Progress in RIPTA Funding, But Simply Not Enough - Randall Rose

Progress in RIPTA Funding, But Simply Not Enough - Randall Rose

Progress was made this year for RIPTA funding, but not enough to prevent service cuts and job losses. Gov. McKee proposed a budget this year that did nothing for RIPTA’s deficit. 

Speaker Shekarchi’s final budget was better, but it only addressed about half the deficit. He ensured the funding he included was permanent, not a one-time thing. He listened to the riders on that.

Shekarchi told reporters the budget might lead to service cuts or fare hikes. It does, in fact. The efficiency study these leaders called for confirms that a RIPTA budget as small as this one cannot possibly be handled without service cuts (and possibly fare hikes). That seriously hurts bus riders.

RIPTA is expected to lose about 20% of its service and 90 good jobs will be cut. Some routes will be cut entirely, while others will suffer less frequency and fewer hours. Rural service may suffer more. People across the state won’t be able to get to employment and services. Many couldn’t reach appointments and social resources.

But RIPTA does well when it's allowed to. New CEO Christopher Durand has compiled a very impressive record. Drivers received raises, allowing enough hiring to prevent most skipped trips. Durand has made major improvements in Kennedy Plaza. Durand has improved shelters and signage, and even rerouted student-carrying buses away from the plaza so that the plaza doesn’t suffer from high-schoolers’ rowdiness. Durand has overseen advances such as new service for job commuters to Amazon's facility and getting major employers like Omni Hotel and Miriam Hospital on the Wave to Work program that benefits their workers. And Durand has been honest enough to say that the very expensive proposal to move the hub out of Kennedy Plaza looks dubious given RIPTA’s budget crunch.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Buses are popular, and voters don’t want to see service cuts. Funding RIPTA remains a very cost-effective way to protect our climate, as well as helping seniors and others get out of their houses. 

A bipartisan group of rank-and-file legislators led by Sen. Zurier tried to amend this austerity budget to fully fund RIPTA, but didn’t succeed. We appreciate their efforts and hope to work with the General Assembly and state leadership to further fund RIPTA and prevent service cuts and job losses. The General Assembly may well hold a fall session, and RIPTA’s funding woes should be addressed then.