As summer fades away, it is easy to forget that the election season is fast approaching, and with it comes an opportunity to make sure our elected officials are making a 21st century transportation system for Rhode Island a priority.

Rhode Island's primary election is September 14 and the general election is on November 2.

Transportation choices start in local communities, so whether you're talking to a candidate for town council, Congress, or anything in between you have an opportunity to build support for decisions that will build a system that enhances our economy and provides all Rhode Islanders with healthy transportation choices.

Here is some background information and a few questions you can use to start a discussion about transportation issues with candidates. If you do get the chance to talk to a candidate about transportation issues, please send an e-mail at info@rictc.org to tell us how it went.

Transportation funding background
It is widely acknowledged that Rhode Island's transportation funding system is severely broken. For decades the state has used borrowed money -- like the bond referendum that will be on November's ballot -- to pay for the required match of federal transportation dollars coming to the state.

As a result, more and more of our gas tax receipts are being used to pay debt on our bonds. According to House fiscal staff estimates, FY 2011 represents the tipping point in which more than half of Rhode Island's gas tax receipts will now be used for debt service, leaving less and less resources available for much needed maintenance.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) estimates that Rhode Island must invest an additional $300 million annually for 10 years in order to bring our roads and bridges into a state of good repair.

In 2008, Governor Carcieri convened a blue ribbon panel of experts to consider transportation funding. The final report completed in December 2008 includes eight recommendations for reinvesting in Rhode Island's transportation system. To date, none of the recommendations has been implemented.

Transportation funding questions 

*What is your strategy for addressing Rhode Island's transportation funding crisis?

*Are you familiar with the 8 recommendations from the Governor's 2008 report, "Rhode Island's Transportation Future"?

* Which of the recommendations would you work to implement if you are elected?

Rhode Island's transportation system background The Coalition for Transportation Choices (CTC) envisions a 21st century transportation system that provides all people -- employees, tourists, youth, elderly, able and disabled -- with safe and dependable access to their community's opportunities for work, education, services, and recreation. Our transportation system will include trains and buses and will allow people to live healthy lifestyles using walking and biking to move around their communities.

Rhode Island has two primary ground transportation agencies: RIDOT, often seen as the department of roads and bridges and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), seen as the department responsible for buses.

Questions on Rhode Island's transportation system

* Rhode Island is moving forward with development of intermodal transportation projects like the commuter rail to Green Airport and Wickford. Do Rhode Island state agencies have the expertise and leadership to move the state towards a sustainable transportation future?

* What role should RIDOT and RIPTA play in the future?