Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

don't you think RI can do alot more with 24 million than replace ripta buses? How about opening up & renovating the houses that were lost to foreclosure so the honest homeless have somewhere to go ? Maybe there wouldn't be tent city if there were more options for people. And it's nice to see that these sexual offenders will now have (that our state gives FREE bus passes too) a brand new bus to trott themselves on. Where is RI Priorities ?

the 'quaint' trolleys would make better artificial reefs in the bay than wasting money to
convert the most uncomfortable ride since a trotting horse. save the bay would protest
that they are environmental nightmares- not
just rider horrors.
there are smaller hybrid bus sizes out there
with actual seating- not made of wood that
absorbs moisture & a seasonal stench similar
to the seaweed on first beach.
the trolleys are constantly sidelined by the inoperable wheelchair lifts.
GOOGLE 'COST OF HYBRID BUS'...
with a premium price from the 3 companies that build hybrids of $500,000 per vehicle, how does 24 MILLION or 36 MILLION translate to 20 buses and support?
WHO IS KEEPING THE CHANGE?

I agree with Nicole. 24 million dollars to upgrade buses that are half full and and supporting an inefficent, poorly run transit system is just another RI joke.

So why are we getting full size busses if the ones we have now are half full? Also, does this mean the state legislature will repeal the 2 cent per gallon gas tax they just added to fund RIPTA? OF COURSE NOT THE CROOKS !!!

Nice to know our stimulus money will be used to directly benefit the people of RI.. what's that? The conversions won't be sourced here in RI?? so, the money, which you may recall was so important the bill to approve it couldn't wait until those voting on it had time to even read it, is just flowing THROUGH RI to benefit citizens of another state? Good job, RIPTA.

Remind me again how we're paying to fix our badly deteriorated roads and bridges?

The reason we are getting the buses when the system's operation is unsustainable is because brilliant people in DC don't want to help operations, so the bill allows only for capital expenditures. This not really about RI priorities. RIPTA is using the handout of fed money, the only way it is allowed to.

I hope that the new buses are 100% Made In The USA.

Benjamin, thanks for reminding readers about that.

No matter how broke RIPTA is, stimulus money isn't going to help. It HAS to be spent on capital expenditures like new equipment and facilities. It's the law.

Just another case of throwing good money after bad without any restrictions on it being spent wisely. The state legislature adds 2 cents to the gasoline tax dedicated to RIPTA without any conditions on how it is to be spent. How about spending some of that money to benchmark best-in-class public transportation systems, measuring how RIPTA measures up against those benchmarks and then requiring that the money be spent towards gaining on those benchmarks? If no progress is made, then they don't get any more money!!!

I thought RIPTA was going to phase out the trollys. I rode one once, when it was new. They do not travel far enough to be worth it for me. I hardy take RIPTA anymore, it cost 1.75 and there is nowhere to go in RI, anymore. Anyone here actually like this idea?

That infusion of money won't help the next time the union has their hands out for more money. Its like putting a new transmission in a 1988 dodge anything.

What a disgrace, What a joke,
"American Recovery and Reinvestment Act"
another joke,

And how does this stimulate the economy and put people back to work?????