The Rhode Island Transit Authority has embarked on something it has never attempted – creation of a master plan that considers various modes of transportation and service to meet local community …
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The Rhode Island Transit Authority has embarked on something it has never attempted – creation of a master plan that considers various modes of transportation and service to meet local community needs as well as make connections beyond Rhode Island’s borders.
The “Transit Forward RI 2040” effort got off to a public start Tuesday afternoon during the first of a series of workshops held at the Warwick Public Library.
Additional workshops were held Tuesday and Wednesday at the state Department of Administration’s headquarters in Providence, the University of Rhode Island in Kingston and the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center in Pawtucket.
Appropriately, former Warwick Mayor and RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian returned to his hometown to attend a portion of Tuesday’s workshop. He didn’t make any public remarks, but in a brief conversation said there is no target budget to finance proposals that might come out of the plan. He expects a plan to be drafted by early next year, and depending on projected costs, bond funding would be required.
But the focus at this point isn’t on costs, but rather on what people need and how to best address the future.
“It’s to throw [the question] out there, what does the future look like?” Avedisian said.
RIPTA is addressing the planning using three scenarios, starting with identifying the most pressing needs; improving and expanding the existing system; and creating a comprehensive statewide network.
Some of the suggested innovations suggested are development of light rail lines; using the shoulders of some highways as dedicated bus lanes to ensure rapid service when the same roads are brought to a crawl by commuters; an Amtrak station at Green Airport in addition to the existing MBTA station; and “mobility hubs” in every city and town.
Among the suggestions from the more than 25 people in attendance included establishing greater connectivity between Warwick to Providence routes so as to give riders greater east and west options; the use of Uber-like services; and increased MBTA service south of Providence. The issue of automated buses was also brought up, although Gregory Nordin, RIPTA’s director of planning, didn’t see that as happening anytime soon.
As for the Uber idea, he said, “We have considered ride sharing, but I don’t see it as a significant opportunity for Rhode Island so far.”
In the shorter term, Nordin said RIPTA is in discussions to relocate its Warwick hub from the Warwick Mall to the Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus. Currently, buses are using a dedicated lane that has been created by the placement of plastic Jersey barriers. He said the plan, with use of a grant RIPTA hopes to win, would be to build out the area. Overall, he believes CCRI is a preferable location for the hub as there are convenient facilities at the college and a greater demand for service.
Asked if some proposals discussed – such as the development of a light rail system – were financially impractical, Nordin said the agency is looking “for a blue sky approach” to the future of transportation. He said RIPTA would “chase” federal grants, adding that the agency has the highest mass transit ridership in the region behind the MBTA. He put the number of annual trips at 16 million, as compared to Worcester, which is slightly larger that Providence, at 3 million.
Nordin concurred that advances in technology might alter plans. He noted that RIPTA provides such features as real time information on the location of buses for cell phone users and will soon introduce for the payment of fares by cell phone.
As an example of a mobility hub, Nordin said it could offer a connection to bicycles. He said hubs would differ depending on location and demand of service.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Cat2222
The thing about public transportation is that it needs to be accessible, efficient and inexpensive. If not, there isn't a reason for me to ditch my car and use another mode of transportation.
Thursday, September 19, 2019 Report this
Justanidiot
cat, pubic transit is just dat. but peoples want public transit dat leaves da house when dey want, takes dem directly to work, and stops at walmarts on the way home and waits fer them. dey have know patients. dey wants a car.
Thursday, September 19, 2019 Report this
TheSkipper
How about getting a bus run where you can get from post road to Warwick ave. without having to go all the way back to Shaw's plaza in Cranston and wait for a new bus? It's not like you don't see "Out of Service" Busses on Airport Rd. all the time? And another thing, why is there no bus coverage from the end of Warwick Ave to Sandy Lane along West Shore Road?
Warwick is the second biggest city in RI and we have worse bus coverage than Manville or Fiskville...
Friday, September 20, 2019 Report this
fmspvd
It seems to me that RIPTA is finally thinking more strategically about future resource investments. My impression at the meeting was that they are really trying to make service better from the perspective of system users, based on their real needs, not based on the opinions of transportation executives and efficiency "experts." There is a lot of potential to make transit in RI more "user friendly." If we can increase bus and train ridership, we can really relieve a lot of traffic congestion, and make commuting to work more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly. I went to this meeting specifically to say that there are not enough routes providing service within Wariwck, even though there are quite a few routes providing service to Providence. The majority of eastern and southern neighborhoods in Warwick (Pawtuxet Village, Pilgrim Park, Governor Francis, Conimicut, Warwick Neck, Oakland Beach, Buttonwoods, etc.) are cut off (transit-wise) from accessing points to the west. Commuters who live in these parts of Warwick should have much easier bus access to the airport and MBTA station, as well as the entire commercial corridor along Route 2. This could be accomplished with better "cross-town" service. I recalled what RIPTA used to call the Warwick Loop and urged them to bring it back.
Friday, September 27, 2019 Report this