Friday, September 5, 2008 12:23 PM EDT
RIPTA cuts hit Westerly bus route
|
Public hearing on changes set for Sept. 25 at Westerly Town Hall
|
 Public hearing on changes set for Sept. 25 at Westerly Town Hall. |
With the Westerly to Providence bus route among those on the cutting block, locals will, after all, have a chance to share their opinions about changes proposed to the state’s public transportation system.
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority officials announced intended service reductions on Tuesday, pointing to the cuts as a way to offset some of an anticipated $12.2-million, fiscal 2009 budget shortfall.
Among cuts proposed, eight Park ’n’ Ride routes would be eliminated. These include the bus to and from Providence that stops in Westerly, Ashaway and Richmond (Route No. 90 W).
The Westerly Flex service — a bus that travels around town — is not on the list of proposed cuts.
Upon announcing the proposed changes to service, the state public transportation agency scheduled six public hearings across the state, the farthest south in Narragansett on Sept. 26.
At the urging of Sen. Dennis Algiere, an additional hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Westerly Town Hall.
The Westerly Republican said the proposed elimination of bus service from this area to Providence would inconvenience riders.
“This is something I will continue to work on to see if we can keep the service in Westerly,” Algiere said on Wednesday. The state senator worked recently to add another bus to the Westerly- Providence route because of an increase in riders.
Currently, a bus makes two stops on weekday mornings at the downtown Westerly train station, the Ashaway/Hopkinton Park ’n’ Ride (the Route 3 and I-95 intersection) and the Richmond Park ’n’ Ride (the Route 138 and I-95 intersection) on the way to Providence. A bus makes two return trips from Providence at the end of the workday, the first arriving at the Westerly train station shortly before 6 p.m.
Statewide, the recommended changes in service would impact 50 regular bus routes, three Flex zones and eight Park ’n’ Ride routes, according to RIPTA officials.
RIPTA General Manager Alfred J. Moscola said the cuts have been called for in response to an anticipated $12.2-million budget shortfall, partly due to rising fuel costs. The state gas tax serves as the primary source of public transit funding in Rhode Island and, as gas prices have risen, people have cut back on driving, he said in a statement issued Tuesday.
“To sustain the current system, we need more than one funding source or a fund dedicated to transit, which is what other transit agencies have,” Moscola said.
He added that RIPTA has reduced its projected shortfall to $10.9 million through steps including increasing advertising revenue, deferring capital projects and leaving 12 staff vacancies unfilled.
“After all the internal cost cutting we still have an almost $11 million shortfall, so now we’re forced to cut services. And we don’t want to do that,” Moscola said. “We want to improve and expand the system to better serve the people of our state as well as tourists.”
“We need a first-class transit system if we want economic development in Rhode Island,” he added. “Unfortunately, after years of cost-cutting, we’ve run out of options.”
The reductions largely affect upstate areas of Rhode Island, and include eliminating routes, decreasing service frequency and ending service on certain routes at 7 p.m. on weekdays and weekends.
The agency has also called to end all holiday bus service, all summer beach bus service and all Flex service in Narragansett, Tiverton and West Warwick.
Corresponding Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit services provided by RIPTA would also be reduced.
(Take the bus with us: Look for an upcoming story about a RIPTA ride-along.)
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority officials announced intended service reductions on Tuesday, pointing to the cuts as a way to offset some of an anticipated $12.2-million, fiscal 2009 budget shortfall.
Among cuts proposed, eight Park ’n’ Ride routes would be eliminated. These include the bus to and from Providence that stops in Westerly, Ashaway and Richmond (Route No. 90 W).
The Westerly Flex service — a bus that travels around town — is not on the list of proposed cuts.
Upon announcing the proposed changes to service, the state public transportation agency scheduled six public hearings across the state, the farthest south in Narragansett on Sept. 26.
At the urging of Sen. Dennis Algiere, an additional hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Westerly Town Hall.
The Westerly Republican said the proposed elimination of bus service from this area to Providence would inconvenience riders.
“This is something I will continue to work on to see if we can keep the service in Westerly,” Algiere said on Wednesday. The state senator worked recently to add another bus to the Westerly- Providence route because of an increase in riders.
Currently, a bus makes two stops on weekday mornings at the downtown Westerly train station, the Ashaway/Hopkinton Park ’n’ Ride (the Route 3 and I-95 intersection) and the Richmond Park ’n’ Ride (the Route 138 and I-95 intersection) on the way to Providence. A bus makes two return trips from Providence at the end of the workday, the first arriving at the Westerly train station shortly before 6 p.m.
Statewide, the recommended changes in service would impact 50 regular bus routes, three Flex zones and eight Park ’n’ Ride routes, according to RIPTA officials.
RIPTA General Manager Alfred J. Moscola said the cuts have been called for in response to an anticipated $12.2-million budget shortfall, partly due to rising fuel costs. The state gas tax serves as the primary source of public transit funding in Rhode Island and, as gas prices have risen, people have cut back on driving, he said in a statement issued Tuesday.
“To sustain the current system, we need more than one funding source or a fund dedicated to transit, which is what other transit agencies have,” Moscola said.
He added that RIPTA has reduced its projected shortfall to $10.9 million through steps including increasing advertising revenue, deferring capital projects and leaving 12 staff vacancies unfilled.
“After all the internal cost cutting we still have an almost $11 million shortfall, so now we’re forced to cut services. And we don’t want to do that,” Moscola said. “We want to improve and expand the system to better serve the people of our state as well as tourists.”
“We need a first-class transit system if we want economic development in Rhode Island,” he added. “Unfortunately, after years of cost-cutting, we’ve run out of options.”
The reductions largely affect upstate areas of Rhode Island, and include eliminating routes, decreasing service frequency and ending service on certain routes at 7 p.m. on weekdays and weekends.
The agency has also called to end all holiday bus service, all summer beach bus service and all Flex service in Narragansett, Tiverton and West Warwick.
Corresponding Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit services provided by RIPTA would also be reduced.
(Take the bus with us: Look for an upcoming story about a RIPTA ride-along.)
Where's Senator.... wrote on Sep 4, 2008 2:05 PM:
" Algiere now? He got his boy Carcieri to reinstate the DMV and Bus routes once, lets see him do it again..... Not likely, I think Senator Algiere has used up all of his upstate favors! "
 | Share your thoughts.... Our TalkBack option has been updated to improve service to our viewers. Some comments made prior to March 26 may not be available for viewing outside of the archives section. Thank you for your patience during this update. TalkBack is an opportunity for viewers to exchange comments regarding online content. Comments are moderated. Please allow time for posting. Comments are not edited. They are either approved or they are not. Comments should be void of personal attacks, foul language, advertisements or impersonations. Please limit comments to 200 words or less. |