A proposal by a homogenous cast of affluent white bigshots to relocate the central RIPTA hub to the outskirts of town is continuing to gain traction. The proposal has garnered support from the governor and many higher-ups in the transportation community. However, that support means little, considering how these same people can’t even keep a bridge intact and have completely forgone pedestrians and bicyclists. Do we genuinely believe they—most of whom likely have only ever exclusively commuted by car and have no experience in public transportation—have both the knowledge to complete the project adequately and have authentic interests in increasing bus accessibility for everyone?
Browbeating aside, there is a saying in Finances 101: pay your debts first. RIPTA is falling off a cliff as it suffers from incredibly large funding shortfalls, and now it’s gunning to invest in an already questionable relocation of its primary hub which will undoubtedly take tens, if not, hundreds of millions of dollars it doesn’t have. Let’s also not forget the current bus hub was just recently renovated too.
Now, if this relocation investment could work in the long term, they likely wouldn’t be getting hit with so much criticism by the community. One of the many critiques is that they’re relocating it to a worse spot, essentially downgrading by tossing the hub to the outskirts of town from where it was originally located in downtown’s busy Kennedy Plaza.
According to news sources that have covered the meetings surrounding this, the idea is that despite this place being dubbed “Siberia” for being quite literally in the middle of nowhere, those in charge think there’ll be plenty of opportunity. According to The Providence Journal, “If it is built, RIPTA managers, say the new bus hub will provide a clean, air-conditioned place to wait for the bus, with shops and restrooms… It is also expected to have revenue-generating apartments on the upper floors and possibly other commercial space.” In another local news article, “The hope is that Kennedy Plaza can then be transformed into a new park and gathering space.”
We learn something new every day, and today I learned that restrooms, parks, and clean areas can’t be constructed in downtown Providence. Ignoring there exists a park a few feet from Kennedy Plaza and the fact that a large chunk of our downtown land is empty parking lots, I also do see their vision for more commercial space. Beautiful box chain stores like a Subway and Kohl’s may be in order because, after all, we are now located away from all the mom-and-pop shops, though you could visit them if you take yet another bus to the inner part of downtown… where the old hub was originally located. Even the Providence Place Mall is within reach if you just don a nice pair of hiking boots!
There’s another puzzle piece. If you had asked me previously, I would have said this is a way for them to temporarily rid the homeless population that frequents Kennedy Plaza, but now I’m confused. This new hub is going to be situated a stone’s throw away from one of the largest homeless services, Crossroads. I cannot fathom what plot is trying to be written here: building it away from all the stores, businesses, places where people work, etc., but placing it right next to Crossroads. Do they think that only this population uses buses? What about making it accessible for everyone else, including those who utilize Crossroads? We can do both, and we are with the current location.
Something I neglected to mention about these wealthy hotshots: they have blatant conflicts of interest as noted by The Providence Journal. If that wasn’t overt enough, public comment wasn’t even allowed in one of their recent meetings where they gave the go-ahead. A feasibility study is also in the works, but there doesn’t need to be one, and even if we did, how can we trust this obvious source of corruption? Those taking the helm and being listened to should include the diverse community, experts, businesses, and organizations in the field that this impacts. Don’t hinder their ability to speak; instead, let them help guide your old ways of thinking into smarter transit and cities that accommodate all, otherwise, you’re doomed to fail.
A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.” – Gustavo Petro