Latest news with #RIPTA
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unions draw striking Butler workers, RIPTA driver in push to pass ‘tax the rich' legislation
Advocates hold signs in support of raising taxes on Rhode Island's highest earners outside the State House on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) A countdown clock ticked down in front of the State House on Thursday afternoon — 20 days. That's how many days union workers and activists estimate are left before the Rhode Island General Assembly passes its fiscal 2026 budget. 'TIME IS NOW. TIME IS NOW,' the crowd of around 150 people chanted as they called on lawmakers to pass a bill to increase income taxes on top earners in Rhode Island to raise revenue to prop up hospitals, plug a $32.6 million deficit at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and fund programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Head Start that help the state's poorest residents. At least one RIPTA driver was among the crowd, which included over 30 striking Butler Hospital workers plus members of RI AFL-CIO, Climate Action Rhode Island, National Education Association of Rhode Island, Economic Progress Institute, Revenue for Rhode Islanders Coalition, RI Working Families Party, SEIU-1199, Indivisible RI and Reclaim RI. Companion bills introduced in February by Rep. Karen Alzate, a Pawtucket Democrat, and Sen. Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat, call for a 3% surtax on the top 1% of earners — those who make more than $625,000 a year, based on 2025, inflation-adjusted numbers. Alzate's bill received its initial hearing before the House Committee on Finance on May 6 where it was held for further study by the panel. Murray's bill was scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance Thursday evening. 'The wealthy have been benefiting from state and federal tax cuts for decades,' Murray told the crowd. 'But at whose expense? Ours.' The proposal would affect about 5,700 state income tax filers and generate an extra $190 million in annual revenue for the state, according to the Economic Progress Institute, which backs the legislation. 'This is not crazy — it's reasonable, it's fair, and it's long overdue,' Nina Harrison, policy director for the Economic Progress Institute, told the crowd. 'It's the end of the session — this is rally time,' AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley said. 'This is when we make our final argument that this is about building a Rhode Island economy from the worker up and giving the state the resources they need to make sure we have functioning systems that everyday people rely on.' Crowley, who sits on RIPTA's board of directors, said if Rhode Island's wealthiest residents paid more in taxes, then the statewide bus agency could solve its financial woes. Funding could also go toward the state's health care system, he said. 'Which would allow workers like the striking Butler workers to have a living wage,' he said. Butler Hospital unionized workers represented by SEIU 1199E returned to the State House for at least the third time in their now two-week long strike, rallying for better working conditions and wages at the Providence psychiatric hospital. A negotiator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) — a federal agency that helps smooth out labor disputes — sat down Wednesday and Thursday to revive talks between the striking Butler workers and their employer, Care New England. There were no immediate updates on the status of the talks from union officials as of Thursday evening. Dawn Williams, a Butler registered nurse, union delegate, member of the bargaining committee explained in a statement Wednesday evening while the day's talks failed to find consensus. 'Unfortunately, management gave us a set of proposals with lower wages, higher healthcare costs, less on retirement and no movement on our workplace violence committee,' Williams said. 'We are more than ready to return to work and resume caring for our patients — but we should never have to choose between our safety, our livelihoods, and the profession we love.' Mary E. Marran, Butler's president and COO, issued a statement Thursday. 'While the Hospital remains committed to productive dialogue, we are concerned by the union's apparent lack of advanced preparation for Wednesday's session, and its continued focus on internal union matters such as changes to new hire orientation, rather than on issues central to our employees' core priorities—such as wages, retirement benefits, and healthcare,' Marran wrote. Marran wrote that the hospital presented a 'scaled-back economic proposal' on Wednesday because of conditions established during the last negotiating session on May 7, when it gave its 'Last, Best, and Final Offer,' with any subsequent offers shaped by 'the effects of the strike, which has affected patients, staff, the community, and the Hospital itself.' Marran added that the wages are still higher than those in previous contracts, and pointed to the hospital's negotiation website, Care New England spokesperson Raina C. Smith did not supply an exact dollar amount when asked Thursday how much the hospital has spent on temporary labor thus far. She simply replied, 'Millions.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
RIPTA's efficiency study is a third of the way there
A Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus is seen parked outside the State House on April 29, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) The state's legislative leaders don't yet have the efficiency study they asked for from the cash-strapped Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), but for the past two weeks, they've had a 19-page report. That puts the state's public transit agency a third of the way done with an overdue study lawmakers mandated RIPTA deliver to them by March 1. The efficiency study was requested by Gov. Dan McKee and the General Assembly as a condition in last year's state budget to plug the agency's deficit. RIPTA now faces a $32.6 million shortfall heading into the fiscal year beginning July 1. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, who has made clear there is no extra money to fill RIPTA's deficit now that federal pandemic aid has dried up, confirmed Wednesday that he had received the report. 'I received an embargoed synopsis that I have not fully reviewed yet,' Shekarchi said in a statement. 'However, I look forward to hearing from RIPTA on how they plan to change their management practices.' Senate President Valarie Lawson said she too plans to review the memo sent by RIPTA. 'This is an issue that has been a top concern of many members of the Senate,' she said in a statement. 'A robust public transit system is vital to our economy and quality of life.' RIPTA's board of directors commissioned Canadian-headquartered engineering consulting firm WSP to do the efficiency study on March 27 at a cost of $412,346. The scope outlined in RIPTA's request for proposals called on the contractor to deliver a memo within 30 business days detailing best practices among public transit agencies, a performance assessment of transit operations within 45 days, and a review of the state's long-term transit strategy and its implementation within 75 days. 'We're working rapidly to get all reports coming out of the study to the General Assembly as soon as possible to inform the state budget,' agency spokesperson Cristy Raposo Perry said in an email to Rhode Island Current. 'We will update you when the next product is complete.' WSP completed the first phase on May 16, a report that looked at five other similar-sized transit agencies. The peer comparison report confirmed that RIPTA is not alone in facing a post-pandemic deficit. The other agencies were Hampton Roads Transit based out of Norfolk, Virginia; Regional Transit Service, which services Rochester, New York; Capital District Transit Authority, which serves Albany; Delaware Transit Corp.; and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. The report found per capita spending ranged from $23 to $145 among the five while administrative cost per service hour ranged from $21 to $48. Other data points included advertising revenue and passenger trips per service hour and fare revenue per trip. But no corresponding figures for RIPTA are provided in WSP's memo. 'Recognizing the timing constraints related to the state budget process concluding in June, we have structured the scope of work to prioritize delivering critical information as quickly as possible,' Raposo Perry said. 'This includes sharing draft deliverables such as this. The final report will include those figures.' A man who answered the phone at a Connecticut number for WSP said he could not answer questions about the report and then hung up. A spokesperson for the firm in Montreal did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. 'Many agencies are facing a drop in funding due to expiring pandemic funding and rising costs due to inflation,' the WSP report states. WSP pointed to a 'novel approach' of one agency's pursuit of 'universal access agreements,' defined as partnerships where employers pay an annual fee to cover their workers' fares to commute. But the report does not specify which of the five agencies had embraced these initiatives. RIPTA has already been coordinating with area employers to boost revenue. In January, RIPTA extended its 10x and 28 routes to align with shift schedules at the new Amazon Fulfillment Center off Route 6 in Johnston. In return, Amazon agreed to pay $90,000 annually over the next decade to cover employee fares. On Wednesday, RIPTA announced that the Omni Providence Hotel First Hotel Group had agreed to partially subsidize fares for 216 employees who work at Rhode Island's largest hotel. Passes for the general public cost $70 but the pass costs $65 for participants in the 'Wave to Work' program. Raposo Perry said the hotel will pay $45 per monthly pass, while hotel employees pay the remaining $20 balance for unlimited bus rides. Legislators have proposed their own measures to close RIPTA's deficit. That includes legislation that would put a $100 million transit bond on the 2026 ballot, upping the agency's share of the gas tax, and added rideshare fees that would go directly toward funding mass transit. Transit advocates have also pointed to resolutions introduced in the House and Senate in late February that would appropriate the full $32.6 million to keep the agency afloat for another year. But the Rhode Island General Assembly is facing significant challenges with a budget deficit and potentially devastating federal funding cuts with just weeks to go before the end of the 2025 legislative session. Among them, a $17.8 million budget shortfall for the state's homelessness services and an additional $15 million to cover proposed pay raises for state troopers and correctional officers.. The state will also have to make up a $24 million shortfall in education aid to local school districts in its fiscal 2025 and 26 budgets after a correction was made to data on the number of students in poverty. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Travel Guide: Memorial Day 2025
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer in Southern New England. Whether you're hitting the road, hosting a barbecue, or going to a parade, this guide has everything you need to plan ahead. About 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home for Memorial Day weekend, according to this year's travel forecast from AAA. That's an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year, and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record. Of those travelers, more nearly 40 million people will be driving to their destination. AAA said drivers are benefitting from cheaper gas this year, averaging $3.01 per gallon for unleaded in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The national average is currently $3.19 per gallon. Gas Tracker: Find the best price in your area Here are the best and worst times to travel by car, according to AAA: Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Friday, May 23 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Before 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Before 12 p.m. Sunday, May 25 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Before 1 p.m. Monday, May 26 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Before 2 p.m. Meanwhile, about 3.6 million people are expected to fly. AAA says domestic flights are 2% more expensive this year than last, based on what travelers paid when booking Memorial Day weekend flights. Flight Tracker: Check on arrivals and departures at TF Green, Logan The remaining two million travelers will go by train, bus or cruise, according to AAA. RIPTA announced it will be running its holiday service on Monday and its offices will be closed. Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo says the whole weekend looks mainly dry, but a couple of showers are possible Friday evening and over the next two days. If you have any outdoor activities planned, you shouldn't cancel them. Parades, observances, and barbeques should be OK. Be sure to stay with 12 News both on air and online for weather updates. LIST: Local Memorial Day parades, ceremonies and other events Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Game on, fare off. RIPTA offering free bus rides to soccer matches for $150K in courtesy ads.
A banner advertising the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is shown at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket during the home opener for Rhode Island FC on May 3, 2025. (Courtesy photo from the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) Rhode Island FC has yet to notch a home-field victory since its May 3 home opener ended in a tie at its new Pawtucket stadium, but the cash-strapped Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is calling its new partnership with the state's only professional soccer team a win for fans and bus riders. Under an agreement signed in late April and obtained by Rhode Island Current, the bus agency will provide fare-free rides on six buses operating during home games at Centreville Bank Stadium through the end of 2027, along with other select events at the stadium. The stadium is scheduled to host 18 home games in 2025 — 15 United Soccer League regular season matches and three cup games. 'No monetary compensation will be exchanged,' states the memorandum of understanding between the team and the bus agency, now facing a projected $32.6 million budget deficit due to federal pandemic relief aid drying up. But RIPTA has confirmed it will receive $150,000 in courtesy advertising from the deal. 'Rhode Island Football Club provides a unique opportunity for RIPTA to draw new ridership,' agency spokesperson Sara Furbush said in an email. RIPTA's partnership with Rhode Island FC runs through Dec. 31, 2027, though the team has the option to opt out in 2026. But so far the team has no complaints since its May 3 home debut ended in a 0-0 draw before the soldout crowd of 10,700 spectators. Nathan Robillard, Rhode Island FC's communications specialist, said the team is happy with RIPTA's game day bus service. 'If we're asking people to park a mile away from the stadium, we want to give them a way there for free,' he said. More than 9,500 spectators attended the following home game May 7, when Rhode Island FC lost 2-1 to the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup's Round of 32. The third home game on May 10 ended with a tie 2-2. A little more than 1,500 riders used the stadium route loop during the first two matches at Centreville Bank Stadium, according to RIPTA. Alec Beckett, a strategic partner at NAIL Communications in Providence, called the collaboration between RIPTA and the soccer team a 'win-win.' NAIL designed Rhode Island FC's logo. Beckett said RIPTA likely faces little overhead since it already owns its buses while the team only had to put up some signs inside the stadium — along with guaranteeing space for the occasional broadcast ad. 'It's kind of smart for both parties,' Beckett said. 'They're both giving something of value.' Under the agreement, Rhode Island FC will provide the agency with two live TV reads per local telecast on myRITV and the New England Sports Network for 17 games, along with one 30-second commercial per game. A similar arrangement for radio broadcasts is valid for 18 games. Broadcast ads are still in development, Furbush said. Digitally, the team will promote RIPTA's game day service on its website, along with banners on each of Rhode Island FC's 'Know Before You Go' emails and monthly e-newsletters. Rhode Island FC must also provide RIPTA with in-stadium signage at each home game, including three minutes of field display through an LED board, one static board, and two concourse ribbon signs. The team's partnership pamphlet boasts the newly opened Centreville Bank Stadium as the largest such outdoor venue in Rhode Island, which presents 'an incredibly unique opportunity for high-impact branding.' Rhode Island FC projects 300,000 visitors coming through the gates annually, with 85% of fans described as likely to support club advertisers. Such a prospect of new riders has public transit advocate John Flaherty excited over this new partnership for RIPTA. 'They need to be nimble like that when there are opportunities,' Flaherty, a senior adviser for GrowSmart RI, said in an interview. 'Many of the people who jump on the loop are probably people who would not otherwise have set foot on a bus, but for their desire to get to the stadium.' In return for added eyeballs on its branding, RIPTA has covered three buses in its fleet with Rhode Island FC-branded wraps, at a cost of $20,400 to create and install, Furbish said. Full bus wraps typically cost advertisers between $5,040 to $6,000 every four weeks depending on the length of a campaign, according to the 2025 rate card from Vector Media, the New York company which handles ads for RIPTA. The game day line is an extension of the existing R-Line, funded through reimbursements from the Federal Highway Administration's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program, which connects Cranston, Providence and Pawtucket. The standard fare to ride the bus is $2. Waiving that usual fee helps make the game day service easier for RIPTA drivers to manage, Furbush said. Labor cost for the first game day service was around $2,661, Furbush said. Buses run from three hours before kickoff until one hour after postgame events end. Buses operate on an eight to 10-minute loop between stops, with the final drop-off at Ivan Perez Memorial Park, about a two-minute walk from the stadium. RIPTA CEO Christopher Durand said the partnership with Rhode Island FC is a great opportunity for growth. 'Tens of thousands of people will be trying transit for the first time, and in doing so, (be) attracted to ride in the future,' Durand said in a statement to Rhode Island Current. 'Riders will use RIPTA beyond the downtown Pawtucket route to access the game in the easiest way possible.' Rhode Island FC's next home game is scheduled May 24, when the club will host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Boston Globe
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
From ‘Quahog Express' to ‘Awful Awful Fast': R.I.-themed racehorse names on the eve of the Kentucky Derby
Related : The good news: You sent in hundreds of fantastic names, and many of you were on the same page – there were a lot of 'Rhode' puns and nods to our quirky history of political corruption. The bad news: It's possible that ChatGPT produced the best name of all: Awful Awful Fast. Here's a rundown of some of the other best submissions. 🏇 Man o' Warwick 🏇 Roe Darlin 🏇 Aquidneck Flyland 🏇 I Know a Guy 🏇 Sam Patch Jr. 🏇 Calamari King 🏇 Calamari Comeback Advertisement 🏇 Calimari's Way 🏇 Pizza Chip 🏇 Galloping Gaspee 🏇 Del's Delight 🏇 Ocean Runner Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 🏇 Quonochontaug 🏇 Grindah 🏇 Independent Filly 🏇 Hot Wiener 🏇 RIPTA 🏇 Clamcake 🏇 Rhode Soda 🏇 Rhode to Victory 🏇 Rhode Like the Wind 🏇 Buddy's Comeback 🏇 Coffee Milk Charge 🏇 Quantum Quahog 🏇 Federal Hill Flyer 🏇 Rocky Point 🏇 Quahog Express 🏇 Cooler Full of Cash 🏇 Cooler and Warmer 🏇 Caution Bus is Turning 🏇 Watching Hill 🏇 PawSock 🏇 Johnnycake 🏇 Mr. Lemon 🏇 Death by Chocolate 🏇 What Cheer 🏇 Hi, Neighbor! 🏇 Pothole Hopkins Advertisement 🏇 Ocean Breeze 🏇 Misquannimaqunnichaugninigrewampanoag-II 🏇 Biggest Blue Bug 🏇 Sakonnet Studly 🏇 Where Benny's Used to Be This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
