Better services for passenger and community
With $8,040,000 of federal funding, The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will build new hubs for mobility. These hubs will be located at the University of Rhode Island and Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus. Senator Jack Reed helped in to push the case for the grant he also happens to be a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.
Along with the infrastructure the grant will be used to buy some additional buses that will not only help the two colleges but also improve the transit services in the southern part of the state. The Federal Transportation Administration, which manages federal funds via the Buses and Bus Facilities program for the grant, will support infrastructure improvement in both the campus. The two universities will act as the operational hubs for RIPTA. This will help passengers and communities with better bus service and connections.
The grant will improve the transit infrastructure
Right now the two institutions serve around 35,000 students per year through one million RIPTA bus trips. This is 6% of all RIPT’s yearly usage. With the ever-growing need for better and more transport service, with addition to parking and congestion problems, the grant will help considerably in providing accessible services and meet the demand of the people.
This grant will be used to construct a mobility hub near the University of Rhode Island which is pretty adjacent to Flagg Road parking lot. This will enhance the connectivity and access in and around the campus for buses, bikes, cars, and pedestrians. The hub will have eight berths for the buses, shelters, and real-time display screen, bicycle racks, building with interior waiting space, restrooms and ticket vending.
