The final public hearing on proposed changes to Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) service will be held in the Barrington library on Wednesday night.

The hearing will run from 6 to 8 pm.

It is set up to gather feedback on RIPTA’s statewide review of transit services -- deemed a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). That review could eliminate routes to overcome a multi-million dollar deficit.

The COA, for instance, now appears to eliminate bus route 32 that goes through West Barrington by way of Washington Road and Bay Spring Avenue.

"As part of this study, RIPTA has been working to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our bus system, and to determine where we might redirect resources to better serve our customers and attract more riders to our network," according to Mark Therrien, AGM of Planning at RIPTA. "Public input is a critical part of this process as our goal is to put service where it would best serve the people of our state."

The study is undertaking a detailed review process to identify where people live and work, how each bus route is performing today, and where changes might possibly be made to better serve riders.

Under the draft proposal, Route 32 through West Barrington would be reconfigured to operate between the Citizen’s Bank call center in East Providence and downtown Providence via Wampanoag Trail to Pawtucket Avenue, Martin Street,  South Broadway to Warren Avenue, then the Washington Bridge to Kennedy Plaza.

Service would still be provided from 6 am to 7 pm with 60-minute frequencies, plus one additional evening trip to serve the last shift at Citizen’s Bank. 

All the ideas under consideration can be found on the projects page of RIPTA’s website by clicking here.