Lives disrupted, fewer hours, harder to find a job, can't use the bus to go out for something fun. RIPTA cuts are "sometimes isolating, often debilitating." All to save .03% of the state's budget. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUCt...
@pvdstreets.bsky.social has receipts.
🚌🚗Here at the RIPTA & RIDOT budget hearings where dozens of people have sent testimony or signed up to testify in person, almost all of whom are here to support RIPTA.
💪Thank you to everyone who has taken time to speak up for transit!
An important milestone for RIPTA comes up tomorrow! Use link below to access our testimony guide and send a message to lawmakers!
🚌RIPTA budget hearing
📆Tuesday March 10, 2026
✍️ Send written testimony by 1:00pm
🎙️ Attend in person after 4:30pm
🏛️ State House, room 35
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Thank you bill sponsor Rep. Hull and @patcrowley401.bsky.social @ripta.com CEO Durand and our political director Nicole for a great hearing on the Commuter Transportation Benefits Act!
Let’s pass this common sense measure to grow ridership through RI’s largest and most well resourced companies!
Thank you @joeshekarchi.bsky.social and @karenalzate.bsky.social and all of the House of Representatives for honoring the family of our friend and colleague Nicole who recently lost her 6 year old Nephew in a tragic act of traffic violence, and along with her beloved grandmother Elisabeth. ❤️
In Rhode Island, the top 25 employers combined employ more than 100,000 people. If even a fraction of those employees opted to switch to transit, it would have a measurable impact on ridership, not to mention reductions in congestion and emissions taking cars off of the road.
This saves employees, on average, 30% on their commute, increasing their net disposable income and aiding recruitment and retention. Employers ALSO save by reducing FICA and payroll taxes by at least 7.65% of the commute value (Source: ACT). This is a win-win scenario that requires no state funding.
This bill is a common sense measure that would require Rhode Island’s largest employers (500+ employees) to provide bus passes as a pre-tax fringe benefit, at no cost to the state.
The bill leverages the federal tax code, allowing employees to use pre-tax dollars for transit and parking.
💪And we’re off!
🚌The first piece of legislation in the Save RIPTA package, “Commuter Transportation Benefits Act” had its first Senate hearing on Wednesday. This afternoon the House Committee on Labor will hear the bill.
📝Learn more and send testimony by 1pm: pvdstreets.org/save-ripta/
Thank You @samzurier.bsky.social & @jenstewart4ri.bsky.social for introducing this important legislation! After repeated scrutiny of RIPTA’s efficiency (an agency a fraction the size of RIDOT) in many previous sessions, this examination of our transportation spending is long overdue!
Burlington VT has nine of those little guys and does a great job with sidewalk clearance! Take notes PVD, it’s not an impossible problem to solve!
Thank you @jacquelynvoghel.bsky.social for this excellent and thorough reporting!
An East Providence resident wakes up at 5:30 a.m. for a 90-minute commute to Warwick. In Narragansett, a restaurant owner says he's lost six employees to bus route reductions. Throughout Rhode Island, workers and employers are feeling the impacts of RIPTA service cuts. pbn.com/weakened-con...
Snow art contest!! 🤩🤩🤩
It’s never been more important to support the new legislation from @mackdistrict6.bsky.social and Rep. Teresa Tanzi that would reverse the 2023 law making the Director of RIDOT the Board Chair of RIPTA, and updates, clarifies, and strengthens other Board appointment guidelines.
More to come…
On the final day of Peter Alviti’s tenure, we offer this perspective from Matt McDermott, on the failure of his leadership and the broad implications of having a DOT oversee public transit, and how to move forward into a productive future for transportation in RI.
pvdeye.org/fixing-trans...
We were recently hit by a record-breaking blizzard (over 30 inches of snow) and noticed that the bike path at Henderson Bridge has already been cleared by RIDOT.
This is how it should be done — bike paths being treated as essential transportation infrastructure.
The @ripta.com bus stop shelter in my neighborhood was cleared!! Thank you!! 🙏🏽
From the Mayor's Office re: storm response:
Most roads still remain unpassable, and it is important for neighbors to know that they have not been left behind.
We asking that everyone **stays off the roads unless it is an emergency.**
Lots of detours and a few route cancellations today. Check the service alerts website:
ripta.com/alerts
BREAKING: After 2 days of complete service suspension, RIPTA to resume limited service tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 25. Sign up for alerts and download the Transit App for notifications!
More: www.ripta.com/node/975
The travel ban has lifted, but do NOT drive if your car looks like this one. It's important to clear your vehicle completely before hitting the road.
This was a legit midwestern lake-effect snow here in New England. Glad I got out in it before dark--so great to walk around the city and not see a single car, and instead people walking in the streets with smiles on their faces.
🚦Tonight join @sueanderbois.bsky.social for the first North Main Street Task Force meeting of 2026!
Learn about updates and progress being made, voice your concerns about snow removal and pedestrian safety, and hear from councilors Roias and Peterson about concerns on Branch Ave!
Proud to attend @epi-ri.bsky.social & @homesri.bsky.social events with @mackdistrict6.bsky.social @joeshekarchi.bsky.social today at the State House as we fight for solutions to our worsening housing & climate crisis!
📢 Affordable housing is a human right + Tax the RICH! 📢
@pvdstreets.bsky.social on Alviti:
"On far too many occasions, Director Alviti refused to prioritize the interests of public transit users and people walking and biking in Rhode Island."
www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2...
The statute, which we will continue to work to undo, makes the RIDOT Director (or their designee), whoever that person is, the chair at RIPTA.
There will always be a conflict of interest, as DOT and RIPTA fight for the same dollars.
STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF PETER ALVITI
The Providence Streets Coalition and Save RIPTA welcome new leadership at RIDOT that will have a multimodal, 21st century approach to transportation, respect and communicate with all residents, and center safety and transparency.
In full: tr.ee/Ia-k-7a9zt
Bye.
