Free bus rides for seniors and disabled Medicaid users end Wednesday. These riders will now pay fifty cents a ride. But the state Department of Elderly Affairs may be able to help offset some of the cost.
For years, RIPTA provided free rides to seniors and the disabled on Medicaid. But the transit authority says it can no longer afford to lose money on the program and decided to begin charging. Advocates for the elderly and disabled have protested the move, saying fifty cents a ride can be a lot for people on small fixed incomes.
Now the Department of Elderly Affairs will be offering a little help to offset the cost, says director Charles Fogarty.
“At senior centers throughout Rhode Island, seniors can come in with their discount card and get one free five dollar pass card each month for their transportation needs while supplies last.
Governor Gina Raimondo directed the agency to allocate 50,000 dollars for the program. State lawmakers have introduced legislation that would restore RIPTA’s free ride program.
Here are the distribution locations for the free bus passes, courtesy the Rhode Island Dept. of Elderly Affairs:
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Veteran Distribution Locations please contact the designated location to learn distribution dates and times
Providence VA Medical Center, Primary Care Social Work Staff 830 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02908/(401) 273-7100, x4229 RI Office of Veterans Affairs 560 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI 02886/(401) 921-2119 RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery 301 South County Trail, Exeter, RI 02822/(401) 268-3088 RI Veterans Home 480 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809/(401) 253-8000 |
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Senior Center Distribution Locations and Catchment Areas please contact the designated location to learn distribution dates and times
Smithfield Senior Center: serving seniors living in Smithfield, North Smithfield, Glocester and Burrillville 1 William J. Hawkins, Jr. Trail, Greenville, RI 02828/(401) 949-4590 Senior Services, Inc.: serving seniors living in Woonsocket, Cumberland and Lincol 84 Social Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895/(401) 766-0516 Salvatore Mancini Resource and Activity Center: serving seniors living in North Providence 2 Atlantic Boulevard, North Providence, RI 02911/(401) 231-0742 Leon Mathieu Senior Center: serving seniors living in Pawtucket and Central Falls 420 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860/(401) 728-7582 Johnston Senior Center: serving seniors living in Johnston, Foster and Scituate 1291 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919/(401) 944-3343 PROVIDENCE locations serving seniors living in Providence: Mayor’s Office of Senior Services Providence City Hall, Room 101, Providence, RI 02903/(401) 421-2489 The POINT and United Way 2-1-1 Van United Way of Rhode Island, 50 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02909/(401) 462-4444 Federal Hill House 9 Courtland Street, Providence, RI 02909/(401) 421-4722 East Providence Senior Center: serving seniors living in East Providence, Barrington, Bristol and Warren 610 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914/(401) 435-7800 Cranston Senior Services: serving seniors living in Cranston 1070 Cranston Street, Cranston, RI 02920/(401) 780-6000 West Warwick Senior Center: serving seniors living in West Warwick, Coventry, West Greenwich and East Greenwich 145 Washington Street, West Warwick, RI 02893/(401) 822-4450 Pilgrim Senior Center: serving seniors living in Warwick 27 Pilgrim Parkway, Warwick, RI 02888/(401) 468-4090 Westerly Senior Citizens Center: serving seniors living in Westerly, Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton 39 State Street, Westerly, RI 02891/(401) 596-2404 The Senior Center: serving seniors living in South Kingstown, Exeter, North Kingstown, Narragansett, Jamestown & New Shoreham 25 St. Dominic Road, South Kingstown, RI 02879/(401) 789-0268 The Edward King House: serving seniors living in Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown, Tiverton and Little Compton 35 King Street, Newport, RI 02840/(401) 846-7426 |
