Despite being the second-most densely populated state in the nation, fewer than 3 percent of Rhode Islanders use public transportation at least once a week. New Jersey, the most densely populated state, sees 10.8 percent of its citizens do so.
Is this a problem?
It is if you consider that the next generation of workers, the millennials, like to live in cities and are not as fond of automobiles as their parents, the baby boomers.
It is if you consider that having more people use mass transit generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions. And it is if you consider that having more densely populated urban cores is a more efficient use of public resources.
Unfortunately, while the state expects there to be continuing growth of public-transportation demand, the current funding system does not allow it.
It is time for the state to take a sober look at how the R.I. Public Transit Authority is funded and put it on firm financial footing so that Rhode Island finally can have a transit system that supports individuals and businesses in a cost-efficient manner. •