ROUTE 78 | BEVERAGE HILL/NEWPORT AVE - ripta

• Provide Additional Weekday Service: Route 78’s service levels are very low, but ridership isstill fairly strong. This indicates that there is likely demand for more frequent service. With a 90minute cycle time, service levels could be improved to every 30 minutes during peak periods andevery 45 minutes during off-peak periods. (This increase would likely be essential if Route 35Rumford where to be shortened to operate to and from Wampanoag Plaza, which is an option forthat route (see Route 35 route evaluation).)• Begin Sunday Service at 9:00 AM: Sunday ridership before 9:00 AM averages ninepassengers per trip, which is low. The start of Sunday service could be delayed until 9:00 AM toprovide resources that could partially fund weekday improvements.• Operate through Narragansett Park Plaza in Both Directions: Route 78 operatesthrough Narragansett Park Plaza inbound (southbound) but not outbound (northbound). This isso that inbound passengers do not have to cross Newport Avenue. Narragansett Park Plaza is oneof Route 78’s most important stops, and it may be appropriate to operate service into theshopping center in both directions.• Consolidate Stops to Improve Running Times. Route 78 has an average of 5.9 stops permile, though clusters of these stops are spaced much closer together than the average–some areashave a stop every 500 feet. This stop spacing is closer than desirable, and the consolidation ofstops would make service faster and more reliable.Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Inc. | 10