Wait, What? Cash-Starved RIPTA Is Providing Shuttle Services to Rhode Island FC Matches … For How Much?

As part of its ongoing review of all things Tidewater Landing … Rhode Island Football Club … Centreville Bank Stadium, The Coalition Radio Network decided to do a deep dive into the RIPTA-enable transportation grid connecting the … errrr … diverse and wide ranging parking facilities bringing Soccer fans to the troubled Stadium.

In order of outrages, we’ve found 5$ bottles of water … 35$ sammiches … 20$ plus parking … 8$ ticket services charges to be aggravating.  But none so compelling as the expensive, scattered parking, sort of surrounding the Stadium. At least there is some form of shuttle bus system in place? Right?

But wait. As anyone over the age 0f 17 has come to realize, Rhode Island is like a bad ’70s game show: Everyone goes home a loser, and there are always parting gifts.

And, as everyone knows, There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

And, it turns out, the RIPTA Shuttle Bus ain’t free either. And guess who’s paying for it? You. Are.

Yup. In a contract sent to the The Coalition Radio Network via an APRA presented to the Rhode Island Public Transit Association (RIPTA), the shuttle service, and all its attendant costs, are being picked up cash starved RIPTA, in exchange (Barter) for some RIPTA promotional spots.

RIPTA has been traditionally underfunded, in a State that spends literal billions to subsidize a broken (literally) highway system. The shortfall for FYE 2026 is a staggering near $32M Dollars. To foist an unfunded mandate in support of a privately owned entertainment business .. Yes, folks, professional soccer is entertainment .. all to support a vanity play for the corrupt Grebien & McKee administrations .. is obscene.

The Coalition has reached out for comment from the Transit Community, as well as government officials. To add insult to injury? RIPTA is withholding over 140 pages of additional documentation, due to the arcane laws of APRA.

Additional requests will be made in an attempt to ascertain the true cost of providing bus transportation specific to stadium activities.

“While many riders will surely be going to soccer games, and the service to the stadium could attract new riders, the new routes should be paid for by the stadium, especially at a time when RIPTA has a $32 million dollar deficit. A regular rider does not benefit from the stadium service. RIPTA is actually considering cutting routes in that area, according to the most recent data available, their proposed 2023 cuts. It would be more beneficial if RIPTA and the stadium worked together to bring more service to the area that would benefit all riders.” – Amy Glidden Co-Chair – RI Transit Riders

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