State Officials Join RIPTA to Unveil the State’s New Paratransit Fleet
Historic Federal Investment Delivers Results for Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island – U.S. Senator Jack Reed, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, local officials and the President of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) joined the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to unveil Rhode Island’s new paratransit fleet today.
Fifty new Model 1 Frontrunner vans have been added to RIPTA’s fleet to replace aging vehicles in its RIde paratransit fleet and expand capacity for growing RIde and Flex On Demand service. This $12 million investment was made possible with $9.7 million in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding secured with the support of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation and a 20 percent state match.
The IIJA ushered in unprecedented levels of federal investment in public transportation, providing transit agencies like RIPTA with critical resources to address long-standing infrastructure and fleet needs. With the support of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation, RIPTA has successfully competed for federal funding that is delivering real results for riders and communities across the state.
“We are grateful for our Congressional Delegation’s continued investment in public transportation,” said Christopher Durand, RIPTA Chief Executive Officer. “For riders with disabilities, a safe, reliable and accessible vehicle is essential to maintaining independence and connecting to jobs, health care, education and their communities.”
Since the IIJA was signed into law in 2021, RIPTA has secured over $100 million in federal discretionary funding, compared with $36.5 million over the previous five years. These competitive federal awards have supported crucial state-of-good-repair projects across RIPTA’s facilities, recent and upcoming fleet replacements, and other investments that allow the agency to stretch its federal formula funds further to support technology and passenger amenities.
These federal investments also help the state leverage limited local resources to complete projects that would otherwise take significantly longer.
“Public transit should be accessible, affordable, and convenient for everyone. I’m pleased that RIPTA was able to utilize $9.7 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Senator Whitehouse and I helped pass to purchase these new vehicles. These new vans are a smart, cost-effective investment that will provide a safer, smoother experience for passengers and operators alike,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed.
“I was pleased to help secure this federal investment for 50 new RIPTA vans to improve service for Rhode Island riders with disabilities,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “As the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am working hard to secure additional investments to upgrade Rhode Island’s infrastructure and our public transportation fleet.”
Senate Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone, III said, “This is an important day for transportation access in Rhode Island. The addition of the Model 1 frontrunner vans to RIPTA’s fleet will make getting a ride safer, easier, and more affordable for many of the passengers who rely on RIPTA the most. This represents the kind of progress we need to keep our state on the move.”
“Congratulations to RIPTA for all they are doing to improve and expand service for their community,” said Paul P. Skoutelas, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and Chief Executive Officer. “Investments like this make public transportation more accessible and affordable, create jobs, and drive the U.S. economy, all great reasons for Congress to continue strong, predictable federal funding to expand and modernize transit.”
The new Frontrunner vans are one example of the direct impact of this federal investment. These vehicles feature a low-floor design, flat entryway, kneeling capability and a low-slope manual ramp, making it easier and more convenient for passengers who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices to board and exit the vehicle. The design also makes it easier for van operators to deploy the wheelchair ramp.
The new vehicles will also support RIPTA’s efforts to modernize its fleet and reduce its reliance on outsourced taxi services. By expanding its fleet and workforce, RIPTA will be able to provide more trips directly, giving RIde reservationists greater control over scheduling and helping the agency maximize available resources.
“Thanks to the tenacious advocacy of Senator Reed and the entire Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, RIPTA will have the funding necessary to create a modernized paratransit fleet with purpose-built vehicles that have the support of riders and operators,” said Patrick Crowley, RIPTA Board Chairman. “This is a major advance in our goal to build a 21st century transportation system every Rhode Islander can rely on.”
“As a longtime RIde rider and a blind member of the RIPTA Board, I have a unique appreciation for what this investment means to the people who depend on accessible transportation every day,” said Heather Schey, RIPTA Board member and independent living coordinator/advocate at Ocean State Center for Independent Living. “Reliable transportation is a critical part of independence, and these new vans will help ensure that Rhode Islanders with disabilities can get to their jobs, appointments, activities and communities safely and with dignity. I am excited to welcome these vehicles to the RIde fleet and grateful to our Congressional delegation and state leaders for their commitment and hard work in securing this important investment. I also want to recognize CEO Christopher Durand and the entire RIPTA team for their dedication and hard work in bringing these new vehicles to Rhode Island and continuing to make improvements that directly benefit the riders who rely on these services.”
As demand for accessible transportation continues to grow, this investment will help RIPTA provide more reliable, comfortable and dignified service for Rhode Islanders with disabilities. In 2025, RIPTA provided over 256,975 RIde and RIde Anywhere paratransit trips.
For 60 years, RIPTA has played a critical role in the daily lives of Rhode Islanders providing over 12.5 million passengers trips last year. The Authority is building on that foundation by advancing initiatives that support both service improvements and long-term financial sustainability, including expanding partnerships with employers through Wave to Work, aligning service to workplaces schedules at Quonset Business Park and Amazon, piloting Flex On Demand service on Aquidneck Island and Woonsocket, and leveraging federal grant funds to explore ways to provide faster, more frequent transit service across metropolitan Providence, through the Metro Connector Study.
About RIde Paratransit and RIde Anywhere
RIPTA’s RIde Paratransit Program is a complementary ADA paratransit service that provides shared, reservation-only, door-to-door transportation for qualified people with disabilities who are traveling within ¾-mile of a fixed bus route and are unable to independently use fixed-route bus service or travel to and from a bus stop. RIde Anywhere provides door-to-door transportation anywhere in Rhode Island for qualified passengers with disabilities. First launched as a pilot in January 2024, RIde Anywhere was made permanent by the General Assembly in 2025, expanding access beyond the geographic boundaries of traditional ADA paratransit service.
About Flex On Demand
Flex On Demand is RIPTA’s flexible, app-based transportation service that provides convenient, shared rides within designated service areas. Passengers can request a ride through the Flex On Demand app or by phone and are matched with a vehicle based on their requested pickup and drop-off locations. The service is designed to provide greater mobility and connect passengers to jobs, shopping, health care, transit connections and RIPTA fixed-route service.
For more information on RIPTA’s programs and services,
visit RIPTA.com or call 401-781-9400.
Photo A (Left to Right): Paul P. Skoutelas, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO; Christopher Durand, RIPTA CEO; Senator Whithouse and Senator Reed stand in front of new Model 1 Frontrunner van.