At a meeting yesterday evening in Lincoln, Lincoln Park and R.I. Public Transit Authority officials agreed to a resumption of bus service to the racing and video slots parlor.
Service will resume Saturday, Karen Mensel, RIPTA’s director of marketing and communications, told Providence Business News in a telephone interview this morning. Mark Therien, RIPTA’s assistant general manager for planning, met with Lincoln Park officials yesterday at 4:30 p.m. to seek agreement on a safe, convenient location on the gambling facility’s property where the buses could stop, Mensel said.
The news was confirmed in an e-mail by Cynthia Stern, Lincoln Park vice president.
“We would like to reiterate the fact that this was a temporary situation and we have come to an understanding with RIPTA that will accommodate the needs of their passengers, as well as our guests and employees,” Stern said. “The new location will be located approximately 100 yards from the South entrance of Lincoln Park, adjacent to a lighted sidewalk with wheelchair access.”
RIPTA’s safety officer was to inspect the site today, Stern said, “to mitigate any misdirection and ensure the safety of all concerned.”
In a letter dated late last week, Lincoln Park had banned RIPTA buses from its property, effective Tuesday. That has left customers or workers seeking to reach the facility by bus having to walk from the state police barracks, about half a mile away on the other side of Old Louisquisset Pike.
About 150 people per day travel to Lincoln Park via the bus on RIPTA’s Route 54 (Lincoln/Woonsocket), the transit authority has said. They may face future disruptions.
“The stop may need to be adjusted in the future, with input from RIPTA,” because of the ongoing construction at Lincoln Park, Stern said.
RIPTA bus schedule information is available by calling 728-9400 or visiting ripta.com. Lincoln Park information is available at www.lincolnparkri.com.
