PAWTUCKET – The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will hold a public forum for Pawtucket area residents on proposed service reductions on Friday, October 3. The meeting will be held at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center (175 Main St.) in the theatre and is scheduled to start at 6 pm.

RIPTA officials will present the authority’s service reduction proposal, answer questions from the public and collect public input. Information gathered from the public at the meeting will be presented to the RIPTA Board of Directors, who must approve any service reductions in the proposal.

RIPTA is proposing service reductions to help address a $10.8 million shortfall in Fiscal Year 2009 that is largely due to a reduction in revenue from the state gas tax, the Authority’s principal means of state support, and the high cost of fuel to operate the system.

“We want to continue creating a first-class transit system for Rhode Island but that’s not possible with our current funding stream. Transit agencies across the country that depend on only one revenue source, like the gas tax, are experiencing the same problem coupled with a high demand for transit,” said RIPTA General Manager Alfred J. Moscola.

RIPTA reduced the original shortfall of $12.2 million to $10.8 million by increasing ad revenue and by leaving 12 staff vacancies unfilled, deferring capital projects requiring a local match, deferring six general overhauls, reducing building maintenance supplies and taking other cost-cutting measures.

Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 2 at the DaVinci Community Center, 470 Charles St., Providence from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A meeting in Smithfield is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Smithfield Senior Center, 1 Wm J. Hawkins, Jr. Trail, Smithfield from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Local routes targeted for complete elimination are Route 53, Smithfield Avenue; Route 73, Fairlawn/CCRI, and Route 80 Armistice Boulevard.
The Route 90 Park n' Ride, which offered service from Lincoln Mall and the Blackstone River Visitors Center and Chimney Hill in Cumberland, will also be done away with.
Local route segments being cut include Route 9 Pascoag, all service beyond Apple Valley.

Saturday service would be cut on Route 79, Columbus Ave. in Pawtucket and Sunday service will be stopped on Route 34, East Providence. All weekend service will be eliminated on Route 76, Central Ave. in Pawtucket.
Fewer buses will run during the day on Route 33 Riverside; Route 34, East Providence; Route 54, Woonsocket (all express runs eliminated); Route 77 Benefit/Broadway and Route 99, Providence/Pawtucket.
Buses will stop at 7 p.m. on weekdays on Route 33, Riverside; Route 34, East Providence; Route 54, Woonsocket; Route 71, Broad Street; Route 72, Weeden Street; Route 76, Central; Route 77, Benefit/Broadway; Route 78, Beverage Hill; Route 87, Fairmount/Walnut Hill, and Route 99 Providence/Pawtucket.
On Saturdays and Sundays, service will end at 7 p.m. on Route 33 Riverside; Route 34, East Providence; Route 71 Broad Street; Route 92, Weeden Street and Route 99, Providence/Pawtucket.
Service will stop at 7 p.m. on Saturdays only on Route 77 Benefit/Broadway and Route 78, Beverage Hill.