Ruggerio Wants to Turn Over RIPTA to Agency Overseeing the Worst Roads in America
Friday, February 17, 2023
Late on Friday afternoon Senate President Dominick Ruggerio called for RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian to resign and wants to turn the control of the troubled agency to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) — another troubled agency.
In recent months, one of RIDOT’s largest projects has been the focus of both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Rhode Island Attorney General. Under the oversight of RIDOT, the lead contractor on the $420 million 6/10 project— MA-based Barletta Heavy Machine — paid $1.5 million as part of a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office and is facing multiple criminal charges and potentially millions of fines in Rhode Island.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn addition, two weeks ago, Rhode Island was ranked as having the worst roads in America.
Ruggerio said in a statement:
RIPTA has been plagued by enduring challenges that have only grown more severe over the years. Despite federal funding that presented an unprecedented opportunity to make necessary reforms, there has been no change in direction. Foreseeable challenges, such as a driver shortage at the start of the school year, were left unaddressed until there was a crisis. There have been unacceptable management gaffes, such as the granting a no-bid lobbying contract to a political ally, apparently without the Board’s knowledge. No meaningful plan to confront the agency’s fiscal challenges has been presented to the General Assembly, and we are again faced with putting band aids on a gaping wound.
A quality, well-functioning public transit system is vital to the people of our state and our economy. It is time for wholesale reform at RIPTA.
The time has come to place the agency under the auspices of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, and I will be submitting legislation to that effect. I am asking that CEO Scott Avedisian step down immediately and that the governor conduct a national search for someone with expertise in transit to head Rhode Island’s public transit office, under this new structure.
Finally, I have asked Chairman Mark McKenney to convene the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight to conduct an oversight hearing of the agency.
Avedisian issued a statement in response to Ruggerio:
The challenges at RIPTA are many and stretch back many years. Since my first day here I have worked with the dedicated RIPTA team to make us better, and we have accomplished a great deal. We have balanced the agency budget and increased capital funding. We have added new buses and paratransit vehicles to our fleet and the agency’s pension plan is in a much better place. Based on this record, we received over $45 million in federal grants, a testament to the good work of the RIPTA team. Meanwhile, we were one of only a few transit agencies in the United States not to cut service during the pandemic.
But there is a lot more to do. I look forward to having the opportunity to speak with the Senate about their concerns, then working together with them to secure the resources it will take to address the remaining challenges RIPTA faces.
Ruggerio did not respond to questions about RIDOT’s failures.
Related Articles
- EXCLUSIVE: Materials From RIDOT 6/10 Project Site Trucked to MA for Use at Contractor Family’s Home
- State Blocks Release of Documents on Contaminated Soil at RIDOT’s 6/10 Project
- Two RI Landfills Refused to Accept Contaminated Soil from RIDOT 6/10 Site, Documents Show
- State Police: Failure by RIDOT to Maintain Highway Construction Area Led to Multiple Accidents
- RIDOT Plans to Turn Crook Point Bascule Bridge Over to Providence for $1
- Contaminated Material at RIDOT 6/10 Construction Site in Providence Moved — See Where
- Investigation of 6/10 Contamination Linked to RIDOT Contractor Barletta Expands to Second Site
- EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Justice Dept. Issues Subpoenas Relating to Contamination at RIDOT’s 6/10 Project
- Barletta Attended Raimondo & Mattiello Hosted Fundraiser - MA Co. Has Won $349M in RIDOT Contracts
- After 43 Days RIDOT Has Not Released 6/10 Contamination Docs, MA Released Over 1,100 in 14 Days
- New Documents Show RIDOT Tried to Cover Up 6/10 Contamination, Delayed Cleanup for Months
- RIDOT Flip-Flops on South Water Street Construction
- RIDOT and 6/10 Contractor Leave Once Contaminated Site “a Disaster”
- Former RIDOT Chief Legal Counsel Veronica (Ronee) Harris Dies at 77
- RIDOT Refuses to Turn Over 59 Emails Tied to 6/10 Contamination Investigation
- COMING WEDNESDAY: How RIDOT’s Alviti Bullied, Covered for Crimes and Lied on 6/10 Contamination
- How RIDOT Director Bullied, Covered for Crimes and Repeatedly Lied on the 6/10 Project
- RIDOT Engineer for 32-Years Paul J. DelCioppio Dies at 67
- Overnight Ramp Closures for Airport Connector Coming in July, Says RIDOT
- McKee Defends RIPTA Cutting Express Beach Runs for Urban Families
- RIPTA Cancels Express Beach Runs — Union Says It Could Take 3 Buses for Families to Make Trip
- RIPTA’s Slashing Beach Bus for Urban Kids is Blasted by Advocates and Candidates - UPDATED
- McKee Directs RIPTA to Restore Express Beach Run Service
- With Multi-Hub RIPTA Plan Scrapped, What is Downtown Providence’s Transportation Future?
- RIPTA Restores All Service on Sunday
- Montanaro — Former Top Staffer to Mattiello — Lands Job at RIPTA for $113K
- “Limit RIPTA Buses & Check Non-Residents for Weapons,” Says Narragansett Resident After Beach Brawl
- Providence Police Investigating Stabbing on RIPTA Bus
- RIPTA Under Fire for Failing to Answer Questions About Data Breach
- Bank Robbed in Downtown Providence — Police Apprehend Suspect on RIPTA Bus
- RIPTA Driver for 37 Years Joseph V. Sabitoni Dies at 80
- ACLU of Rhode Island Filing Lawsuit Over RIPTA Data Breach
- UPDATED: Governor McKee Blasts RIPTA for Failures in Letter to Board
- “Every Rhode Islander Should be Concerned,” Says ACLU’s Brown on RIPTA Data Breach Lawsuit
- RIPTA Defends Hiring Fung’s Firm for Lobbying
- Top Union Official and RIPTA Board Member Calls for No-Bid Lobbying Contract to Be Terminated
- Fund RIPTA Drivers Now: We Need the Governor to Put Money Where His Mouth Is
- RIPTA Slashing Service Across the State Due to “Historic Workforce Shortage”
- RIPTA Employee for 25 Years, Lisa M. D’Arezzo of Johnston Dies at 53
- RIPTA’s Busiest Bus Route Is Now Free, Starting Today
- RIPTA Bus Drivers “Overworked and Underappreciated,” Says Union in Calling for Changes
- After GoLocal Report of No-Bid $84,000 Contract to Fung, RIPTA Board Moves to Dissolve Agreement
- On Talk Radio, RIDOT’s Alviti Claims 146 Bid Info Was “Illegally” Obtained
- Families Who Live Next to 6/10 Contamination Site Sue RIDOT - State Continues to Test for Pollutants
- Pothole Armageddon: Here’s Where RIers Want RIDOT to Fix Potholes
- RIDOT Budgeted $120M for a Project — Awarded $167M Contract — $34M Higher Than Lowest Bid
- EDITORIAL: Dirty RIDOT — Time for Alviti to Go (PUBLISHED 1 YEAR AGO TODAY)
