way for major renovations at
Kennedy Plaza. (Tom Croke)
Rick Benton is excited about the prospects of a new Kennedy Plaza for practical reasons. The general manager at the Providence Biltmore estimates that as many as 50 percent of the hotel’s 140 full time employees take the bus to work each day.
A new Intermodal Center with a comfortable waiting area, café, restrooms and improved lighting and security features will directly improve the daily commute of the Biltmore workers.
“It’s going to be a huge benefit to our employees,” he said.
The argument can be made that until construction workers began ripping it apart a few months ago, downtown’s Kennedy Plaza had not changed much since the 1800s, when it was known as Exchange Place.
But all of that is now changing – thanks in large part to grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program” that are expected to pay for 80 percent of the cost of the new multi-million dollar Kennedy Plaza Intermodal Center. Funding from the state will cover the remaining 20 percent of the cost.
The 14-month construction project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. When it is finished, the new center will include:
- A ticketing office for RIPTA bus, trolley and ferry services, for Bonanza and Greyhound buses, plus Amtrak fast ticketing
- A climate-controlled indoor waiting area with restrooms for passengers
- Improved and expanded passenger information services and customer service
- A coffee café, vending machines
- A RIPTA photo identification office
- City of Providence police office
- RIPTA’s electronic information kiosk with information on local and regional transportation services, including Amtrak, MBTA, T.F. Green Airport, plus Rhode Island restaurants and events
- Bicycle storage
- City of Providence arts and entertainment office, providing information and ticketing services for downtown events.
- Tourism information
Much is being made of the fact that the new travel center will provide a safer environment for the heart of downtown. In fact, safety was among the highlights of a speech delivered by Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci last November at the annual meeting of the Providence Foundation. The mayor talked about an increased police presence, better lighting and a new Kennedy Plaza.
“It is increasingly important that safety issues be addressed,” said Cianci. “We have doubled our walking beat, increased lighting, used the mounted patrol more frequently, and installed surveillance cameras downtown. In addition, the new Kennedy Plaza will include a police substation, so that the police will have a constant presence in the heart of the downtown.”
One of the unique features of the new Kennedy Plaza center will be a stoneware tile mural. The ceramic mural is being designed and installed by VSA Arts (formerly known as Very Special Arts of Rhode Island), the state branch of the international, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the artistic talent of people with disabilities.
