One in three Rhode Islanders depend on Medicaid. That’s why there’s grave concern if the Senate passes Trump’s budget plan, which includes massive cuts to the health insurance program. We’ll talk about what’s at stake with Rhode Island representative Gabe Amo. Also, RIPTA officials are facing a $33 million deficit. Lawmakers in the General Assembly need to pass a budget with the money to fill that gap, or cut bus lines and schedules throughout the state. And we speak with Westerly documentarian Hilary Steinman, who tackles the history of the Americans with Disabilities Act in her new film “Change, Not Charity.” Plus: A look back on the week in Rhode Island politics, and a few tips on what to do this week.
RIPTA
Posted inHousing, Local, Politics, Transportation
McKee appoints former MA official as housing secretary
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee announced Thursday the appointment of Deborah J. Goddard as the state’s housing secretary. If confirmed by the state Senate, Goddard will fill a vacancy created in July when former Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor left for an unspecified private sector job in the finance sector. He is now a partner at […]
Posted inLocal, Transportation
‘It’s where the bus riders want to go’: Transit advocate says RIPTA bus hub should stay in Kennedy Plaza
TRANSCRIPT: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Luis Hernandez: Why do you think it’s important for RIPTA to keep the bus hub in Kennedy Plaza? Randall Rose: Most of all, because Kennedy Plaza is cheaper for the RIPTA system and for the taxpayers, and it’s the most central location. It’s where the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Possibly Podcast
How can buses become a climate solution?
The transportation sector is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gasses in the U.S., and cars make up most of those emissions. So how can public transportation help reduce our emissions?
Posted inPolitics, The Weekly Catch, Transportation
Decade-old report warned of Washington Bridge issues, envisioning the future of RIPTA, and more
An investigation by the Providence Journal this week revealed that the Washington Bridge has had structural problems for years – and that the state knew about it as long ago as 2014. Providence Journal reporter Patrick Anderson joins us to talk about what he found. Also, RIPTA is in need of a new leader now that CEO Scott Avedisian has stepped down. We hear from transit advocates about their vision for the agency, and who they’d like to see take the helm. And while many artists are concerned about the growing threat of artificial intelligence, Griffin Smith is teaching students at RISD how to work with AI and not run from it. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
RIPTA board approves $67K severance for ex-CEO Scott Avedisian
Scott Avedisian’s exit as CEO of RIPTA became official Tuesday when the public transit agency’s board unanimously approved a severance agreement that includes a payment of $67,800. The payment consists of $45,500 for 13 weeks of wages and $22,400 for accrued vacation time. Avedisian, who did not attend the meeting, has been RIPTA’s CEO since […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 12, 2024
If someone was selling kits to build your own ark, they could clean up (before we all float away). You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
Avedisian resigns while facing charge in Warwick crash
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority CEO Scott Avedisian submitted his resignation Thursday, about two weeks after being involved in a chain-reaction car crash at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Warwick. In a letter to Gov. Dan McKee, Avedisian claimed credit for a series of improvements at RIPTA, including a downtown transit connector, funding the transit agency’s […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, Politics
Avedisian pleads not guilty to charge of leaving the scene
RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, and he declined to comment on the episode that led to the charge. Avedisian arrived at the Kent County Courthouse with his lawyer, former House Speaker John Harwood, and didn’t respond to questions from reporters before and […]
Posted inLabor, Local, Transportation
RIPTA board member Pat Crowley on how the agency can avoid proposed service cuts
Rhode Island’s public transit authority, RIPTA, has been making headlines lately. Proposed service cuts, angry riders, an embattled CEO, and debate over where to locate Providence’s central bus hub.
