RIPTA gets $8M from feds for URI, CCRI bus hubs and new buses

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Public Transit Authority has been allocated $8 million in federal funds for bus hubs and to purchase new buses, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., announced Thursday.

The funds will be used to build mobility hubs at University of Rhode Island’s South Kingstown campus and at Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus in Warwick. The mobility hubs will be used as operational hubs for RIPTA for service south of Providence.

“This federal funding will jump-start construction of new bus hubs and fleet acquisitions to help meet the growing demand for service at URI, CCRI and nearby communities. I commend URI President David Dooley and CCRI President Meghan Hughes for working collaboratively with RIPTA to make these new hubs possible,” said Reed in a statement.

The federal funding covers up to 80% of costs. The remaining costs will be covered by URI and state funding. The total cost of the projects is projected to be $10.8 million.

The funds will also be used to purchase up to four new buses to support increased operations in the region, Reed said.

The funds come from the Buses and Bus Facilities grant program overseen by the Federal Transportation Administration.

The URI bus hub will include five to eight bus berths, passenger facilities, including shelters, real-time display screens and bicycle racks, as well as a building with interior waiting space, restrooms and ticket vending machines.

At the CCRI Knight Campus, work will include the installation of two to four bus berths, as well as passenger facilities, which include shelters and real-time display screens.

“We want to thank Senator Reed for helping to secure the federal funding for these new hubs, which will be vital to our system,” said Scott Avedisian, RIPTA’s CEO, in a statement.  “The creation of these two hubs will help improve access to education in our state and also create better transit access in these areas for the public in general. We also want to thank our partners at URI and CCRI who are making long-term commitments to public transportation and also benefiting their surrounding communities.”