RelatedRIPTA board backs service reductions, despite outcry from riders, advocates

"My administration is providing additional resources to RIPTA, consistent with last month's budget agreement, to support the agency in exploring lower-cost transit options that expand mobility statewide and move us toward a more sustainable financial model," McKee said in a statement. "At the same time, we're keeping the focus on growing ridership and supporting our long-term climate goals."

The funding was awarded on Monday by the McKee administration's Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council, or EC4.

"The EC4's funding support for RIPTA represents a key step forward in advancing strategies to reduce emissions from the transportation sector and achieve the climate reduction goals outlined in the Act on Climate," state Department of Environmental Protection Director and EC4 Chair, Terry Gray, said in a statement.

Specifically, the funding includes $440,000 to help RIPTA "strengthen and expand its on-demand flex services to better meet demand and ensure mobility for residents and workers in Newport, Middletown, Narragansett, South Kingstown, and Woonsocket," officials said.

"These additional resources align with the McKee Administration's proposal with RIPTA to explore ways to realign service to better reflect post-pandemic ridership behaviors, including piloting options to blend flex and ADA services to expand mobility statewide," McKee's office said in a statement. "Other states are also experimenting with on-demand models as a flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional service, and Rhode Island has the chance to learn from these approaches while balancing rider needs with lower-cost service options."

Officials have also pledged $15,000 for a pilot program to provide a $200 monthly subsidy for new vanpool riders, in addition to an existing $100 subsidy, for three months, allowing riders to join at no cost during that period.

"Vanpooling offers a sustainable, cost-effective option for areas where traditional transit is less feasible, reducing congestion and emissions while improving access to jobs at industrial parks, hospitals, and universities," McKee's office said.

Another $55,000 will be used to promote transit to out-of-state visitors and increase ridership.

RIPTA to get more than $500,000 to increase ridership, help meet state's climate goals - The Boston Globe