Official State of Rhode Island website

Governor Dan McKee RI 2030 Plan Charting a Course for the Future of the Ocean State

Investing in Transit Infrastructure

  • Opened the Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center. This transit hub combines commuter rail and bus service, making it more convenient for Rhode Islanders traveling to and from Boston and other destinations in Massachusetts. The facility has already exceeded expectations for the number of travelers utilizing the transit service. With an additional $5 million appropriation RIPTA, is constructing a passenger facility that will include restrooms, customer service kiosks, indoor waiting, and space for RIPTA personnel including restrooms and break areas.
  • Continued implementing Rhode Island’s transit master plan, Transit Forward RI 2040, including the addition of new bus routes in Newport and West Bay, development of new mobility hubs in Pawtucket/Central Falls and Warwick and introduction of Rhode Island’s first on-demand transit service, Flex On Demand.
  • Developed a new transit center to provide more direct service and better connections throughout Rhode Island’s West Bay communities in partnership with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) at its Warwick Campus. The facility is complete and operational and is setting an example for what transit infrastructure can look like across the state as RIPTA continues its efforts to inventory and rehabilitate our stops, shelters, and amenities across the state.
  • Unveiled Rhode Island’s first electric bus fleet and began preparing to electrify RIPTA’s R-Line, continuing Rhode Island’s momentum and progress toward clean and renewable energy. Now over 20 percent of all trips taken on RIPTA’s system are taken on an electric bus.
Pawtucket Central Falls Station
  • Received more than $70 million in grants supporting transit facility modernization, fleet electrification, vehicle replacement, statewide safety planning, and preparation for rapid bus network expansion and light rail/bus rapid transit service development. Additionally, more than $80 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds has been invested by RIPTA in bus purchases, fleet decarbonization, and improvements to passenger and maintenance facilities.
  • Entered a public-private partnership to launch the planning and design of a new central transit hub in Providence, replacing Kennedy Plaza. This project will establish a state-of- the-art, multimodal transit center that not only improves transportation but also addresses Rhode Island’s housing needs by incorporating a transit-oriented development component.