First, the good news:  Thanks to an alliance between the Save RIPTA! Coalition and the bus drivers’ union (ATU Local 613), the RIPTA board of directors approved a tentative contract on Thursday to increase RIPTA workers’ wages substantially.  

This is good news for passengers since RIPTA is having to reduce services due to the lack of a sufficient number of drivers to cover the routes.  And this problem is only projected to get worse because many drivers are fast reaching retirement age.  Higher wages will make it easier to attract new drivers and retain present ones.  And this should make it possible to cover all current routes AND allow for expansion of the system going forward.

For more information:

RIPTA approves 16.7% pay bump for drivers – Rhode Island Current

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s board of directors on Thursday unanimously approved a new contract to raise drivers’ hourly base rates from $21.71 to $25.33.

Now, the bad news:  On Monday, RIPTA is asking the I-195 Commission to hold a remote parcel of the I-195 land near the I-95 highway for the possible construction of the new “central” bus hub–even though this location is nowhere near being central to downtown Providence.  Although RIPTA has announced it is considering several other locations as well, we wonder just how seriously these sites are seriously being considered.  RI Transit Riders and the Kennedy Plaza Coalition are adamantly opposed to this site for a future transit center.  We encourage you to attend the Commission meeting at five pm this Monday, 225 Dyer Street and help block this site. 

For more information:

RIPTA Finally Owns Up to Wanting I-195 Land for New Bus Hub  

It’s official: A 2.15-acre lot in Providence’s I-195 Redevelopment District is among the contenders for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)’s new bus depot to replace Kennedy Plaza.