March 11, 2010

   Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr., 401-451-1305

Tassoni: RIPTA needs riders and low fares, not a new IT system

            STATE HOUSE – Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield) thinks the management at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has its priorities confused.

            “Instead of doing all they can to keep prices low and to bring ridership up,” he said, “they are planning fare increases and service cuts later this year. At the same time, they are considering spending about $10 million on an information technology system that is probably not very urgently needed. What my constituents think is needed is better service and lower fares.”

            Senator Tassoni said he is also critical of a decision made by the RIPTA board at its February meeting to reject use of some or all of $3 million in federal stimulus funds to apply toward the authority’s projected $5.2 million deficit in the next fiscal year.

            “That $3 million from the federal government is intended to be used for operational expenses,” said Senator Tassoni. “My understanding is that nothing precludes RIPTA from using it to reduce its current deficit. Yet apparently the board has some other designs on that money, purchases and spending that may buy a few new items but that at the same time will require riders to pay more in fares and deal with cuts in services. That makes no sense to me at all, and it is not going to be well received by residents of our state who must rely on RIPTA for their travel needs.”

            Senator Tassoni called on the RIPTA board to rethink its decisions “and spend the money it is receiving from the federal government more wisely, so as to provide better service to the people who need to use the buses. A new IT system and some new vehicles are not going to serve much of a purpose if it means fares are too high and service is too sporadic to fill those buses with riders.”

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