RIPTA, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, held public hearings proposing service cuts from July 28th to August 6th. These cuts are the result  of a 17.6 million dollar deficit. Service reductions will affect multiple routes. This includes route 60, the bus many students, especially freshmen, rely on to travel off campus. 

The proposed cuts would affect route 60 by reducing the weekday frequency “from every 30 minutes all day to every 30 minutes during AM and PM peak hours, every 35 minutes midday, and every 60 minutes at night.” The Saturday frequency will also be reduced “from every 30-35 minutes to every 40 minutes.” According to the RIPTA’s public website. Usually, missing the bus wouldn’t be a major problem because there would be another one coming soon. but now especially at night, if someone misses the bus, they could be waiting for another hour, setting their plans back or even canceling them. 

Most students on campus who don’t have cars use the RIPTA to get to most places off campus without having to break the bank to get there. They can be seen waiting to go into Providence or to catch a ride down to Newport. With these cuts, students might have to resort to Zipcar, a car rental service on campus that charges by the hour along with a year-long membership fee, or rideshare apps like  Uber. 

As of right now, the board of directors has decided to delay the vote to the near future. This came after the public hearings and rallies where Rhode Island residents voiced their concerns. Different proposals have been brought to the table with the hope to make target cuts without hurting the entire community.