Ruggerio Wants to Turn Over RIPTA to Agency Overseeing the Worst Roads in America

Ruggerio Wants to Turn Over RIPTA to Agency Overseeing the Worst Roads in America

Late on Friday afternoon Senate President Dominick Ruggerio called for RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian to resign and wants to turn the control of the troubled agency to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) — another troubled agency.

In recent months, one of RIDOT’s largest projects has been the focus of both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Rhode Island Attorney General. Under the oversight of RIDOT, the lead contractor on the $420 million 6/10 project— MA-based Barletta Heavy Machine — paid $1.5 million as part of a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office and is facing multiple criminal charges and potentially millions of fines in Rhode Island.

The lead supervisor -- Dennis Ferreira, on the 6/10 project -- is set to be sentenced in federal court in March and this past week plead innocent to multiple state felony charges.

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In addition, two weeks ago, Rhode Island was ranked as having the worst roads in America.

 

Ruggerio said in a statement:

RIPTA has been plagued by enduring challenges that have only grown more severe over the years. Despite federal funding that presented an unprecedented opportunity to make necessary reforms, there has been no change in direction. Foreseeable challenges, such as a driver shortage at the start of the school year, were left unaddressed until there was a crisis. There have been unacceptable management gaffes, such as the granting a no-bid lobbying contract to a political ally, apparently without the Board’s knowledge. No meaningful plan to confront the agency’s fiscal challenges has been presented to the General Assembly, and we are again faced with putting band aids on a gaping wound.

A quality, well-functioning public transit system is vital to the people of our state and our economy. It is time for wholesale reform at RIPTA.

The time has come to place the agency under the auspices of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, and I will be submitting legislation to that effect. I am asking that CEO Scott Avedisian step down immediately and that the governor conduct a national search for someone with expertise in transit to head Rhode Island’s public transit office, under this new structure.

Finally, I have asked Chairman Mark McKenney to convene the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight to conduct an oversight hearing of the agency.

 

Avedisian issued a statement in response to Ruggerio:

The challenges at RIPTA are many and stretch back many years.  Since my first day here I have worked with the dedicated RIPTA team to make us better, and we have accomplished a great deal.  We have balanced the agency budget and increased capital funding.  We have added new buses and paratransit vehicles to our fleet and the agency’s pension plan is in a much better place.  Based on this record, we received over $45 million in federal grants, a testament to the good work of the RIPTA team.  Meanwhile, we were one of only a few transit agencies in the United States not to cut service during the pandemic.

But there is a lot more to do.  I look forward to having the opportunity to speak with the Senate about their concerns, then working together with them to secure the resources it will take to address the remaining challenges RIPTA faces.

 

Ruggerio did not respond to questions about RIDOT’s failures.