Friday, March 29, 2024

RIPTA RIDERS NEED TO GET NEW PASSES

Cote, Picard urge eligible Woonsocket RIPTA riders to get new passes at local event Friday, AUGUST 5th

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Reduced-fare riders need new passes by September 1, 2016??

STATE HOUSE ??? Sen. Marc A. Cote and Sen. Roger A. Picard are urging Woonsocket residents eligible for reduced-fare bus passes from the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) who do not have new bus passes to attend a local event Friday to get them.

The event, targeted toward Woonsocket residents, is scheduled Friday, Aug. 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Woonsocket Senior Center, 84 Social St.

RIPTA???s reduced-fare program is for passengers who are senior citizens and low-income as well as persons with disabilities who are also low-income. In order to qualify as ???low-income??? for the program, an applicant???s annual income cannot exceed 200-percent of the federal poverty level.

Applicants who attend Friday???s event and have all the proper paperwork with them will likely have their new passes mailed to them in approximately five to seven business days. In addition to providing the necessary paperwork, applicants will be required to pay $10 fee for a new two-year pass and, if they have a current pass, will be required to turn it in.

That documentation includes:

  • Current bus pass (for those already in program)
  • Valid identification (driver???s license, passport, state ID card or Veterans Administration ID card)
  • Proof that income is no more than 200 percent of federal poverty level (IRS tax account transcript for most recent year, SSI award letter, Medicaid eligibility notice letter for most recent year, RI DHS supplemental income verification notice)
  • For those 65 and over applying for the senior card, proof of age (driver???s license, passport, state ID card, Medicare card, green card/citizenship papers)
  • For those applying as someone with a disability, documentation of that disability (Medicare card with disability code, SSI/SSDI award letter, certification of disability from The Providence Center, Department of Veterans Affairs letter with disability rating at or above 40 percent).

Applications for the new pass will be available at the event, which is part of RIPTA???s ???Road Trip??? series to provide Rhode Islanders around the state with local opportunities to apply for the new pass. While a scheduled fare increase will not occur until Jan. 1, all program participants are required to have the new pass by Sept. 1. The new pass is the one featuring a white wave on a light blue background.

???We know many people count on their RIPTA pass for all of their everyday transportation needs, so it???s very important that everyone who has one gets the updated pass that will be required beginning next month. This is a very convenient opportunity to take care of this errand without a trip to Providence, and we???re grateful to RIPTA for making that possible,??? said Senator Cote (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield).

Said Senator Picard, (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland), ???We???d like to remind everyone to check very carefully ahead of time to make sure they have all the necessary paperwork with them to avoid having to take a trip to Providence before the end of the month to follow up. Naturally, we???d prefer to see people submit their applications the easy way, right here in Woonsocket. We???re also expecting a crowd, so the better prepared everyone is, the more swiftly everyone will be served.???

For more info, applications, income eligibility requirements, documentation checklists and to see an example of the new pass, visit www.ripta.com.?? RIPTA reminds passengers that everyone???s situation is unique and that its Customer Service staff works with applicants to help them identify the documentation they need.

New passes are also available at the RIPTA customer service office, 705 Elmwood Ave., Providence, and RIPTA???s Photo Identification Office, 1 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, during business hours. The same documentation criteria apply. To request an application to be mailed, please call RIPTA Customer Service at (401) 784-9500 ext. 197. All completed applications must be presented in person.