RIPTA celebrates opening of new Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center Passenger Facility

Governor McKee, members of the State’s Congressional delegation and General Assembly, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), municipal leaders, and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) gathered today to celebrate the opening of the new passenger amenity building at the Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center.

Save RIPTA coalition’s statement regarding the opening day of the Pawtucket/Central Falls Transit Center amenity building:

“Congratulations to all of the hardworking designers, planners, and tradespeople who worked to bring the Pawtucket/Central Falls Passenger Amenity Building online as of this morning! Facilities like these underscore the importance of public transit and its users, as elected leaders each reiterated in remarks before cutting the ribbon.

"We send our thanks to Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse, Representative Amo, and Representative Magaziner for securing federal funds to build this facility and to everyone at RIPTA for advancing it to completion.

"Yet for all the shiny new tangible assets, you still need buses to actually move, and get places on time, which means you need people. It’s RIPTA’s operations budget that funds bus drivers, fuel, maintenance workers, customer service representatives, and other essential staff, as well as ongoing costs. Cuts to this budget resulted in the largest cuts to service in RIPTA’s history in September.

"We hope all of the leaders who spoke in support of transit riders will appreciate that the frequency of bus service is as important as the amenities provided to riders, and work to reverse the service cuts at the state house this year.”

Located at 300 Pine Street in Pawtucket, the new passenger facility features public restrooms, driver restrooms, a break room, a waiting area with seating and real-time passenger information screens, and a security office. RIPTA will also have a staffed customer service window to assist riders as needed. This new building will improve the passenger experience for both bus and rail passengers.

“We’re excited to welcome passengers to the new facility at the Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center, which represents the future we’re building — a transit system that’s modern, reliable, and centered on the people who use it every day,” said RIPTA Chief Executive Officer Christopher Durand. “With amenities like public restrooms, comfortable waiting areas, real-time information, and an on-site customer service window, this investment reinforces our commitment to providing a safe, accessible, and welcoming hub for both bus and rail customers. It also provides our drivers with a comfortable place to recharge between trips. We’re grateful to Governor McKee and our federal, state, and local partners for making this important improvement possible for riders and employees alike.”

Routes 1, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 80, and the R-Line serve the Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center Passenger Facility, providing over 500 trips per day. RIPTA recorded over 241,000 boardings at this hub in 2025.

Governor McKee allocated $5 million for the construction of this 2,600-square-foot passenger facility building within his FY23 budget. Bentley Builders served as the general contractor constructing the building, and BL Companies designed the facility.