A rigged election, stifled protest, and an attempt to block the press were among the lowlights, never mind ignoring that the public wants the bus hub to stay in Kennedy Plaza...
Another concern is that some reports say the results of the public preference that was allowed may not be made public.
I do suhhest some nuance - I don't think its so much that RIPTA wants to help the politically connected downtown realtors as much as that they are a weak ahency dependent on the power structure for financing and they have little leverage to resist. Their Board is appointed by thr Governor and mostly they will try to please the Governor who is so influenced by those downtown realtors.
Also, Kennedy Plaza is not without problems, one being it is rather spread out - some find it daunting to have to walk across Burnside Park to some stop locations, especially after dark or in bad weather. It also has been given a bad reputation by actual, perceived, or hyped up reports of criminal and scary behavior. I for one have found it hard to persuade some people to take a bus downtown because of the KP rep.
What is also sad about this is that the downtown business community and the Providence Mayor see transit as a negative rather than their one transportation advantage, and its potential to reduce congestion, pollution, climate emissions and accidents. Not all downtowns have this attitude, for example downtown Columbus OH businesses were promoting transit for their employees by payng their fares (before covid hit) while RIPTA's employer "ecopass" program has gotten only miniscule support.
Spend money building a new bus hub that no one wants. Spend money taking out a bike lane after we just built it. Is there any wonder this state never has money to do anything when all they ever do is turn around to spend money destroying what is already built? Then spending even more money for police to keep people quiet. Disgusting behavior by this government.
We need to bring people to Prov, via public transport, for work, theatre and arts events, Water Fire, restaurants, sports events, train connections etc.
Somehow this has evolved into the usual dirty political mess. We can do better than this!! And realtors are saying people want to move to PVD? Not sure why.
I used to wait for buses at Kennedy Plaza (where I live now, the bus is not convenient). At night. Alone. No, it is not a place of beauty and luxury. It was an efficient place for tired people to wait for a bus. Instead of wasting money on 99 different plans, use the money to redesign the plaza to be more welcoming to the people using the buses, INCLUDING finding decent homes for homeless people hanging out there. Is it within the realm of possibility to have a full-range help center for people who need medical and other care referrals? Because I suspect that part of this is trying to move the "lowlifes" out of the bus hub--instead move the bus hub so all those nice clean upstanding people can take the bus. (I'll stay with the lowlifes--they help people.)
Waiting for me to get off the 5:15 pm train at the Pawtucket/CF, station my husband saw a horrible physical fight between two people. He finally went to the security guard and said, "Why don't you do something?" and the guard said, "I've called the police 4 times." Then the guard told him, "This happens every night" (different people); "this place is a dump."
I don't know if that's true, but if it is, I suspect that the situation reflects a lack of interest in any public transportation by the authorities in charge. That station still isn't safe to approach on foot or bike, and no one seems to care.
Any state or city that takes marching orders from real estate scum is going to have severe troubles. Keep the hub at KP. Instead of kicking the poor out of KP, exile Joe Paolino, her does nothing useful for the coty and hates the people who live here.
great coverage Steve (as usual!)
Another concern is that some reports say the results of the public preference that was allowed may not be made public.
I do suhhest some nuance - I don't think its so much that RIPTA wants to help the politically connected downtown realtors as much as that they are a weak ahency dependent on the power structure for financing and they have little leverage to resist. Their Board is appointed by thr Governor and mostly they will try to please the Governor who is so influenced by those downtown realtors.
Also, Kennedy Plaza is not without problems, one being it is rather spread out - some find it daunting to have to walk across Burnside Park to some stop locations, especially after dark or in bad weather. It also has been given a bad reputation by actual, perceived, or hyped up reports of criminal and scary behavior. I for one have found it hard to persuade some people to take a bus downtown because of the KP rep.
What is also sad about this is that the downtown business community and the Providence Mayor see transit as a negative rather than their one transportation advantage, and its potential to reduce congestion, pollution, climate emissions and accidents. Not all downtowns have this attitude, for example downtown Columbus OH businesses were promoting transit for their employees by payng their fares (before covid hit) while RIPTA's employer "ecopass" program has gotten only miniscule support.
I had to edit the vote count that I estimated after recieving final results from Randall Rose, who organized the outside protest.
Spend money building a new bus hub that no one wants. Spend money taking out a bike lane after we just built it. Is there any wonder this state never has money to do anything when all they ever do is turn around to spend money destroying what is already built? Then spending even more money for police to keep people quiet. Disgusting behavior by this government.
I thought we were the Creative Capitol??
Apparently not!
We need to bring people to Prov, via public transport, for work, theatre and arts events, Water Fire, restaurants, sports events, train connections etc.
Somehow this has evolved into the usual dirty political mess. We can do better than this!! And realtors are saying people want to move to PVD? Not sure why.
I used to wait for buses at Kennedy Plaza (where I live now, the bus is not convenient). At night. Alone. No, it is not a place of beauty and luxury. It was an efficient place for tired people to wait for a bus. Instead of wasting money on 99 different plans, use the money to redesign the plaza to be more welcoming to the people using the buses, INCLUDING finding decent homes for homeless people hanging out there. Is it within the realm of possibility to have a full-range help center for people who need medical and other care referrals? Because I suspect that part of this is trying to move the "lowlifes" out of the bus hub--instead move the bus hub so all those nice clean upstanding people can take the bus. (I'll stay with the lowlifes--they help people.)
Waiting for me to get off the 5:15 pm train at the Pawtucket/CF, station my husband saw a horrible physical fight between two people. He finally went to the security guard and said, "Why don't you do something?" and the guard said, "I've called the police 4 times." Then the guard told him, "This happens every night" (different people); "this place is a dump."
I don't know if that's true, but if it is, I suspect that the situation reflects a lack of interest in any public transportation by the authorities in charge. That station still isn't safe to approach on foot or bike, and no one seems to care.
Any state or city that takes marching orders from real estate scum is going to have severe troubles. Keep the hub at KP. Instead of kicking the poor out of KP, exile Joe Paolino, her does nothing useful for the coty and hates the people who live here.