The R.I. Department of Transportation made the right decision in pulling back from its preferred option for a new downtown Providence bus hub, to allow for more public input.
No one wants to see another delay in developing a new transit plan for city buses – and revitalizing Kennedy Plaza. But state transportation officials need to make a better case why a proposed multihub system is the right one.
A year and a half after first unveiling that plan, the DOT now says it will be one of three options that will be presented in upcoming public hearings.
Developers are supporting a single-hub proposal that calls for an indoor transit center on Dorrance Street with a mix of retail and workforce housing. That plan is appealing, though the $77 million price tag could make it prohibitive.
A third option, to keep the central hub at Kennedy Plaza with improved security, would be a nonstarter for downtown business leaders.
After years of delays, let’s hope 2022 brings a plan the city, state, business and community interests can support.