MBTA officials have pushed the target opening date for South Coast Rail back to May 2025, delaying the long-awaited restoration of train service to Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton by another year. MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, the agency’s top official, delivered the news personally at a pair of public meetings in Fall River […]
Transportation
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 inLocal, Politics, Transportation
Rhode Island GOP lambasts Democrats for handling of Washington Bridge
With the demolition and replacement cost for the westbound Washington Bridge rising to more than $400 million, Rhode Island GOP Chairman Joe Powers staged a news conference Tuesday to sharply criticize how a string of Democratic leaders have handled the situation. The administration of Gov. Dan McKee disclosed the $400 million figure on Monday – […]
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, 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 inLocal, South Coast Bureau, Transportation
South Coast Rail delayed again, as MBTA parts ways with project’s top manager
MBTA officials have announced that South Coast Rail is unlikely to meet its goal of opening this summer, less than a month after the agency quietly parted ways with the project’s highest-ranking manager. At a public presentation in Fall River Wednesday night, a senior project manager for South Coast Rail, Jean Fox, said she could […]
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Transportation
Providence’s City Council, hundreds of residents oppose mayor’s plan to remove bike lanes
More than 100 members of the public poured into Providence City Council chambers Thursday night to oppose Mayor Brett Smiley’s plan to remove bike lanes from South Water Street and replace them with an extra lane of car traffic. Smiley believes the change will alleviate congestion caused by the westbound Washington Bridge closure. The city […]
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Transportation
Providence mayor announces plans to remove bike lanes amid pushback
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley today announced official plans to remove the bike lanes from South Water Street. Smiley wants to add in an extra lane of vehicular traffic, which he says will help alleviate congestion in Fox Point following the closure of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge, and move the bike lane to […]
Posted inLocal, Transportation
Brown University professor says engineers can use AI and digital sensors to improve bridge safety
The closure of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge is raising questions about the safety of Rhode Island bridges, many of which are over half-a-century old. Morning Host Luis Hernandez discussed bridge safety, and modern tools engineers can use to ensure bridges are safe, with Vikas Srivastava, an assistant professor of Engineering at Brown […]
