RIPTA reopening Kennedy Plaza transit hub in January

A RENDERING of the work underway at Kennedy Plaza. The transit hub will reopen Jan. 17 after being closed since the summer for renovations. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE
A RENDERING of the work underway at Kennedy Plaza. The transit hub will reopen Jan. 17 after being closed since the summer for renovations. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE

PROVIDENCE – Kennedy Plaza will reopen on Jan. 17 after being closed since the summer for renovations, the R.I. Public Transit Authority said Tuesday.
Plaza improvements involved removing two narrow bus lanes and repaving the area as a contiguous pedestrian space, installing new lighting, signage and new bus shelters, and planting Honey Locust and Valley Forge American Elm trees.
The Authority also has plans to extend the hours of its customer service center there.
RIPTA staff will distribute information on the new bus stop locations between now and the January reopening.
The project was supposed to be completed in late fall, but work took longer than initially expected and design modifications also were made during the process.
“When passengers and pedestrians see the new plaza, we think that they’ll feel it was worth the wait,” Barbara Polichetti, public affairs director for RIPTA, said in a statement. “What once was a congested traffic area is now a plaza with trees, easy-to-read signs, and plenty of room for bus passengers and pedestrians alike.”
She said that initial funding for the project came from approximately $1.7 million in bond money that the city had for its downtown circulator plan, plus an estimated $700,000 from a federal “Bus Livability” grant obtained by RIPTA.
Kennedy Plaza was last improved more than a decade ago.
“The transformation of Kennedy Plaza into a revitalized public square will benefit all those who visit, live and work in our city,” Mayor Angel Taveras said. “The city of Providence sees this new, public space as essential to creating a more vibrant city, and we look forward to welcoming back RIPTA riders in the new year.”
Other enhancements for RIPTA riders will include installation of automated ticket vending machines and technology to track buses in real time so that passengers will be able to see arrival and departure times posted on digital boards at the plaza.
Polichetti noted that with RIPTA providing more than 20 million passenger trips statewide last year, the plaza, which is in front of City Hall, had become crowded. She said the new design gives riders more room.
“We’re very excited for our passengers,” Polichetti said. “It will be easier for them to find their bus stops and they will have more room on a safe pedestrian plaza. We’re also looking forward to bringing them more improvements in the state’s transit infrastructure in the future, particularly now that voters have approved a $35 million bond which will allow us to work on other locations.”

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