Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

RIPTA Expands Flex Service to Manville

Improving Public Transportation Access to Hundreds of Residents

 

Manville, RI, June 27, 2022 – The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) today announced the expansion of Flex Service 281 (Woonsocket/Manville) into Manville, Rhode Island. Passengers can travel within the local Flex Zone, which includes Woonsocket and Manville, in addition to connecting to RIPTA’s fixed-route, statewide service. Key destinations in the Zone include Manville Manor, Stop & Shop, Landmark Medical Center, Dowling Village, Walmart-North Smithfield and Walnut Hill Shopping Center.

 

Flex Service brings a public transportation option to areas that have little or no fixed-route service. The name Flex is short for flexible service because it offers passengers the option of choosing their own pick-up or drop-off point within their designated local Flex Zone.

"The more quality transportation options we have for our communities, the more accessible Rhode Island becomes for everyone,” said Governor Dan McKee.  “Thank you Representative Ackerman for your attention to the needs of our Manville residents and to RIPTA for making this happen.”

“This Flex Service expansion will improve access to jobs, education and opportunity for the residents of Manville,” said Scott Avedisian, RIPTA Chief Executive Officer. “This is another step forward toward creating a world class transit system for Rhode Island, as outlined in the State’s Transit Master Plan.”

 Flex 281 (Woonsocket/Manville) is available Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM with a 24-hour advance reservation. From this Flex Zone, passengers can transfer to Route 54 (Lincoln/Woonsocket), Route 87 (Fairmount/Walnut Hill), Route 59X (North Smithfield/ Lincoln Mall Park-n-Ride) and Route 282 (Pascoag/Slatersville Flex). Manville residents should expect to receive a mailer from RIPTA this week redeemable for one complimentary Flex ride. Passengers will simply need to present the mailer to the driver to redeem it.

We all know the importance transportation plays in people’s lives.  It is critical that people have convenient access to essential services such as stores, medical facilities, and community centers where they live,” said State Representative Mia Ackerman. “That is why we are so excited that the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has expanded its Woonsocket Flex Zone to include Manville. This reservation-based service will also give Manville residents a connection to RIPTA’s statewide service, and we are aware that RIPTA is looking ahead to making its Flex service even easier to use in the future.  We appreciate this new service option for Manville area residents, and we look forward to collaborating with RIPTA on more projects in the future.”

Flex Service expands the menu of mobility options for state residents, providing them with convenient, affordable transportation within their communities and an opportunity to make seamless connections to other locations in the State.

“I am extremely pleased that RIPTA is now offering Flex service to the Manville section of Lincoln, said Phil Gould, Lincoln Town Administrator.  “This expansion will help provide transportation options to one of the more densely populated areas of town.  In light of the recent spike in fuel costs this will provide an opportunity that couldn’t come at a better time.”   

 

This Flex Service expansion is part of RIPTA’s broader, long-range plan to improve service as mentioned in the Transit Master Plan - Transit Forward RI 2040. This bold and ambitious plan is designed to help make Rhode Island a better and more prosperous place to live, work, and play.

 

To use Flex Service, passengers can either make a reservation 24 hours in advance by calling 401-784-9500 ext. 1220. The fare structure for Flex is the same as RIPTA’s fixed-route bus service.

 

Link to video clips: https://wetransfer.com/downloads/71e126c947f59bdd8ce75a0635636d1120220627150026/f3923446c65013fe5a91a7e63745437820220627150046/bef34e

For more information on RIPTA’s programs and services, visit RIPTA.com or call 401-781-9400.

 

House Speaker Mike Johnson will meet with Jewish students today at Columbia University in New York City. His visit comes as the school faces massive protests against Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories. Hundreds of students have been protesting for days against the Biden administration's response to the Israel-Hamas war, calling for an end to support for Israel.        A new foreign aid bill will be signed into law by President Biden today. The Senate passed the 95-billion dollar emergency foreign aid package yesterday. It includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific as well as the groundwork to ban the social media app TikTok in the U.S.        A case involving emergency abortions is being heard by the Supreme Court. The high court is hearing arguments currently on whether emergency rooms in Idaho can provide abortions to a woman whose health is at risk. Idaho's law makes it a felony for physicians to perform most abortions except to save the life of the mother.        The national average price for a gallon of gas is holding steady. Triple A reports the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is still three-dollars-and-66-cents across the country. That's the same as it was a week ago, but 13 cents more than a month ago.       The older people get, the later they think old age starts. A German study published this week in the American Psychological Association's Psychology and Aging journal checked in with thousands of people over the years born between 1911 and 1974. The longer the study went on, the further away people saw the start of old age.       Former University of Southern California running back Reggie Bush is getting his 2005 Heisman Trophy back, according to a report from ESPN. Bush had his trophy taken away in 2010 after the NCAA [[ N-C-Double-A ]] imposed sanctions on USC for infractions including Bush receiving improper benefits. The Heisman Trust told ESPN the "reinstatement" of Bush's trophy comes as there has been "enormous changes in the college football landscape."       

Old News Archives