http://www.clf.org/blog/clean-energy-climate-change/disappointing-year-end-for-senate-study-commission-on-transportation-funding/ For a thriving New England Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:21:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.clf.org/blog/clean-energy-climate-change/disappointing-year-end-for-senate-study-commission-on-transportation-funding/#comment-2212 barry Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:01:48 +0000 http://www.clf.org/?p=9837#comment-2212 I attended just one of the Commission meetings and can vouch for the thorough, professional, and compelling manner in which Jerry made his case. In no way was the disappointing result his fault. In Rhode Island, key legislative decisions are made by top leaders behind closed doors, and they clearly (on the House side too) decided to deal RIPTA and its riders out for now. The agency faces a deficit of $8 million or so next year though perhaps declining fuel costs will help a bit both directly and by raising gas tax revenue. But even at a $4 million deficit, the cuts needed would have included loss of all holiday and late evening service, and some lines would have faced truncation, loss of weekend service, or reduced frequency. $8 million in cuts would seem to end much hope of the transit system playing much of a role to help the economy or the environment, and would greatly restrict mobility for those who for various reasons do not drive. Legislative leaders may eventually realize that, but it may be too late by then to avert serious cutbacks. I attended just one of the Commission meetings and can vouch for the thorough, professional, and compelling manner in which Jerry made his case. In no way was the disappointing result his fault. In Rhode Island, key legislative decisions are made by top leaders behind closed doors, and they clearly (on the House side too) decided to deal RIPTA and its riders out for now.
The agency faces a deficit of $8 million or so next year though perhaps declining fuel costs will help a bit both directly and by raising gas tax revenue. But even at a $4 million deficit, the cuts needed would have included loss of all holiday and late evening service, and some lines would have faced truncation, loss of weekend service, or reduced frequency. $8 million in cuts would seem to end much hope of the transit system playing much of a role to help the economy or the environment, and would greatly restrict mobility for those who for various reasons do not drive. Legislative leaders may eventually realize that, but it may be too late by then to avert serious cutbacks.

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