SaveRIPTA Coalition calls on General Assembly "to fund RIPTA like we mean it"
"...we need to invest in [RIPTA] like the serious piece of infrastructure that it is: expanding service, compensating our operators, and making sure it is timely and reliable..."
From a press release:
A broad coalition of community organizations, transit riders, and legislators will gather in the Rhode Island State House on Tuesday for a press conference urging the legislature to fully fund the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) in the budget and support Representative Karen Alzate (Democrat, District 60, Pawtucket)’s House Bill 7774.
Budget Appropriation HB7774 would allocate $78 million, in addition to the $10 million in the Governor's Budget, to fully fund RIPTA in the upcoming FY2025 budget. The bill includes:
$8M to close the current deficit of $18 million total;
$24M to support hiring and training more bus operators and sustaining the new higher wages and benefits; and
$46M commitment to expanding service and beginning to implement the Transit Master Plan.
“A robust, accessible public transportation system is vital to so many Rhode Islanders who need and rely on it to live their lives,” said Representative Alzate. “Our communities deserve better! They deserve, from the state, a complete investment in a public transit system, to ensure they can go to work, school, the store, medical appointments, and the ability to enjoy all that Rhode Island has to offer for themselves and their families.”
See the video here:
Without closing the current budget deficit of $18 million for RIPTA, riders will be facing major service cuts which will be detrimental to so many Rhode Islanders who depend on public transportation.
“Bus lines are lifelines. Rhode Island has the foundation of a wonderful statewide bus system, but it has suffered from disinvestment and neglect for many years,” said Senator Meghan Kallman (Democrat, District 15, Pawtucket, Providence). “The transit system is key to our efforts to reduce emissions, to connect communities, and to create healthy, vibrant economies. But to make that a reality, we need to invest in it like the serious piece of infrastructure that it is: expanding service, compensating our operators, and making sure it is timely and reliable. We cannot wait any longer - this is the year to fund RIPTA like we mean it.”
“RIPTA is a vital part of our democratic infrastructure in Rhode Island. It connects our communities in ways every Rhode Islander supports” said Patrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “That’s why the Rhode Island AFL-CIO supports increased funding for RIPTA to not just preserve but expand services.”
RIPTA is facing a major driver shortage, putting bus services at risk of possible cuts. Just weeks ago, the agency and union negotiated increases in wages and benefits to help grow the workforce. We need to ensure these increases, which have proven to already double new applicants, will have the state funding to sustain it into the future.
President/Business Agent Walter Melillo of the ATU Local 618/618A said, “Funding for RIPTA is essential to keeping our transit system moving forward. This will allow us to continue the service that many people depend on daily.”
A reliable public transportation system is a fundamental necessity for youth, seniors, individuals with disabilities, people with low incomes who can’t afford a car, new arrivals, and those who would rather take a ride than contribute to our chronic traffic, parking, and pollution issues. Rhode Island has the foundation of a wonderful statewide bus system, but it has suffered from disinvestment and neglect for many years.
“Rhode Island’s student population is both overrepresented amongst transit riders and underrepresented amongst decision-makers,” said Dexter Vincent, Co-Director of the Providence Student Union leadership team. “A comprehensive, well-funded transit system is fundamental to an ecologically sustainable and economically equitable Rhode Island. High schoolers need the bus to get to school; not fully funding RIPTA would seriously worsen our chronic absenteeism crisis.”
“RIPTA is a vital service for thousands of Rhode Island residents,” added Ray Gagne, Director of the Rhode Island Organizing Project. ”Our elderly and disabled members depend upon RIPTA for their daily transportation needs. We encourage the General Assembly to invest $88 million in new funds for RIPTA to prevent service cuts, support the increase in wages for bus drivers, and expand services into underserved areas of the state.”
Inaction will be felt for generations if we allow public transportation to languish at this critical moment. We urge you, our leaders, to finally give RIPTA the resources it needs to move more riders and the state in the right direction.
