Executive Summary
Rhode Island needs to make an investment to develop and maintain a seamless, integrated, high quality transit service that builds on and complements the existing system.
An investment in transit will yield numerous benefits: decreased congestion on our roadways; increased economic development potential Statewide; improved environmental quality, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions that threaten significant climate change; a better position for the City and State in competition with metropolitan areas making significant transit investments; preservation of the quality of life that distinguishes Rhode Island by supporting smart growth and preserving open spaces; an opportunity to meet the needs of the State’s changing demographics characterized by an aging population, growing urban communities, and new citizens who expect and rely on robust transit.
The Transit 2020 Working Group’s conclusions and recommendations will inform a comprehensive regional transit study to which RIPTA and the City of Providence have made financial commitments. The Working Group identified the following priorities, among others.
ANALYSIS
• Plans and proposals for expanding, strengthening and upgrading transit should be based on a solid foundation of data and analysis: user and non-user information; current and projected origin and destination data; current and projected population centers, activity centers, and intermodal transit connections. Also, major employers should be surveyed to determine the necessity of dedicated commuting routes.
MODIFICATION
• The current system offers many opportunities for short-term incremental improvements that could greatly increase the quality of service, user-friendliness, and ridership – even potentially drawing on “choice” riders - those who currently avoid RIPTA because they choose the private transportation options available to them. These modifications can serve as the required early successes, demonstrating to the public the value of transit investment.
• This state is fortunate to have an excellent base on which to build its transit future: the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). This highly successful organization needs to receive support and advocacy from the public and private sector, as well as improved public relations and advertisement.
• Simple innovations such as route “branding” could serve to increase and promote transit use as a regular activity. Routes could be given descriptive names (Meds and Eds) or color-coded (Red Line), to bring transit into the everyday lexicon of residents.
- Short-zone fares, day passes, and free routes should all be examined as possible modifications that could promote transit use.
- Technology upgrades to the current system could include efficiency measures such as traffic light overrides, or customer service improvements such as signs providing real-time arrival and departure information.
- New modes of transit should be explored, such as: Shuttles, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Street Cars, Rapid Bus, and Light Rail. These new modes should be considered for existing transit routes, as well as new corridors, such as Allens Avenue and Olneyville in Providence, TF Green Airport, and the Providence-Pawtucket corridor. Additionally, new hub locations would tie these innovative routes and modes together in an efficient way.
- Kennedy Plaza is overburdened and not effective as an intermodal hub. New hub locations must be identified in Providence with an emphasis on improving intermodal connections.
INCENTIVES
- Transit use must be proactively encouraged and automobile use must be discouraged. The good news is that drivers do respond to rewards and incentives for transit use, and disincentives for single passenger automobile use can also be successful.
- There should be a thorough review of potential incentives at the state and local level, with government, non-profits and private businesses all working to decrease single passenger commutes.
- The Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) process should put a higher priority on transit infrastructure projects.
CONNECTIVITY
- Successful transit systems provide riders with easy links from one mode to another with strong pedestrian and bike routes to and from the system. Integrating and coordinating schedules, fare systems, signage, maps, routes, and hubs into a seamless network serving the rider’s needs is essential.
- Consideration should be given to the consolidation of all management and operational aspects of public transit in Rhode Island under RIPTA.
• A unified fare system is a high priority and could include RIPTA, MBTA, Connecticut commuter rail, and new transit modes that may be added in the future.
• A frequent, shuttle-style rail service should be pursued to connect TF Green Airport with downtown Providence and other potential stops.
• New hubs should be built and existing hubs should be upgraded to accommodate intermodal use. The current Amtrak station and the surrounding area are one potential location for a new and improved intermodal hub.FUNDING
• Transit improvement will require capital investment as well as a dedicated, predictable and adequate funding stream to sustain expanded and upgraded operations. Given the many demands on state spending, innovative funding options need to be examined and identified.
• Various options for funding capital improvements and expansion of the transit system are available, including Tax Increment Financing (TIFs), Special Assessment Bonds, general revenue bonds, master lease agreements, etc. The criteria for evaluating different options and a recommended strategy for funding system expansion should be a result of the study.
PLANNING
- Greater density is an essential prerequisite to increased transit use, and it is also essential if the State is to achieve its goal of preserving open space. Increased public understanding of the value of density is essential. Local and state policies must be identified and supported.
- Transit planning should be fully coordinated statewide, and should incorporate the State land use plan where appropriate. Also, RIPTA should explore the advantages of becoming actively involved in development.
• The site selection and development of structured parking should occur in a way that supports the growth of transit.
ADVOCACY
• Transit needs advocates and leaders to ensure that these crucial plans come to fruition and continue to benefit millions of Rhode Island residents and visitors every year.
• The RIPTA board should be strengthened, and the composition revised, while its mission must be updated and expanded to reflect its current and future role as “mobility managers.”
• The Rhode Island General Assembly should form a standing Joint Committee on Transportation.
• Transit 2020 has provided a valuable forum for regional discussion of transit issues and has also brought businesses, major employers, institutions, municipal governments, state agencies, advocates, and transit users together to study and advocate for expanded transit. An advocacy and leadership group should be formalized, perhaps building on Transit 2020. One role such a group could play would be to provide advice and support for the Metropolitan Regional Transit Study. This group could also be charged with building public support for the Transit plans resulting from that study.
If our transit challenges are not
addressed, these positive trends
will falter and opportunities will
be lost.