Transportation Equity in Rhode Island? NOT REALLY: By Barry Schiller of Rhode Island Transit Riders
Author: Barry Schiller of RI Transit Riders
Rosa Parks, who famously resisted segregation on Montgomery AL public buses, was born on February 4, so this time of year has come to be associated with celebrating “Transit Equity.”
While of course RI buses are not segregated, we have not achieved equity. For those who do use the bus, or more generally do not drive, transportation equity is still an issue here.
Our transit system today is such that many without cars cannot reasonably access jobs, schools, medical appointments, shopping, social events and other activities important to life. And it has gotten worse since last year the Governor and legislature failed to fully fund transit, forcing RIPTA to make the largest service cuts in its history. About 15% of its service was lost. This is not equitable.
RIPTA faces another deficit in the next fiscal year starting July 1, so those who use transit still cannot plan their lives knowing that the buses will be there for them. Even larger deficits loom in the coming years as the revenue from the gas tax continues to decline. RIPTA’s share is not even indexed for inflation as RIDOT’s share is. Yet they have found over a billion dollars for massive highway capacity expansions in hopes of speeding up trips for those who drive. This is not equitable.
As bus riders are disproportionately low income and people of color, politically connected downtown real estate interests want to send them away from Kennedy Plaza, even though it is where most riders want to go as it is near the Post Office, City Hall, URI, the mall, banks, cafes, hotels, and more. While Kennedy Plaza has its problems, these can be addressed at vastly less cost than moving the hub which can increase operating costs and cripple RIPTA with debt for years to come. This is not equitable.
It should be noted that even in winter the Kennedy Plaza terminal building closes at 5pm leaving passengers to wait in the cold and dark even at a peak period. It is unimaginable that an airport would leave passengers to wait outside at 5pm and even the train station is open until the last train of the day. This is not equitable.
Another example: The state allocaties almost $240 million every year from the general fund to eliminate property taxes on private motor vehicles. This mostly benefits those with expensive cars and/or lots of cars, the very ones who contribute the most to pollution and congestion, but it is of no benefit to the many households without cars, or perhaps one older vehicle. The car tax, which had exempted the first $6,000 of vehicle value from the tax, was one of the few taxes on wealth. Its elimination may be politically popular as most households have cars, hence difficult to oppose, but it is not equitable.
Note that after snowstorms, the state goes to great expense to promptly remove snow from state roads for drivers, but makes almost no effort to remove the snow from its sidewalks to help those who want to safely access bus stops. or otherwise want to walk. This is not equitable.
Though state law (RIGL 39-18-2) says the Governor shall achieve a “diverse” Board of Directors at RIPTA, the Board has 7 men and 1 female, 1 persons of color. It is a Board that does not at all reflect the ridership it is supposed to help serve. This is not equitable.
Look no further from our own State House where the state has expanded parking for motorists, even paving over part of the State House lawn for them, but though three busy bus lines stop there, and there is an army of state workers, lobbyists, rally goers, even tourists, who go there, there is still no bus shelter in the area. The same for about 90% of bus stops in the state that offer riders nothing more than a sign. Bus riders have been neglected. This is not equitable.
All who use transit are climate champions, and some voluntarily give up cars to help the environment. Downgrading bus service for them is another kind of inequity.
Now equity itself is under challenge from the Trump administration, and it seems transit (including trains) will get very low priority.
Yet there are positive developments! RIPTA’s new CEO seems determined to make improvements. Already much progress has been made on workforce development at RIPTA so there are now enough drivers to virtually eliminate missed trips. The Governor’s budget proposal does cover RIPTA’s FY2027 deficit, though there is no provision to restore the lost service. Kennedy Plaza conditions have started to get better and the Pawtucket transit center is open. A Rosa Parks themed bus shelter near the State House may finally be coming soon.
