Despite rider opposition, RIPTA Board votes to move the bus hub out of Kennedy Plaza – Steve Ahlquist

by Steve Ahlquist, SteveAhlquist.news

“This isn’t about making transit better. It’s about pushing bus riders out of sight, all to appease the few wealthy property owners who don’t want to see us near their fancy buildings.”

On Thursday last week, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) Board of Directors authorized the agency to advance the proposed Providence Transit Center into its next phase, which will include design, engineering, and pricing. The vote was met with immediate opposition from the Kennedy Plaza Resilience Coalition, which issued the following statement:

“The Kennedy Plaza Resilience Coalition opposes the plan to use the Next Wave contractor to move the state’s main bus hub out of central Providence to a more remote site between the train station and Providence Place Mall. This hub relocation plan incurs huge costs for state taxpayers, has never been backed by a serious evaluation of evidence on whether it’s a good idea or not, neglects the main stakeholders (bus riders) who have never been given any voice, and sacrifices the public interest so as to use public funds for the benefit of a very small number of well-off commercial downtown-Providence real estate owners.”

Though supported by Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, who said to Channel 12 in 2024, “I’m going to continue to try to champion that development because I think it will enhance the rider experience,” the Providence City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing attempts to move the bus hub out of Kennedy Plaza.

“Without the backing of community members who bus across the city every day, we jeopardize the environmental, social, and economic benefits of public transportation,” said Providence City Councilmember Sue AnderBois. “Solutions need to work for current riders and to entice additional new riders.”

“The transit center will provide a safe, modern, and reliable hub that improves passenger transfers, strengthens safety and security, and provides clean, comfortable indoor amenities for riders,” writes RIPTA in a press release. “The facility would also provide RIPTA drivers with accessible break areas and restrooms.”

“Voters approved the transit bond in 2014, but for years the funding sat dormant,” said Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee, who has long maintained that voters approved this plan when passing that bond, which is untrue. “My administration partnered with RIPTA to finally put it to work, and now we’re moving forward with relocating the transit hub out of Kennedy Plaza and building a modern, safe, state-of-the-art facility next to the Providence train station. It will help grow ridership and create new opportunities for RIPTA’s future.”

Note: Governor McKee cut funding to RIPTA in his budget.

“We were around in 2014,” said Barry Schiller, a bus rider and former RIPTA Board member, speaking on behalf of the Rhode Island Transit Riders in 2024. “The Rhode Island Transit Riders were part of a coalition to pass that bond, and we were told by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation that if it passed, there would be stakeholder meetings about how to spend that money. That never happened. We were misled.”

Opposition to moving the bus hub continues. The Rhode Island General Assembly failed to pass bills S2680/H7464, sponsored by Senator Samuel Bell and Representative Enrique Sanchez, which “would save taxpayer money by terminating the expensive and unwanted project to move the bus hub from Kennedy Plaza to a site next to the Providence Train Station.”

During a press conference supporting the bills, riders, including students who take the bus daily, spoke out against moving the hub. Also speaking was Hector Perez-Aponte, Racial Justice Policy Analyst at the Economic Progress Institute.

“The Economic Progress Institute rejects any plan involving the relocation of the bus hub out of Kennedy Plaza. We oppose it, and it should be plainly obvious why. A little history for you. Before it was a bus hub, Kennedy Plaza was a trolley hub. Before it was a trolley hub, it was a train station. The very infrastructure of Kennedy Plaza has been built around public transit. Underneath Kennedy Plaza are layers of our transit past, and our state’s transit future is on the surface, if we’re ambitious.

“Advocates have come out year after year asking for improvements to our bus hub, and not only have your requests been ignored, but you have been met with a plan not to improve the bus hub, but to move it. If this is not what the people want, why move it? If the people, after such a resounding ‘No,’ say they don’t want the bus hub moved, I have to wonder why it is still planned. Maybe somebody can talk to me after I’m done here and explain why this plan makes sense.”

“This isn’t about making transit better. It’s about pushing bus riders out of sight, all to appease the few wealthy property owners who don’t want to see us near their fancy buildings,” said Aneiya Sangster, co-director of the Providence Student Union. “We know what’s really going on, and we won’t stand for it. We need leaders who understand that good public transportation is about serving the people, not just developers. We need our voices heard because we are the ones who ride these buses. We demand that state leaders stop this misguided project, stop wasting our tax dollars, and instead invest in strengthening the bus system that already serves us so well. Support good bus transit for everyone, not just those with money.”

Despite community and rider opposition, downtown developers such as former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr. dislike the bus hub because of the people who use it. The presence of students going to school, blue-collar workers going to work, and people experiencing homelessness going to service organizations is seen as a drag on real estate value. They would prefer Kennedy Plaza be developed into an upscale park and restaurant hub to cater to them.

“This is an important step toward delivering a world-class transit system that attracts new riders and employer partnerships,” said Christopher Durand, RIPTA Chief Executive Officer. “The public has consistently told us that they want a clean, safe, and welcoming indoor facility with convenient connections to multiple modes of transportation. With the site investigation now complete, we can begin the detailed work needed to turn that vision into an achievable project.

“Every decision will be guided by the same priorities that have shaped this process from the beginning: meeting the needs of passengers and drivers, improving connections, enhancing safety and ensuring that the project is financially responsible,” continued Durand. “We look forward to continuing to engage riders, neighbors, elected leaders and other stakeholders as the design takes shape.”

“This project has the potential to transform the experience of using public transportation and create a stronger connection between bus and rail service,” said Patrick Crowley, Chairman of the RIPTA Board of Directors. “State and local leaders, as well as riders and downtown businesses, have been eagerly awaiting a new transit center, which will improve services across the board. The Board is confident in RIPTA’s ability to bring forward a well-designed project that takes into account affordability, rider needs and the responsible use of public funding.”

The RIPTA press release continued:

“Following an extensive evaluation of potential locations and a public engagement process, RIPTA identified space within Station Park, west of the Providence Train Station, as the preferred site. The location would create a direct connection between bus and passenger rail service while keeping the transit center in downtown Providence. Riders previously identified multimodal connections and clean, safe indoor facilities as leading priorities for the project.

“With the proposed site located above Amtrak’s rail tunnel, RIPTA and Jacobs Engineering conducted extensive structural inspections and analysis in coordination with Amtrak. That work has confirmed that constructing the proposed transit center over the tunnel is feasible.

“As part of the next phase, RIPTA will reengage Next Wave Partners to undertake:

• Architectural and engineering design;
• Federal environmental review;
• Coordination with Amtrak on design and construction approvals; and
• Development of a final project proposal and firm, fixed construction price.

“RIPTA will continue to engage riders throughout this next phase and incorporate feedback to ensure the new transit center reflects the needs of those it serves.”

Note: RIPTA has never made an honest effort to engage with riders.

“The completed design and project proposal will be presented to RIPTA’s Board of Directors for review and approval before the project moves into construction.

“Approximately $77 million has been committed to the project to date, including $46 million identified in the State Transportation Improvement Program, a $25 million U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant, and $6 million in state matching funds. A comprehensive cost estimate will be developed through the design process, and the project will undergo an affordability review to ensure that its scope aligns with available funding.

“The project supports RIPTA’s goal of providing a stronger transportation system that is more convenient and attractive for current and future riders. For six decades, RIPTA has played a critical role in the daily lives of Rhode Islanders, moving over 42,000 people daily.

“Additional information about public engagement opportunities and the project timeline will be announced as the next phase progresses.”

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 Steve Ahlquist is a progressive reporter based in Providence, Rhode Island. His work has appeared in Rhode Island Future and UpriseRI – and is published on Substack.

This article is shared by mutual agreement as members of the RI News Collaborative