Rhode Island General Laws Title 39. Public Utilities and Carriers § 39-13-1. Definitions

(a) “ Coordinated paratransit services” means paratransit services coordinated by the department of transportation, to be provided under a brokerage or other contractual model to provide, promote, and coordinate new or existing paratransit operations to enable all state, municipal, and private agencies access to appropriate paratransit services. For the purpose of this chapter, non-emergency medical transportation as defined in § 39-14.3-1 shall not be considered to be coordinated paratransit services.

(b) “ Jitney” means and includes any motor bus or other public-service motor vehicle operated in whole or in part upon any street or highway in such manner as to afford a means of transportation similar to that afforded by a street railway company, by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers; or running on a regular route or over any portion thereof; or between fixed termini.

(c) “ Paratransit services” means flexible transportation services provided on a demand-responsive and advance-reservation basis, for any destination within the scope of a service program provided by a state or municipal agency, the fee for which is determined pursuant to a contract between the service provider and the state or municipal agency. Paratransit includes single or group trips or trips made on a recurring basis such as for work, school, medical, nutrition, and sheltered workshops.

(d) “Public-service motor vehicle” shall include all motor vehicles as defined in § 31-1-3, used for the transportation of passengers for hire.

(e) “ Transportation operator(s)” means an entity(ies) providing flexible transportation services that are operated publicly or privately, and are distinct from conventional fixed-route, fixed-schedule transit, and are generally operated with low-capacity vehicles that provide curb-to-curb or door-to-door service that typically involves transportation of elderly, disabled, low-income, or the otherwise transportation-dependent population.