RIPTA service changes postponed amid wage increase monitoring

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) announced Thursday that it will postpone proposed service changes set to go in effect April 6. The postponement will take place in order to monitor the effects of new driver wage increases on the recruitment and retention of new drivers. A collectively bargained agreement which raised the starting driver wage from $21.71 to $25.33 per hour is a factor, and RIPTA hopes the increase will address the ongoing driver shortage. The changes proposed would eliminate or reduce underperforming routes...