- RIPTA faces a $18 million budget gap despite $15 million in new proposed funding from the Rhode Island House budget.
- Up to 90 layoffs and a 20% cut in bus service are expected to balance the budget, according to a consultant’s report.
- The consultant’s efficiency study found only $2–5 million in potential new revenue or savings, far short of the needed amount.
- Suggested measures include a possible fare hike, reallocation of rural route resources, and boosting advertising revenue by $900,000.
- RIPTA could also save $1 million by using federal reimbursements for certain administrative positions.
- CEO Christopher Durand warned lawmakers that service cuts will reduce ridership and federal funding in the long term.
- The study found RIPTA’s operating costs are average and admin costs are below average compared to peers.
- RIPTA initially faced a potential of 300 layoffs, so the current 90 is a reduced scenario.
- Gov. McKee’s budget did not add RIPTA funding, but the House version includes recurring revenue via a proposed gas tax increase.
- Advocates warn that failing to fully fund RIPTA will trigger a cycle of service cuts, fare hikes, job losses, and lower ridership.
1 reply
Nobody cares about RIPTA, they are horrible