RIPTA Board Chair Defends Avedisian and Agency’s Performance
Monday, February 20, 2023
In the latest development in the battle over the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA), the chair of the board of directors of the agency, Normand Benoit, issued a statement defending the performance of RIPTA and chief executive officer Scott Avedisian.
Benoit's statement comes after Rhode Island State Senate President Dominick Ruggerio called for Avedisian to resign and RIPTA to be merged into the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT).
Ruggerio has been pushing for years to merge the two agencies.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRuggerio and RIDOT director Alviti worked together for the Laborers’ International Union of North America which is headquartered in Providence. The union dominates Rhode Island politics and has been a major supporter of former Governor Gina Raimondo and sitting Governor Dan McKee.
Alviti and RIDOT have their own problems.
Benoit said in his statement, “Over the last four years as RIPTA’s board chair, I have had a chance to see first-hand the progress that’s been made at the agency during Scott Avedisian’s tenure as CEO. While it’s important to acknowledge where we’ve fallen short, the record as a whole is strong.
“This comes into sharper focus in light of the fact that RIPTA outperforms similar agencies across the country in almost every key performance indicator. Despite a chronic lack of state funding, RIPTA still provides more trips, in a larger area, at a more effective cost per trip than other transit agencies that serve similar population areas or provide statewide service anywhere in America. RIPTA also outperforms its peers in total trips, fare revenues, farebox recovery and trips per capita. It is an impressive, if under-appreciated, record.”
But Avedisian drew fire recently for giving a no-bid contract to his political and personal friend, failed GOP Congressional candidate Allan Fung.
GoLocal, via an Access to Public Records Act request, unveiled the contract.
Benoit did not address the contract, but stated, “RIPTA’s pension plan is stronger than it has been in years and the agency has a balanced budget. Meanwhile, the federal government has expressed its confidence in RIPTA by investing over $45 million in federal grants. Today, as we continue to recover from the pandemic, RIPTA provides 900,000 rides per month to Rhode Islanders."
“Putting DOT in charge of public transit in Rhode Island would not be sound public policy. DOT’s responsibility is to keep our state’s roads and bridges in a high state of repair. This mission is very different from RIPTA’s mission to provide transit riders with safe, reliable service," he continued. “Subordinating RIPTA to DOT was proposed, and rejected, only three years ago. Nothing has changed since then, and I am certain that I speak for our riders, and all supporters of public transit across Rhode Island when I say that making RIPTA an adjunct to DOT would be a grave error."
Benoit added:
“In fact, in a letter to Gov. Raimondo when she proposed the same thing in 2020, Grow Smart RI recommended just the opposite approach, stating ‘it seems to make good sense to consider reassigning all transit operating functions that currently reside at RIDOT to RIPTA.’ I look forward to appearing before the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight to answer any questions and address any concerns that any members may have. I continue to support Scott Avedisian as CEO of this organization and I am confident that he will continue to work with RIPTA’s committed staff and the Board in the best interests of the people we serve. I look forward to a constructive, informed dialogue with state leaders and our many stakeholders about how to provide RIPTA with the funding and support it needs to achieve its full potential.”
RIDOT Project Federal and State Investigations, Worst Roads in America
Ruggerio's call for the merger ignored RIDOT's own problems.
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.
The lead supervisor -- Dennis Ferreira, on the 6/10 project -- is set to be sentenced in federal court in March and this past week plead innocent to multiple state felony charges.
In addition, two weeks ago, Rhode Island was ranked as having the worst roads in America.
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- RIPTA’s Slashing Beach Bus for Urban Kids is Blasted by Advocates and Candidates - UPDATED
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- Fund RIPTA Drivers Now: We Need the Governor to Put Money Where His Mouth Is
- UPDATED: Governor McKee Blasts RIPTA for Failures in Letter to Board
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