RIPTA’s proposed cuts would gut Woonsocket, officials warn
WOONSOCKET – Residents, city officials, and state lawmakers are sounding the alarm over a sweeping plan by RIPTA to cut service on nearly every bus route across the state. Some of the most severe impacts, critics say, would fall upon on Woonsocket.
Nearly 50 members of the public attended a hearing held last Monday at the Woonsocket Harris Public Library. Numerous speakers expressed concern over proposed reductions to local routes such as the 54 and 87, which serve as major transportation arteries for residents who rely on the bus system to reach jobs, grocery stores, medical appointments, and social services.
“This is not just an inconvenience,” said Sen. Melissa Murray, who represents Woonsocket and North Smithfield. “This will strand riders. This will keep people from getting to work, from getting their groceries, from taking their children to the zoo or the beach.”
RIPTA officials have described the proposed service cuts as the largest in the agency’s history, and they would impact 58 of 67 bus routes statewide. Among the eliminations are the 75 and 9X, both of which connect Woonsocket to surrounding communities.
Many advocates are blaming the governor’s office for the lack of funding for RIPTA, saying the agency is trying to work within the limits it has.
Weekend service on the 71 is also slated for removal, while Route 54, one of the most heavily used in the system, would see reduced frequency on weekdays and weekends.
City Councilor Kristina Fox said the proposed reductions would “strike at the heart of our city’s economy and well-being,” leaving working families, students, and seniors without reliable transportation.
“Woonsocket runs on RIPTA. These cuts are a threat to our city,” Fox told The Breeze.
“Woonsocket will see service reduction to our two main lines, 54 and 87, and longer overall commute times, some by nearly an hour. Our Flex buses will be reduced as well. People won’t be able to get to work and could lose jobs. Students will miss classes. Seniors will miss doctor appointments.”
She added that the effects will be felt beyond just riders.
“Gutting our transit system will achieve nothing but pain that we’ll all feel for years and years to come,” she said. “While you might not ride the bus, you will for sure be stuck in the resulting traffic jams and economic downturn.”
At the hearing, Fox urged Gov. Dan McKee to act immediately and allocate $10 million to fill in the aforementioned gaps in RIPTA service. She also later confirmed to The Breeze that the Woonsocket City Council will discuss the matter at its next full meeting.
Multiple riders who spoke at the hearing said the cuts would effectively isolate them. Pascoag resident Joy Thibodeau said she uses paratransit to reach her job and medical providers. She said the loss of the ADA-5 pilot route under the RIDE Anywhere program in particular could be a “death sentence.”
Others questioned RIPTA’s priorities, pointing to a contract with the Rhode Island Football Club to shuttle fans to games in Pawtucket as a misuse of limited resources.
RIPTA officials say the cuts are necessary to close a $17.6 million budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year. That shortfall stems from the expiration of federal pandemic aid and a long-term structural funding problem tied to declining gas tax revenues.
The General Assembly already allocated $15 million in one-time support during this year’s budget process, but RIPTA says the agency still faces a multimillion-dollar deficit. A long-awaited efficiency report released Aug. 1 concluded that RIPTA is operating efficiently and that there are no feasible administrative savings to avoid the cuts.
Several speakers argued that the shortfall could still be closed through executive action. During a June 25 press event, Gov. Dan McKee floated the idea of transferring up to $15 million in surplus and gas tax funds. Advocates say such a move could avert the cuts entirely if enacted quickly.
“This is not a budgetary issue,” said Sen. Brian Thompson at the hearing. “It’s a failure of leadership at the highest level. The governor has the authority to fix this right now.”
RIPTA’s Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on the proposed cuts on Thursday. If approved, the changes would take effect Sept. 13.
Regardless of that outcome, the Woonsocket City Council is expected to discuss the proposed cuts on Aug. 18.