Over the last several years, RIPTA ridership has increased at a record rate and there has been increasing recognition that transit is a critical component of the state’s infrastructure.  Transit is also recognized as playing an essential role in helping to promote economic growth, provide access to jobs, support public health, and maintain vibrant urban centers. 

As Rhode Island’s Mobility Manager, RIPTA is dedicated to meet growing demand and to plan for the future in a responsive and thoughtful manner.  To that end, the Metro Transit Study has been initiated to evaluate potential transit improvements that would better serve Providence and facilitate mobility between the state’s urban center and the immediately surrounding metropolitan area.  The Study Area is focused on Providence and includes the adjacent, higher-density, urban areas of East Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, North Providence, and portions of Warwick and Cranston east of I-295. 

RIPTA has developed specific Study Tasks based largely upon the recommendations of the Transit 2020 Coalition’s Growing Smart with Transit (as issued in February, 2007). RIPTA and the City of Providence have also established a Metro Transit Working Group to help guide the study and evaluate the potential solutions.   

The study will culminate with recommendations for transit improvements that may be implemented in the immediate short term, as well as several long-term alternatives for further consideration and more detailed evaluation in subsequent study phases.   

This first phase of the study is anticipated to take approximately 12 months and should be complete in the fall of 2009.

Study Area (click image for larger view)