Efforts
to improve Rhode Island’s public transit system received a boost today
as Providence Mayor Cicilline, Lincoln Senator Connors, the Sierra Club
and other supporters held an event at Waterplace Park callin g for
approval of financing and citing a major new report on oil savings and
other benefits from public transportation across the country. The
RIPIRG report, A Better Way to Go: Meeting America’s 21 st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit,
examines the challenges faced by America’s transportation system and
the benefits of existing rail and bus projects in Rhode Island and
other Southern New England states.
According to the report, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
(RIPTA) saved 1 million gallons of oil in 2006, a fuel savings then
worth $2.6 million and which avoided 4,874 metric tons of global
warming emissions. [Transit in the metro-Providence region additionally
saves rush our commuters 976 thousand hours of traffic delays, a
savings that amounts to $17.3 million.] Around the country the RIPIRG
report found transit saves 3.4 billion gallons of oil each
year, prevents 541 million hours of traffic delay and reduces global
warming pollution by 26 million tons. Demand for public transportation
is booming nationally, with transit trips far outpacing the growth of
auto miles or population since 1995.
“This report shows why we need to move forward with the recommendations
of the Transit 2020 Working Group” said Providence Mayor David N.
Cicilline. “It puts clear numbers on how public transit reduces oil
dependence, traffic congestion, and global warming pollution .
Investing in a more robust public transit system will help us address
critical challenges and promote the economic growth of our region.
In 2006, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline brought together
stakeholders in Providence and surrounding cities to craft a plan that
will build upon an approved commuter rail with an efficient, attractive
local transit system. The Transit 2020 Working Group’s recommendations
were made to inform a regional public transit study that the Rhode
Island Public Transit Authority is now in the process of creating.
During that same time, a special legislative commission to study public
transit in the state, co-chaired by State Senator Daniel Connors and
Representative Edwin Pacheco created a new mission for RIPTA as the
state’s mobility manager.
The current project to extend the commuter rail line to South County,
which will connect commuters from southern Rhode Island and the T.F.
Green Airport with the Providence and Boston metro areas has been
approved for nearly two years.
National public opinion polls that 53 percent of commuters would prefer
to use more public transportation if it were available near their home
and workplace. A similar poll in Rhode Island was conducted in 2006
with similar results. An overwhelming majority of the public,
seventy-five percent, tell pollsters that transit is the best way to
fight traffic congestion.
“Moving ahead with growing our public transit system is a key step
toward 21 st century transportation in Rhode Island,” said State
Senator Daniel Connors of Lincoln. “This report shows that transit
saves Rhode Islanders energy, time, and money. With rising gas prices
and increasing traffic projected for the future, we can’t afford not to
invest in popular projects like this that meet our country’s long-term
needs.”
