The future of RIPTA’s downtown Providence bus hub remains unresolved, even though it has been discussed at least since 2014 when voters approved a $35 million bond to fund “enhancements and renovations” to transit hubs throughout the state.
Kennedy Plaza, previously Exchange Place, is the city’s center and has been the hub of city transportation for over a hundred years, dating all the way back to the days of streetcars. The Plaza became the hub of all bus connections in the 70s.
Balancing all of the competing needs in the very heart of the city has proven difficult, and Kennedy Plaza has been redesigned repeatedly. As Providence’s City Council now begins its final considerations for the Comprehensive Plan, it still lacks a clear vision of its commitment to twenty-first century bus service and the question of Kennedy Plaza’s role as the city’s central bus hub. The current draft of the Comp Plan, under the Mobility section, states, “Support RIPTA in its process to establish a new, world-class transit center that meets the needs of RIPTA operations, transit users and Providence’s planning and economic development goals”.
Map of Providence’s Streetcar System in 1924Proposals for the hub in Kennedy Plaza include a RIDOT plan to break it into three smaller hubs. Other plans are to move to a “Dorrance” site near the Garrahy Courthouse, to Parcel 35 on former I-195 land near I-95, or to various sites near the railroad station. As all the alternatives seem to face obstacles, the possibility of remaining in Kennedy Plaza must be considered. Indeed, that is a goal of the Kennedy Plaza Resilience Coalition formed in 2021 to defend the interests of bus riders and others that use the Plaza. Spokesperson Randall Rose answered questions about the group’s positions:
Why does the Kennedy Plaza Resilience Coalition want to see the bus hub stay in Kennedy Plaza (KP)?
We want it to stay in the Plaza because all the alternatives we heard about seem to disregard what riders want, which includes having the hub in a convenient central downtown location, close to where most riders want to go. Also, the street grid there works relatively well for RIPTA routes. The high cost of any move out of the Plaza is also a big consideration.
What improvements do you envision for the Plaza and how does this relate to the city’s 2017-18 proposed revision?
At that time, city planners had a good process, extensively involving stakeholders including riders, and they came up with many good ideas: concentrating bus stops, better lighting and signage, enhanced pedestrian safety, more efficient bus passage through the Plaza. We’d also highlight the need to maintain the bathrooms, the desirability of reestablishing a coffee shop in the terminal building, and keeping the building, which now closes at 5pm, open whenever buses are operating, including on weekends.
How do you think the public perception that the Plaza is crime-ridden can be addressed?
That is the main safety issue we face. To start with we recommend holding a stakeholder process, including riders, homeless advocates, as well as police, social service agencies, city government, to work together to find ways that would make all users of the Plaza feel safe. Note if the bus hub is moved to a new location, KP would still be an issue and the authorities would then have two major locations to take care of, adding to costs and the need for resources,
What are some obstacles that the group faces in its quest to improve the Plaza and keep the bus hub there?
While the Providence City Council, which is relatively close to the public, is supportive, some downtown property owners feel moving the bus hub away would increase their wealth, and they have worked with high-level politicians and officials to promote the removal. This includes RIDOT Director Peter Alviti who was made RIPTA Board Chair despite his lack of support for bus transit and his reluctance to listen to what riders think. One of their strategies has been to allow the Plaza to deteriorate to try to erode public support for keeping the bus hub there. We need the city and other agencies to do more to keep the area clean, help the homeless, and respond to problems.
What is the KP Resilience Coalition doing to help advance its goals?
We have held rallies and press events at the State House and in the Plaza, we spoke out at City Council meetings and testified on related bills in the legislature. For example, we support bill H8281 by State Rep Enrique Sanchez which would have suspended spending on a bad $17 million contract RIPTA has with the “Next Wave” consortium to plan a move out of the Plaza. We have a petition on our website for folks to sign that calls for RIPTA to end this contract which they are entitled to do.
This answer suggests the issue has financial implications; how does the Coalition assess these?
This project is incredibly wasteful of taxpayer money. The current exploratory phase is being paid out of bond money that voters were told would support “enhancements and renovations” of hubs “throughout the state,” but it doesn’t enhance or renovate anything; it doesn’t help the rest of the state or even the Providence hub. A couple years ago, the RIPTA board was told that moving the Providence hub would cost $200-250 million, money that RIPTA is in no shape to spend. But that is only a preliminary estimate, it could be much higher, especially since there’s no upper limit on how much Next Wave can charge RIPTA for this. RIPTA understands that it will have to give Next Wave a guaranteed profit on top of whatever this unwanted hub move ends up costing. Nobody has identified a solid source of funds for this, so instead officials keep talking about putting RIPTA into debt to cover the cost. RIPTA can’t afford even a relatively small debt. If things go badly, debt burden on RIPTA could cripple public transit in the state. Taxpayers could get stuck with the bill — it could end up worse than 38 Studios!
Kennedy Plaza is also an issue in the city’s Comprehensive Plan update, what is your take on what is going on about that?
It seems that despite the May 2024 City Council resolution supporting leaving the bus hub in KP, some city officials have revised the draft to call for a new hub elsewhere. We are working with City Council members, especially Councilman Justin Roias, to get this provision removed. We are also calling upon folks to call their Council rep to support this removal.
Tell us about the KP Resilience Coalition and how those supportive of its program can get involved
We welcome help; please visit our website to learn about the group. Youcan sign the petition mentioned before, you can join the group which means getting on our contact list. Then you will be notified about related events and can give input into what we do.
Thank you, Randall, for all this information, which should be of interest to all who ever use RIPTA or care about its impact on, and potential for, our city.
Barry Schiller, a retired Rhode Island math professor, is a lifelong transit user and advocate. He has served on the RI Public Transit Authority Board of Directors and the state’s Transportation Advisory Committee.
