Households within 1/2-mile of Frequent Transit

Older Adults Served by All Transit Transit forward RI will help older residents live independently. The percentage of elderly residents who are currently served by all forms of transit (within 1/4-mile) will increase from 60% within 1/4-mile of transit to 66%. Percent of Residents 65 and Older within 1/4-Mile of Any Transit

Minority Residents Served by Frequent Transit Increases to minority residents will be higher still. At present, 22% of Rhode Island’s minority residents have access to frequent transit. This will increase to over 86%. 51

Transit Forward RI 2040

Jobs Served Today only 20% of jobs are within 1/2-mile of frequent transit. This will increase to nearly 60%. A combination of frequent transit to 49% of Rhode Island’s residents – and even higher percentages to disadvantaged residents – and 59% of jobs will greatly increase job opportunities. Percent of Jobs within 1/2-Mile of Frequent Transit

Total Residents and Jobs Served by Transit As described above, nearly half of residents will have access to frequent transit. An additional 20% will be served by other forms of transit. The total percentage of residents served by some type of transit will increase from 69% to 78%. The total number of jobs within 1/2-mile of some type of transit will increase from 86% to 90%.

Benefits and Costs

Costs Transit Forward RI represents a major investment in Rhode Island’s transit services, its people, and its economy. As such, associated costs will be much higher than what the state spends today.

Transit Services

Operating Costs

Improvements to Existing Services

$97M

Total operating costs, in $2020, would range from $230 to $237 million, with the difference depending upon whether or not Central Falls-Providence-CCRI/Warwick service is developed as LRT or BRT (with the higher cost for LRT). This would be an approximate doubling of current operating costs of $112.9 million for both RIPTA and RIDOT.

New Services

$20M

Paratransit

$14M

Other

$3M

Total

$244 - $253M

Note also that these costs do not include any increases for faster and more frequent commuter rail service between Boston and Providence, as that process is being led by Massachusetts. The costs do, however, include the cost of additional commuter rail service between Providence and TF Green Airport.

OPERATING COSTS High Capacity Transit

PLAN $110 - $118M

CAPITAL COSTS

PLAN

Transit Services High Capacity Transit

$1.3 - $2.5B

Existing RIPTA Services

$216M

New RIPTA Services

$34M

Capital Costs

Other

$5M

Total capital costs, also in $2020, would be $1.9 to $3.1 billion over the next 20 years, with the differences again on choices made between LRT and BRT. Average expenditures would be $94 to $154 million per year. This would be a significant increase over RIPTA and RIDOT's current expenditures that average approximately $32 million per year. However, a large proportion of these costs could likely be funded through federal sources. As with operating costs, the difference will be driven by choices between light rail and BRT. Also as with operating costs, the capital costs do not include costs to upgrade Providence Line service between Boston and Providence.

Subtotal

$1.5 - $2.7B

Infrastructure/Facilities Transit Priority

$63M

Bus Stop Improvements

$16M

Mobility Hubs

$91M

Park and Ride Lots

$9M

Maintenance Facility

$48M

New Amtrak Station at TF Green

$110M

Subtotal

$337M

Total

$1.9 - $3.1B

Average Cost per Year

$94-$154M 53

Transit Forward RI 2040

Next Steps

Next Steps Funding Plan Implementation Partnerships

Transit Forward RI 2040

Currently Available Funding Federal Funds

Next Steps

There are many federal funding programs that provide funding on both formula and discretionary bases. The major programs include: •

Develop Funding Plan The projects and programs in this plan will provide existing riders with much better service, and attract many new riders. Some proposed improvements can begin immediately with available funds. Larger, unbudgeted projects and service upgrades will require identification of new or reallocated funding. Depending on the specific improvement, there may be opportunities to advance an incremental approach as a strategy for full implementation is developed. The first implementation step will be to develop a funding plan. The Transit Forward RI program was developed using the most common process for developing these types of programs, which is to determine the desired program and then identify funding. This was the case for a number of reasons, the most important of which include: •

•

Many potential funding sources, and in particular, federal funds, are tied to specific types of projects. Thus, the projects must be known in order to identify the full range of potential sources.

The most significant existing sources and additional sources used by other areas include:

As the amount of services that RIPTA and RIDOT provide increases, the amount of formula funds that it receives will increase. The increases would vary depending upon the formulas used in each program, with higher increases possible for the development of new rail, BRT, and ferry services and less for local services. •

FTA Discretionary Funding: In addition to formula funding, the FTA has two major discretionary programs (New Starts/Small Starts and Bus and Bus Facilities), that fund light rail, BRT, and Rapid Bus projects and major bus facilities such as regional mobility hubs and transit emphasis corridors. By statute, FTA funds can cover up to 80% of the capital costs for these types of projects. In practice, however, the maximum amounts that FTA now provides is closer to 50%.

•

BUILD Grants: The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant program, funding for multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to support through traditional DOT programs. This program, which was known as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grants has provided nearly $7.9 billion over 11 years, and $1 billion for FY 2020.

•

CARES Act Funding: The CARES Act provides funding to help transit systems deal with the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and to regain ridership. Rhode Island will receive $104 million in CARES Act funding, which could exceed the direct financial impacts and provide funding for projects to regain riders. Unless there is an additional stimulus bill, this will be a one-time funding infusion and not a new ongoing source of funding.

High levels of public support will be essential to implement new sources of funding. It is difficult to generate this support without being able to describe proposed improvements.

There are many potential funding options. However, there is no single approach that works for every area. Instead, Rhode Island needs to develop a transit funding plan that will engender broadbased political and public support. It is expected that the proposed improvements will be funded via competitive federal programs as well as through increases in non-federal contributions.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funding: The FTA provides funding largely for capital purposes, and in limited cases, for operations. RIPTA and RIDOT utilize all of the federal funding for which they are eligible. There are also other sources that they could be eligible for, but to date have not had qualifying projects.

Next Steps

State Funds •

•

State Gas Tax: RIPTA’s primary source of operating funds is a share of the state’s gas tax, which is currently 35¢ per gallon (including a 1¢ environmental surcharge) and adjusted every two years based on inflation. Of this, 10.25¢ is apportioned to RIPTA. However, due to improved fuel economy, a shift toward electrification of vehicles, and other factors, gas tax revenues are not increasing. RhodeWorks: RhodeWorks is a 10-year program designed to rebuild Rhode Island’s transportation. Over the 10-year life of the program, $80 million has been allocated for transit improvements. This funding has not yet been programmed and represents funding that is available to implement this plan. State Highway Maintenance Account: Rhode Island has a State Highway Maintenance Account that is funded through license and registration fees, along with a percent of inspection fees, costs for certain transfers and duplicates, and other miscellaneous transportation-related revenues. Five percent of these funds are allocated to RIPTA to fund operations: in FY 2019 RIPTA was budgeted to receive $4.9 million. In addition, for FY 2018 and 2019, the General Assembly directed an additional $5.0 million to RIPTA to offset a reduction in revenue from the reinstatement of free rides for elderly and disabled riders and to fund debt service on outstanding General Obligation bonds. Rhode Island Mass Transit Hub Infrastructure Bonds: Question 6, which was approved by Rhode Island voters in 2014, authorized the issuance of $35 million in General Obligation bonds for “enhancements and renovations to mass transit hub infrastructure throughout the State of Rhode Island to improve access to multiple intermodal sites, key transportation, healthcare, and other locations.” These funds are available for the development of regional and community mobility hubs.

Fare Revenue Fare revenue paid by passengers and third-party sponsors is one of RIPTA’s major sources of operating revenue, and for FY 2020 is projected to generate $24.4 million. In total fare revenues cover approximately 20% of RIPTA’s operating costs. As RIPTA increases

service and ridership increases, fare revenues will also increase, but as is currently the case, will cover only a minority portion of operating costs.

Potential New Funding Sources Throughout the United States, transit is funded in many different ways, both large scale and small scale. These methods of funding range from sales taxes up to 2.0% to taxes on Uber and Lyft to a 10% tax on poured drinks in bars. The most important include: Sales Taxes Sales taxes are the most important source of funding at many transit systems and are frequently used to fund major transit expansion programs. An example list of transit systems funded by sales taxes along with the tax rates is shown the table on the right. Sales taxes are also the most common way to fund major expansion programs. Historically, sales taxes for transit have been well supported by voters, and approximately 70% of transit initiatives pass. Rhode Island’s current sales tax is 7%, and for 2020, Rhode Island projects to generate $1.4 billion in sales tax revenue. A 1% sales tax rate for transit would generate approximately $200 million per year. City/Transit System

Sales Tax Rate

Boston/MBTA

1.0%

Denver/RTD

1.0%

Los Angeles/LA Metro

2.0%

San Diego/MTS

0.5%

Phoenix/Valley Metro

0.7%

Salt Lake City/UTA

1.2%

Seattle/King County Metro

1.4%

Dallas/DART

1.0%

Fort Worth/Trinity Metro

0.5%

Transit Forward RI 2040

Fuel Taxes

Local Assessment (General Fund)

Rhode Island already uses fuel taxes to fund transit, and could increase the rate to generate additional revenue. Rhode Island’s current fuel tax, at 35¢ per gallon, is far from the highest in the country. However, it is above average, particularly when compared with neighboring Massachusetts and the northern New England states, which could make further increases more difficult. Also, gas tax increases often generate less than is commonly believed. A one cent increase in Rhode Island’s gas tax would generate approximately $4.3 million per year.

Some transit districts assess local communities for the service they receive. For example, in Massachusetts, communities served by the MBTA are assessed based on a state-mandated formula that considers local population, access to other transit authorities, and proximity to Boston. The amount each community pays does not correlate to the level of service received. MBTA assessments represented about 8% of its FY19 budget and cannot increase more than 2.5% annually.

Special Assessment Districts Another common way to fund major projects is to develop special assessment districts in areas that benefit from the transit improvements. The taxes are typically based on property value, or sales, special business fees, or other measures of value. They are most typically implemented in specific areas to fund specific projects such as rail lines. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts Tax Increment Financing Districts are similar to Special Assessment Districts in that districts are created to encompass areas that will benefit from transit improvements. However, in these districts, rather than increasing taxes, the new property tax revenue generated as a result of increases in property value are used to fund the transit improvements. This approach is often preferred by property owners as tax rates do not increase (although taxes paid do increase due to increased property values). A disadvantage of TIFs compared to Special Assessment Districts is that revenue amounts are much more speculative. A TIF is being considered in downtown Pawtucket surrounding the future Pawtucket/Central Falls commuter rail station. It is possible that a portion of TIF revenues could be directed towards ongoing maintenance and operation of the new station and adjacent bus hub. Vehicle Taxes Different forms of vehicle taxes are occasionally used to fund transit. The most significant example is Minnesota, where the state generates transportation funding through a 6.5% sales tax on motor vehicles. This is in lieu of a general sales tax. The funds are used for both highways and transit, with a minimum of 40% directed to transit. 58

Other There are also a large number of other sources for funding of transit that have either been implemented or are or have been considered. These include: • • • • • • •

Real estate transfer fees Payroll taxes Hotel/motel taxes Rental car taxes Parking taxes Taxes on Uber and Lyft trips Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI)

Next Steps

Plan Implementation The Transit Forward RI program is large and comprehensive and will be implemented over time. The plan must be flexible to react to funding opportunities and cost constraints. In the short-term, it will focus on improving and expanding existing services in a cost-effective manner using available funding. This will include, among other things, more frequent service for longer hours and facility improvements. Simultaneously, planning will begin for more intensive high capacity projects the be implemented in the medium to long-term. It is anticipated that there will be an incremental build-up to many proposed plan elements, and the full implementation of the plan will take twenty years.

the routes that serve the greatest number of passengers. In the very short-term, these should also focus on increasing midday and evening service to better serve essential workers.

Finally, the plan is intended to be flexible. In this regard, as a funding plan is developed and in response to other factors, specific timeframes may be adjusted.

The plan recommends four new crosstown routes to make nonProvidence trips easier. The development of four new routes could be accomplished quickly and at relatively low cost. It could also relieve crowding on radial routes.

Short-Term Improvements

Provide Faster Service

During the summer and fall of 2019, the public was asked to rank potential transit improvements. The top priorities were:

Rhode Island transit riders desire faster service, particularly for Rhode Island - Boston rail service and in primary bus corridors. Proposed improvements that will provide faster service include the development of Rapid Bus, Regional Rapid Bus lines, express bus on shoulder service, and LRT and/or BRT. The MBTA is simultaneously planning for the future of commuter rail via its Rail Vision process which focuses on increased speed and frequency.

• • • •

Longer hours of bus service and more weekend service More frequent bus service More frequent commuter rail service to Boston Improved crosstown services

•

Cross-honoring of MBTA passes on Amtrak Northeast Regional trains

• Better bus stops • More Rapid Bus lines In addition to the development of a funding plan, short-term efforts will be directed at delivering most of these improvements. Extend Bus Service Hours and Provide More Frequent Service The most desired improvements are for more frequent service for longer hours. This input is consistent with the desires of transit riders everywhere. Based on this input, the logical starting point for improvements will be the development of the frequent transit network as well as more frequent service for longer hours on other routes. These improvements will also be expensive in terms of operating cost increases, and as such, initial implementation efforts should focus on

Provide More Frequent Commuter Rail Service to Boston RIDOT is close to launching a program with Amtrak for the use of MBTA commuter rail passes on select Amtrak trains. This agreement would provide access to more frequent rail service between Providence and Boston. Improve Crosstown Services

The development of Rapid Bus, Regional Rapid Bus and LRT or BRT lines also present the greatest opportunities to leverage federal New Starts/Small Starts funding. To be eligible for these funds, the development of these projects needs to follow a prescribed FTA project development process. This process will also provide the mechanism to determine whether the Central Falls-CCRI/Warwick line should be developed as LRT or BRT (or Rapid Bus) and similar decisions on other lines. Because federal funding will be essential to the development of this plan, the initiation of project development for the highest priority High Capacity Lines should begin in the short-term. An additional early effort to make service faster will be the development of the highway improvements needed to implement 59

Transit Forward RI 2040

express bus on shoulder service. It is possible that RIDOT could incorporate those improvements into upcoming highway projects. Development of Providence-Boston commuter rail improvements will be led by the MBTA with RIDOT as a participating stakeholder. The MBTA has direction from the Fiscal Management Control Board (FMCB) on broad goals for improving commuter rail service, including a Phase 1 effort involving the Providence Line. As MassDOT and the MBTA work to advance a funded implementation plan, RIDOT remains poised to assist and facilitate necessary changes in Rhode Island to accommodate for the potential new operations. All future improvements along the entire Northeast Corridor are coordinated by the Northeast Corridor Commission and its 15-year Northeast Corridor Service Development Plan process currently underway, and its ongoing 5-Year capital planning process. RIDOT, MassDOT and MBTA, along with Amtrak, are active members and participants in these Commission planning efforts.

Partnerships The implementation of the Transit Forward RI plan will require strong partnerships among many parties. Most importantly, RIPTA and RIDOT have many complementary capabilities that can further the implementation of this plan. RIPTA has a particularly strong expertise in how to design transit services that people want and that will increase ridership. RIDOT’s experience is in design and construction, and this plan includes many projects that will require design and construction expertise. RIDOT can also make highway improvements that will improve transit, especially with respect to express bus on shoulder service. In addition: •

New LRT and/or BRT and Rapid Bus lines will operate on local roads. For these lines to be developed as effectively as possible, RIPTA will need to work closely with local communities. Local communities will also need to help improve pedestrian and bicycle connections to, from, and around stations.

•

The development of High Capacity Transit services also provides opportunities for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). However, while the projects can stimulate demand, many other actions are also require to make it happen. The successful development of TOD will happen through partnerships between RIPTA, RIDOT, local communities, and developers.

•

The plan includes major improvements to Rhode Island-Boston commuter rail services. These improvements will require close collaboration between RIDOT, the MBTA, and Amtrak.

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The use of MBTA commuter rail passes on Amtrak trains and Amtrak service to TF Green Airport will require new partnerships between RIDOT and Amtrak.

Next Steps

Project/Program IMPROVE AND EXPAND SERVICES AND LAY GROUNDWORK FOR BIGGER IMPROVEMENTS

YEARS

Develop a funding plan and strategy to leverage existing and new funding sources with broad-based public support Develop a Frequent Transit Network developed by increasing service on existing local routes Provide more frequent service for longer hours on other local routes, with an emphasis on improving midday and evening services in high need areas Use of MBTA Commuter Rail passes on Amtrak trains Complete Pawtucket/Central Falls commuter rail station Introduce app-based reservations, fare payment, and vehicle tracking for Flex service Implement bus stop improvements at high volume stops Initiate project development for highest priority LRT and/or BRT lines and Rapid Bus lines Develop bus lanes and Transit Signal Priority in LRT/BRT and Rapid Bus corridors and Transit Emphasis Corridors Extend the R-Line to Central Falls as precursor to LRT/BRT development Begin to implement bus on shoulder improvements Provide additional services to special events Implement a Service Partnership Program to encourage third-party funding for transit expansion Begin making pedestrian improvements to and from major transit locations Implement joint MBTA, RIPTA, SRTA, and GATRA fares Implement the first services to new areas

FOCUS ON HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT

YEARS

Construct the first High Capacity Transit lines Continue to implement frequency and span improvements Continue to expand service to new areas Implement transit priority at traffic chokepoints Develop new park and ride lots Develop an east-west Transit Emphasis Corridor Improve rail service to TF Green Airport, including development of an Amtrak Station Make bus stop improvements at more stops Develop new regional and community transit hubs Continue to improve pedestrian and bicycle conditions at and around major transit facilities Develop new Mobility-as-a-Service options

A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE SYSTEM Frequent rail service between Providence and Boston Additional High Capacity Transit lines Continued development of mobility hubs Pedestrian improvements at and around major transit facilities Continued development of Mobility-as-a-Service options