New RIPTA busses are cleaner, smoother, still admit students for free

Bouncing through the tight, narrow streets of downtown Bristol, the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) bus makes frequent stops to pick up students and Bristolians alike. All day, everyday, the route 60 bus travels between Newport and Providence, passing through Bristol, offering convenient, inexpensive, and now environmentally friendly transportation.

RIPTA has found a way to provide an even more environmentally friendly transportation service by introducing hybrid buses.

"The new buses ride a lot smoother. These [current] buses do not take the bumps well," said RIPTA driver Ron Bay.

The bus route that travels through Bristol has not been lucky enough to have the new buses yet, but they are expected to grace the streets of Bristol soon.

"The new ones do not have the transmitter for the bridge yet," said Bay, who has driven the new buses, just not along route 60.

The hybrid buses are powered by clean diesel hybrid electrical propulsion systems, have new soft seating, and have improved shock absorbers for a better ride. Most importantly though, they save approximately 20 percent on fuel and reduce up to 50% percent of nitrogen oxides, according to Cristy Raposo, the marketing coordinator for RIPTA.

Taking public transportation is already an environmentally friendly thing to do. The fewer the number of cars on the road, the less the amount of pollution is released into the air.

However, students now have an opportunity to take improved and enhanced environmentally friendly public transportation services. Students like Emily Levasseur, who have ridden the hybrid buses, say they are a big improvement.

"I take the RIPTA a few times a week. It is an easy way to get to Providence and my internship. The new buses look really nice, they are cleaner, and smell a lot better," Levasseur said.

The fact that they save on fuel and release fewer emissions into the air is also a big improvement for the RIPTA rider.

"It's great that the new RIPTA buses are hybrid. This sets a great example and shows awareness to other Rhode Islanders and commuters that we have to be careful with the environment we live in," Levasseur said. "It is our responsibility to do whatever we can to help our environment."

In addition to the new buses, RIPTA has also developed a five-year strategic plan to improve public transportation in Rhode Island. This will include new service routes to accommodate more passengers and connect riders with new destinations that will hopefully improve the economy in the state. Some parts of this plan have already been put into effect.

Just in time for the end-of-the-semester hustle home, RIPTA has added a new line from Kennedy Plaza in Providence to the Warwick Train Station. This line will conveniently bring students within walking distance of T.F. Green Airport. This will certainly help cut down on travel time and headaches for those heading to Warwick and catching a flight out of Rhode Island.

Another added benefit of riding RIPTA is that it does not hurt the average student's wallet at all.

All Roger Williams University students can ride the RIPTA anywhere they want in Rhode Island for free. RWU provides students with RIPTA passes that can be picked up at the ID office in the commons.