At public hearings last week in Providence, Warwick, Barrington, Newport and Narragansett, Rhode Islanders expressed their concern and dismay about proposed RIPTA fare increases and service cuts and described how these cuts would impact their livelihoods and quality of life.
The public hearings, organized by RIPTA, sought input on RIPTA's plan to close a $3.7 million deficit for FY 2011 in part by imposing fare increases that would begin on Sept. 1, 2010.
A week after the hearings, on Wednesday, July 14, RIPTA approved a basic fare hike from $1.75 to $2 starting Sept. 1, 2010, but put off voting on cutbacks of weekend and holiday service that would affect bus riders
on 25 routes.
Mark Therrien, a RIPTA assistant general manager, told the RIPTA board that the message from riders at hearings earlier this month was, "If you have to, raise my fare, but don't take my ride away."
RIPTA's budget relies heavily on ever decreasing gas tax revenues while the cost of fuel and personnel creep steadily up.
Here are a few of the highlights from last week's hearings as reported by representatives from the Coalition for Transportation Choices (CTC):
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The American Association of Retired People (AARP), the Senior Agenda and the Gray Panthers described how bus service is key to their independence and the quality of life of many older and disabled citizens.
* Professionals who commute on RIPTA explained how they save money (weekly fares are much less than weekly parking fees) and can relax, visit with other commuters and catch up on their reading while traveling to work.
* Representatives from Bradley Hospital and Kent County Hospital explained how many people rely on weekend and holiday routes to visit their families in the hospital. Family visits are a critical element of patient's well-being and healing.
* Disabled citizens explained how bus service is central to their lives and cuts affect their ability to get to work, stores and visit with family and friends.
* Students rely on bus service to get from home to school and to jobs, shopping and friends.
* People working shifts other than 9 to 5 will be especially affected by the proposed reductions.
* One former RIPTA board member suggested at the Providence hearing that a short-term gas tax hike of 1/6 cent, (as recommended by the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission) would be enough for now to prevent the proposed service cuts.
FY2011 is just the beginning of a downward spiral. RIPTA is preparing a five-year projection of steadily decreasing services. These include:
First year: Seven lower performing routes eliminated.
Second year: System shut-down at 9:00 PM, route segment and headway reductions.
Third year: 10 weekend routes and all Park N' Ride services eliminated.
Fourth year: All holiday service and 10 routes eliminated.
Fifth year: Frequency reductions on 17 urban routes.
CTC believes that the people of Rhode Island, acting through their elected representatives in the General Assembly, must find additional, new, sustainable funding sources for public transit in Rhode Island, and CTC has been working actively to help develop such long-term solutions. This is necessary for many reasons -- in order to promote economic development, create jobs, protect Rhode Islanders' health, protect our air and water quality and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. These hearings showed that many Rhode Islanders agree. |
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About the Coalition for Transportation Choices
The Coalition for Transportation Choices (CTC) calls for a 21st century transportation system that enhances our economy and provides all Rhode Islanders with healthy transportation choices. Visit
our website
to get more information about the Coalition for Transportation Choices.
Rhode Island's 21st century transportation system must provide 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. The system should be considerably less dependent on cars and fossil fuels as well as efficient, effective and easy to use. It should minimize impacts to land, water and air and improve the health and well-being of all Rhode Islanders. Such a system should be sustained with predictable and consistent funding for operation and future growth.
CTC's work is supported
by the Rhode Island Foundation, The Prospect Hill Foundation and Third
Sector New England's Capacity Building Fund
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Coalition for Transportation Choices
Member Groups
- AARP
- American Lung Association
- Audubon Society of Rhode Island
- Childhood Lead Action Project
- City-State, the Urban Design Lab at RISD
- Clean Water Action
- Conservation Law Foundation
- Cornish Associates
- Ecolect
- Environmental Justice League of RI
- Grow Smart RI
- Head of the Bay Gateway
- LISC-RI
- Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
- Providence Foundation
- RI Association of Railroad Passengers
- RI Land Trust Council
- RICOSH
- Save The Bay
- SEIU, District 1199
- Sierra Club
- Working Rhode Island
- Amalgamated Transit Union
- Pawtucket Foundation
- The Blackstone Valley Partnership
- Recycle-A-Bike
- Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition
- DOT Watch
- Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living
- Blueways Alliance
- Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Sierra Club
- East Coast Greenway Alliance
- Rhode Island Student Climate Coalition
- Brown emPower
- Youth in Action
- RI Interfaith Power and Light
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