Dear Providence Eye,
I was so happy to read the excellent joint letter from Cynthia Gibson and Ann Wang to the Eye. Our city has a problem with coordination and preparedness during the last few snowstorms and our leaders from City Hall, DPW and help from our citizens should take a hard look at what went wrong and how to make changes for the future. If the City does not take a look at this issue now…….the voters will in November.
Thank you Ann and Cindy,
Margot Warner
West End
In the article by Gibson and Wang, this sentence really stopped me: “New York City admittedly received less snow than Providence, with the same blizzard dropping over 20 inches of it there, compared to more than 35 here.” First of all we are talking about difference of 15” – which would be a big enough storm alone to have stopped our city for a day or more. Second of all, we hardly have the infrastructure in public transportation. Especially a system underground which is more effective for moving people in a storm. Third, and I am guessing here, I think New York City probably works under a bit higher budget than does Providence. I’m constantly amazed that citizens act as if we pay enough in taxes to demand a close to perfectly run city. A friend from Barrington was saying how well his city was cleared. When we compared house taxes, it turned out he paid double what we do for similarly evaluated homes. Is that the solution for Gibson and Wang? People complain steadily on paying taxes as it is!
I’m genuinely concerned about the state of our public transportation system, specifically RIPTA, and I felt compelled to share my thoughts.
It’s really disheartening to hear the plans for this Spring/Summer’s bus schedule. Many of us were holding out hope that some of the service we lost a year ago would finally be restored. But it seems we’re once again facing the reality that those much-needed routes and increased frequencies won’t be coming back. For so many people, myself included, who rely on the bus to get to work, appointments, or just around town, this is a huge blow.
I still remember when funding cuts forced RIPTA to scale back. Routes disappeared, and the buses that were left became incredibly packed. Trying to make a transfer became a frantic dash, often leading to missed connections and much longer travel times to reach our destinations. It created a lot of stress and inconvenience for passengers, and it feels like we’re not seeing a real commitment to making things better for the future.
Honestly, what we really need in Rhode Island is a truly statewide system, not one that feels so focused on Providence and its immediate neighbors. Everyone, at some point, might need a bus, whether for daily commuting or just an occasional trip. We’re asking drivers and passengers alike to operate on incredibly tight schedules, which just adds to the daily strain for everyone.
It’s also concerning to think about the drivers. We know 29 drivers were displaced from their regular fixed routes, and while they technically weren’t laid off (RIPTA is self-insured, which is a unique situation), none of them have been brought back. Meanwhile, some experienced drivers have retired or, sadly, passed away. It’s a real shame that with all this, not a single one of those valuable service cuts has been reinstated.
Take our beautiful South County, for example. We’re the “Ocean State,” proud of our beaches and attractions. Yet, Route 69 only runs for eight hours on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays. And if you’re trying to get from URI to places like Peacedale, Wakefield, Narragansett, or Galilee, forget about it! How are people supposed to get to the beaches, their jobs, local stores, or even the Block Island Ferry without adequate public transport? We deserve better access to these vital parts of our state.
I heard the Governor’s speech where he pledged $14.6 million for RIPTA, and on the surface, that sounds like a positive step. But when you dig a little deeper, it’s clear it’s just not enough. RIPTA is still grappling with a deficit and needs roughly an additional $6 million just to bring back the service that was cut. Plus, the long-term funding picture is still hazy. To make matters more complicated, the Governor even mentioned plans to reduce the two-cent-per-gallon gas tax that the Speaker had earmarked for RIPTA’s budget. It really feels like there’s no solid, predictable financial plan in place for RIPTA to confidently build a realistic transit future.
We really need a consistent, dependable budget for RIPTA so they can plan effectively and give the residents of Rhode Island the robust transit system we truly need and deserve.
Let’s look at Ripta management that continues to add jobs at 705 Elmwood ave. They rebrand job titles with big pays. This process has been going on prior to the new CEO. Chris Durand is trying hard to balance RIPTA’s but this money needs to go to transportation. The DOT Director also needs to be taken off as Chairman of the Board , he always had a seat , but this is a complete conflict of interest. There are new bills introduced at the State House to resolve this issue.
Finally all I can say is Buses are the foundation of this transit system. Without direct funding and a full transportation system Ripta will not be able to serve the passengers and citizens of R. I.
This is respectively submitted has my own personal opinion and a proud driver and supporter of public transportation.
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts.
Joseph Cole
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