PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will hold public hearings regarding proposed service changes on December 4 and 5. According to RIPTA, one set of hearings will take place at the CCRI Knight Campus in Warwick on December 4 from 12:30 – 2 p.m. and 5:30 – 7 p.m. The other set will take place at the Providence Foundation in Providence on December 5 from 12:30 – 2 p.m. and 5:30 – 7 p.m. Discussed at the hearings will be service increases, eliminations and new service implementation. The following changes will be discussed at the hearings: Route 10X New daily trips will be added to operate between the new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Johnston and downtown Providence. This pilot service launched October 2024. Route 28 (Broadway/Hartford) Some trips will be extended to serve the new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Johnston. Route 29 (CCRI Warwick/Conimicut) Due to low ridership, the deviation to Long St. and Strawberry Field will be eliminated. Route 35 (Rumford/Newport Ave.) This route will no longer travel inbound over I-195. Outbound trips remain the same. Route 72 (Weeden/Central Falls) Weekday frequency will be increased from every 24 minutes to every 20 minutes. Route 78 (Beverage Hill Ave/East Providence) This route will no longer travel inbound over I-195. Outbound trips remain the same. Frequency on weekday trips will be increased from every 50 minutes to every 40-45 minutes all day. Frequency on Saturday trips will be increased from every 45 minutes to every 35 minutes all day. Frequency on Sunday trips will be increased from every 90 minutes to every 50 minutes all day. Providence School Service Select afternoon trips traveling from Hope High School, Mt. Pleasant High School, E-Cubed Academy, Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School, Central/Classical/PCTA and the Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex will now operate directly to neighborhood RIPTA Routes without having to transfer in Kennedy Plaza. Under state law, the Authority must post the hearing schedule prior to holding any public hearings. All input from the public at the hearings will be submitted to RIPTA’s Board of Directors in December and the Board will vote on the proposed service changes at its December 19, 2024, board meeting. If approved, service changes would go into effect on January 18, 2025. For more information on these changes, go to RIPTA.com/PublicHearings. Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island