Loss of ridership fares, increased costs put RIPTA $18M in the red for FY21 before CARES Act funds

Nancy Lavin

January 22, 2021 1:15 pm

FEWER RIDERS and higher costs put RIPTA $18 million in the red in fiscal 2021, but CARES Ac funding allowed the agency to balance its budget. /PBN FILE PHOTO/ ELIZABETH GRAHAM — FEWER RIDERS and higher costs put RIPTA $18 million in the red in fiscal 2021, but CARES Act funding allowed the agency to balance its budget. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ ELIZABETH GRAHAM

PROVIDENCE – Dramatic drops in ridership combined with new costs for technology, cleaning and personal protective equipment are anticipated to put the R.I. Public Transit Authority $18 million in the hole in fiscal 2021, according to RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian. Luckily, the $91.2 million in CARES Act funding the state transit agency received - separate…