The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has announced that for the next six months it will continue free transportation for passengers enrolled in its program for low income senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Citing additional funding in the new state budget, the authority said it will now have more time to work with other state agencies to make sure that assistance programs that may help some passengers with the new reduced fare are in place. RIPTA is also extending the deadline for passengers in the program to get new identification cards that serve as passes when boarding the bus. Passengers will now have until September 1, 2016 to obtain the new passes, rather than July 1, 2016. All passengers in the reduced fare program are required to re-qualify.

Passengers can get their new identification cards at either the Customer Service Office at RIPTA’s headquarters, 705 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, or at the Photo Identification Office at 1 Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence. Both locations will be open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.