Update: Lewis: Money available for buses, train station
6:00 PM Tue, Apr 07, 2009 | Permalink
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Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
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Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Department of Transportation may take up to $4.1 million that the state transit agency was planning to spend on new buses and other items to cover a cost overrun on a railroad station project. State Transportation Director Michael P. Lewis said the money is needed to help pay for the Wickford stationbeing planned as part of the state's extension of commuter rail service south of Providence. This afternoon, however, he issued a statement saying he was "refuting this afternoon's Providence Journal blog entry that insinuates that dollars will not be available for new Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) buses." "There are enough dollars to meet RIPTA's capital objectives as well as the South County Commuter Rail," Lewis said. Alfred J. Moscola, general manager of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, had called the loss "painful" and said he wants to spend more money on new hybrid buses that will be quieter, save fuel and pollute less. However, officials at both agencies said they think both agencies' projects can be completed. This item was originally published on the blog at 1:07:12. 
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here we go again. why pay for over run on this project? why not hold contractors to the bid they gave to get the job in the 1st place
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I may be wrong here but don't we have a train Station in Westerly...South Kingstown....and one in Providence.They are building one in Warwick and now one in Wickford.
We just closed Registry offices in Westerly and West Warwick and now only rely on Pawtucket and Middletown.
Again...I may have some of these stats wrong but go with me here..............
The Registry is used by nearly EVERY citizen in the State and we are closing offices......
Not nearly every citizen rides a train every day of the week like they do RIPTA.
RIPTA is so in need of newer buses its beyond sad.
How high is/would the demand be for a train stop in Wickford?Drive to SK or Westerly......
I know its a crime for a typical RI'er to drive more than 5 mins to anything but please.
RIPTA provides a critical service.....the State wants us to be greener and leave our cars home.
Well....if we DON'T have buses......what then?
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The official federal process is for RI DOT to take this concept through a hearing. The hearing will be on Monday the 13th at 6:30 p.m. at the Department of Administration's hearing room on Smith Hill.
They may try to avoid bringing this subject up at the hearing, but, you can rest assured, I will. Pouring RIPTA money into a train station in Wickford is even worse than pouring bridge money into the Warwick Intermodal.
The people of North Kingstown don't want trains idling all night long in their village or a thousand people rushing to the station in the morning. The trains probably won't come because the MBTA is broke and RI DOT does not have the money to pay for them either.
We are going to end up with two new train stations and no trains. At least RIPTA was planning on staffing the busses with drivers! This is not the stimulus package that President Obama envisioned!
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