Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) together with the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) are announcing the expansion of commuter rail service to T.F. Green Station in Warwick. The new schedule, which takes effect on Monday, November 14, 2011, nearly doubles the number of stops Monday through Friday on the Providence/Stoughton line.
The commuter rail station is located at the InterLink at T.F. Green Airport and service is provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The MBTA initiated service from Warwick to Providence and Boston on December 6, 2010 with 11 weekday stops. The new service will include 20 weekday stops, and for the first time provide service to and from the Airport to better match up with flight departure and arrival times.
"As Mayor and U.S. Senator, I worked to secure funding for Warwick Station and the InterLink project," Governor Chafee said. "I am very pleased that commuter service will be expanding and there will now be even more opportunities for Rhode Islanders to take the train to work or T.F. Green Airport. This announcement is a further indication of Warwick's growing strength as a regional transportation hub."
The new departure and arrival schedule at T.F. Green Station to Providence and Boston's South Station is as follows:
Departure Times from T.F. Green
• Inbound to Providence/South Station: 5:05 a.m., 6:13 a.m., 6:52 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 9:23 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 3:50 p.m., 8:50 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.
• Inbound to Providence only: 7:20 p.m.
Arrival Times at T.F. Green
• Outbound from Providence only: 4:50 a.m., 5:53 a.m. and 6:25 a.m.
• Outbound from South Station/Providence: 8:39 a.m., 11:17 a.m., 3:16 p.m., 6:27 p.m., 7:03 p.m., 8:17 p.m. and 9:40 p.m.
The enhanced schedule showing the new departure and arrival times, as well as slight changes to existing stop times, is available on the MBTA's website at www.mbta.com. The RIDOT website at www.dot.ri.gov includes direct links to schedule and fare information.
"We look forward to additional service at the Airport this fall," RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. "Commuter rail provides motorists with options that can save them the hassles of driving and parking during peak commuting hours while helping to reduce to congestion on our highways."
"We are pleased with the announcement of expanded MBTA service at the airport," stated Kevin Dillon, President & CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC). "The additional train service provides enhanced connectivity for travelers looking to fly in and out of T.F. Green. The new MBTA schedule also aligns better with our flight options."
Ticket fares remain unchanged, and vary by distance traveled. Travel between T.F. Green and Providence costs $2.25 each way. Travel between T.F. Green and Boston costs $8.25 each way. Seniors and persons with disabilities get 50 percent off. Children age 11 and younger are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Monthly passes for unlimited travel between Providence and T.F. Green cost $77. Monthly passes for unlimited travel between T.F. Green and Boston cost $265, which also includes travel on all MBTA buses and subways and the Inner Harbor Ferry.
Parking at the InterLink garage is $6.75 for the first 24 hours. Customers parking beyond 24 hours will incur an additional charge of $30 per day. The monthly commuter parking rate is currently $110 per month. To celebrate the increased service schedule, the monthly rate will be reduced to $95 per month, effective December 1, 2011. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
The T.F. Green Station is part of the $267 million InterLink project for RIDOT and RIAC. The InterLink features a consolidated rental car facility, a bus hub for Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) buses, and a parking garage with spaces to accommodate 1,800 rental cars and 650 commuter vehicles.
A further extension of commuter rail service to Wickford Junction Station, close to Route 4 in North Kingstown, is expected in 2012. When this station opens, trains will continue down to Wickford Junction from T.F. Green Station and provide service there.
Contact: Charles St. Martin (RIDOT) 401-222-1362 x4007 Rebecca Pazienza (RIAC) 401-691-2278