UPDATED: Call for RIPTA – RIDOT merger, leadership change

Late on Friday, RI Senate President Dominick Ruggerio called for the immediate resignation of former Warwick mayor and RIPTA Chief Executive Officer Scott Avedisian – and the placement of the bus transportation company to now fall under the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, headed by Peter Alviti. Within a short time, a statement from RIPTA from Avedisian was received.

Avedisian has served in his role since 2018 after 18 years as Warwick Mayor. Avedisian reports to the RIPTA board of directors chaired by Normand Benoit. Peter Alviti serves ex-officio as a member of that board. Patrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer of Rhode Island AFL-CIO, and a member of the RIPTA board tweeted that he supported Ruggerio’s call and for the Senate to hold oversight hearings.

Some upcoming initiatives involving RIPTA are creation of the Pawtucket Central Falls Train Station Bus Hub facility (with waiting areas, rest rooms, facilities for drivers and covered bus areas – the rest rooms will serve train riders as well) – designated bus lanes – relocation of bus hub from Kennedy Plaza to a new facility located near the Garrahy Court Complex – bus driver recruitment – bus accuracy serving Providence schools, particularly Hope High School. Fiscal challenges, a no-contract lobbying contract which the board now wants amended, and the data breach that impacted over 20K RI state employees.

The statements are below. Notably, not only is the Ruggerio statement a call for Avedisian’s resignation, but a call to restructure RIPTA under RIDOT.

RIPTA is not a Rhode Island department, but a non-profit public Authority – a Quasi-Public Corporation, and its by-laws state that “the Authority shall endeavor at all times to cooperate with any and all state and local governmental authorities, including without limitation, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, to provide the people of the state of Rhode Island an accessible, comprehensive, effective state-wide system of vehicle maintenance and mass transit”.

Statement on RIPTA from Senate President Ruggerio

President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio today issued the following statement in regards to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority:

“RIPTA has been plagued by enduring challenges that have only grown more severe over the years. Despite federal funding that presented an unprecedented opportunity to make necessary reforms, there has been no change in direction. Foreseeable challenges, such as a driver shortage at the start of the school year, were left unaddressed until there was a crisis. There have been unacceptable management gaffes, such as the granting a no-bid lobbying contract to a political ally, apparently without the Board’s knowledge. No meaningful plan to confront the agency’s fiscal challenges has been presented to the General Assembly, and we are again faced with putting band aids on a gaping wound. 

A quality, well-functioning public transit system is vital to the people of our state and our economy. It is time for wholesale reform at RIPTA.

The time has come to place the agency under the auspices of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, and I will be submitting legislation to that effect. I am asking that CEO Scott Avedisian step down immediately, and that the governor conduct a national search for someone with expertise in transit to head Rhode Island’s public transit office, under this new structure.

Finally, I have asked Chairman Mark McKenney to convene the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight to conduct an oversight hearing of the agency.”

RIPTA Statement on behalf of Scott Avedisian:

“The challenges at RIPTA are many and stretch back many years.  Since my first day here I have worked with the dedicated RIPTA team to make us better, and we have accomplished a great deal.  We have balanced the agency budget and increased capital funding.  We have added new buses and paratransit vehicles to our fleet and the agency’s pension plan is in a much better place.  Based on this record, we received over $45 million in federal grants, a testament to the good work of the RIPTA team.  Meanwhile, we were one of only a few transit agencies in the United States not to cut service during the pandemic.

But there is a lot more to do.  I look forward to having the opportunity to speak with the Senate about their concerns, then working together with them to secure the resources it will take to address the remaining challenges RIPTA faces.”

UPDATE: On Saturday, we received this letter from the chair of the board of RIPTA in response to happenings on Friday: