RIPTA

Introduction

Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority, or RIPTA, currently operates transit services for the state of Rhode Island. Most RIPTA routes centralize at the Kennedy Plaza in Providence, Rhode Island.

Routes

Many bus routes comprise the RIPTA system. Routes are identified by number and are usually indicated on front and side destination signs. RIPTA’s main hub is Kennedy Plaza in Providence, Rhode Island. RIPTA makes connections with MBTA and Amtrak at Providence Station.

Local Buses

One of RIPTA’s Gillig BRT Hybrids in Downtown Providence, RI
  • 1 – Eddy Street/Hope Street/Benefit Street
  • 3 – Oakland Beach
  • 4 – Warwick Ave
  • 6 – Prairie Ave/Roger Williams Park Zoo
  • 13 – Coventry/Arctic/CCRI
  • 14 – West Bay (2 ways: Newport or Narragansett)
  • 16 -Ball Hill Road/New England Institute of Technology/Quonset (New Route!)
  • 17 – Dyer/Pocasset
  • 18 – Union Ave
  • 19 – Plainfield/Westminster Street
  • 20 – Elmwood Ave/T.F. Green Airport (Some trips go to New England Tech)
  • 21 – Reservoir/Garden City/CCRI Warwick
  • 22 – Pontiac Ave/CCRI Warwick
  • 23 – Artic Center/Crompton/Centre of New England (New Route!)
  • 27 – Broadway/Manton Ave (2 ways: George Waterman or Woonasquatucket)
  • 28 – Broadway/Hartford Ave
  • 29 – CCRI Warwick/Conimicut
  • 30 – Arlington/Oaklawn
  • 31 – Cranston St
  • 32 – East Providence/Wampanoag/Seekonk Sq.
  • 33 – Riverside
  • 34 – East Providence/Seekonk Square
  • 35 – Rumford/Newport Ave
  • 40 – Butler/Elmgrove
  • 49 – Camp St/Miriam Hospital (Discontinued)
  • 50 – Douglas Ave/Bryant University
  • 51 – Charles St/Twin River/CCRI Lincoln
  • 54 – Lincoln/Woonsocket
  • 55 – Admiral Street/Providence College
  • 56 – Chalkstone Ave
  • 57 – Smith St
  • 58 – Mineral Spring/Smithfield Crossings/North Providence
  • 60 – Providence/Newport (2 ways: East Main or West Main)
  • 63 – Broadway/Middletown Shops
  • 64 – Newport/URI Kingston
  • 66 – TF Green/CCRI Warwick/URl Kingston
  • 67 – Bellevue/Salve Regina Univ.
  • 68 – CCRI Newport/Memorial Boulevard/First beach (New Route!)
  • 69 – Narragansett / Galilee
  • 71 – Broad St/Pawtucket Ave
  • 72 – Weeden/Central Falls
  • 73 – Mineral Spring/Twin River/CCRI
  • 75 – Dexter/Lincoln Mall
  • 76 – Central Ave
  • 78 – Beverage Hill Ave/East Providence
  • 80 – Armistice Blvd
  • 87 – Fairmount/Walnut Hill
  • 92 – RI College/Federal Hill/East Side
RIPTA Proterra Electric bus

Express Routes:

  • 9x – Pascoag Park-n-Ride10x – North Scituate Park-n-Ride
  • 12x – Arctic/117 Express Park-n-Ride
  • 59x – N. Smithfield/Lincoln Mall Park-n-Ride
  • 61x – Tiverton/East Bay Park-n-Ride
  • 65x – Wakefield Park-Ride
  • 95x – Westerly Park-n-Ride
  • QX – Quonset Express

Special Services:

  • R – R Line Broad/North Main (BRT Route)
  • 24L – Newport/Fall River/Providence

Flex Service

  • 203 – URI/Narragansett/S. Kingstown
  • 204 – Westerly Flex
  • 231 – South Aquidneck Flex
  • 242 – West Warwick/Coventry Flex
  • 281 – Woonsocket Flex
  • 282 – Pascoag/Slatersville Flex
  • 301 – Westerly/Hope Valley Rural Ride

Bus Fleet Roster

The bus fleet compiles mostly of Gillig BRTs in Hybrid and clean diesel varieties. The first two digits of the fleet number represent the last two digits of the year the vehicle was built. For example, 0901 would be built in 2009. Following this, it’s clear that 1301 would be a 2013 model.

YearMake/ModelImageEngine/ TransmissionNumbersNotes
2009Gillig Low Floor
’40
Engine: Cummins ISL EPA 2007
Transmission: Allison B400R-5
0912-0935All Units Retired and scrapped

0925 Remains on property
2010Gillig/Cable
Car Classics
Trolley Replica ’35
Engine: Cummins ISB 6.7
Transmission: Allison 40 EP
1001-1010Originally all wearing a red livery. Currently all feature a green livery.

Most if not all units have been Rehabbed.

Most units currently reside at Elmwood except for 1005 & 1008. It is presumed that these units will be retiring very soon.

Units Retired: 1003
2010 Gillig BRT HEV
’40
Engine: Cummins ISB 6.7
Transmission: Allison H 40 EP
1021-1073 1021, 1024, 1032, 1041, 1045, 1046, 1050, 1055, 1060 are listed as spare buses.

According to fleet plans, 5 of these buses are to be rebuilt and will be reactivated. It is very unlikely that this will happen.

Units Retired
2010 Gillig BRT
’35
Engine: Cummins ISL
Transmission: Allison B400R6
1081-1090Only 1090 remains active

Replaced by a combination of 2050 – 2058 & 2220-2231

Units Retired
2013Gillig BRT
’40
Engine: Cummins ISL9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
1301-13501301-1314 currently wear “R Line” Livery, however R-Line stickers have been removed and these buses now get used on any route, however they are prioritized for the R-Line.

Long term Out Of Service (or potentially retired): 1319, 1330, 1331, 1337, 1344

1335 retired due to a fire.

1316, 1317, 1318, 1323, 1326, 1327, 1329, 1330, 1331, 1333, 1336, 1338, 1343 & 1350 are retired

1345, 1346, 1347, 1348 reside at the Middletown garage and are spare buses. Occasionally some units return to providence.

Some units have or are being currently rehabbed by RIPTA.

Certain units retiring.
2016Gillig BRT
’40
Engine: Cummins ISL9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
1601-1642Some have rear destination sign, some others do not.

1619 was the first bus to be fitted with a operator barrier

Some units have or are being currently rehabbed by RIPTA.

Long term Out Of Service:
1618, 1624
2018Proterra Catalyst 2
BE40
Electric Bus1811-1813Leased electric buses.
Used only on the R-Line.

Update: The buses were purchased from the lease right before the lease expired.

Current status: Sidelined & Retired from service
2019 Gillig BRT
’40
 Engine: Cummins L9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
1901-1933
Many buses from this series transferred to the Middletown garage upon the retirement of the 09 series.

1901-1913 reside at the Middletown Garage however recent fleet changes have caused some units to go back to Elmwood

Long term Out Of Service: 1918
2020 Gillig BRT
’40
Engine: Cummins L9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
2001-2015Long term Out Of Service:
2014
2020 Gillig BRT
29
Engine: Cummins L9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
2050-2058Used on lower frequency routes and on routes that require smaller vehicles.

Long term Out Of Service: No vehicles as of last update.
2022New Flyer XE40 “Xcelsior” RIPTA 2022 New Flyer XE40 on route display at the NEPTA Expo - Courtesy of RIPTA's Twitter PageSiemens ELFA2 320KWH configuration.2201-2214Features the new “Wave” livery

All Units Delivered Late 2022 – early 2023 but did not get active until January 2024.

CT Transit Spec

Long term Out Of Service:
2205
2022Gillig BRT
’35
TBAEngine: Cummins L9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
2220-22312220 & 2221 were the first to be put in service on Jan 18, 2023.

2220-2226 reside at the Middletown Garage. 2220-2224 have been wrapped to mimic the trolley replicas.

Features the new “Wave” livery

Long term Out Of Service: No vehicles as of last update.
2022Gillig BRT
’40
TBAEngine: Cummins L9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
2240-22672240-2250 Reside at the Middletown Garage

Order is for 28 40ft diesel buses to help replace the aging 2009 fleet and the retired BRT Hybrids

Features the new “Wave” livery

Long term Out Of Service: No vehicles as of last update.
2024Gillig BRT
’40
TBAEngine: Cummins L9
Transmission: Allison B400R6
2401-2429To replace the remaining Gillig Hybrids and part of the 2013 fleet.

Features the new “Wave” livery with a minor revision

2405 has yet to enter service.

Long term Out Of Service: 2405
TBATBATBATBATBA1 standing RFPs for FY25.

2025: 25 Fixed Route buses (To be Hybrid-Electric powered) as funding was secured to convert these buses into Hybrid or Electric power. It is most likely this will be a hybrid bus order.
YearMake/ModelImageEngine/TransmissionNumbersNotes
RIPTA Bus Roster as of Jun 6th, 2025