The RIPTA board today will receive a report that proposes two possible locations for a central bus hub, both near the Amtrak station. We have not been told whether a vote will take place today, but RI Transit Riders is open to the possibility of a hub located near the train station provided we can be assured that the state will simultaneously commit to full operational funding for RIPTA, including money to not only address the fiscal cliff, but also to implement the Transit Master Plan. There is no point in building a new facility if RIPTA service is allowed to deteriorate. ||I In the original vision of the 2014 bond to fund a new hub or renovate mass transit hub facilities throughout the state, all of the money was secured through the bond. Now that costs have risen and a substantial portion of the money has been spent, RIPTA is considering a potentially risky funding mechanism to build a central hub in Providence that might put it in significant debt. ||| Another issue is that although RIPTA is claiming th

Another issue is that although RIPTA is claiming this location is better than Kennedy Plaza, our outreach shows that many riders prefer to remain in the downtown plaza. To fully support this location, we would need definitive evidence that the new location will better meet riders’ needs in terms of trip time, transfers, capacity to expand service, security and improved amenities such as more indoor passenger waiting spaces, expanded bathrooms, real-time information, etc. Furthermore, passengers should also have direct access to Kennedy Plaza from the train station with no extra cost or transfers. ||| The RIPTA board should not choose a site right after one of the options has been unveiled for the first time. This project should not be pushed forward in the absence of the public engagement that was promised, and we have not seen any public sessions during Task 2. According to RIPTA’s website, the agency’s new hub will be a “new, modern transit center with state-of-the-art amenities based on feedback from ride

According to RIPTA’s website, the agency’s new hub will be a “new, modern transit center with state-of-the-art amenities based on feedback from riders and RIPTA drivers.” Choosing between the two proposed sites and Kennedy Plaza requires something we have not had yet: a process of analysis that is public, fair, and gives riders a real voice where their concerns are taken seriously. We expect RIPTA to fully involve riders and drivers in planning the facility, and we expect the state to fund the enhanced bus services that will truly “modernize Rhode Island’s transportation system.” Constructing a new hub without increasing operational funding is insufficient to meet this goal.