June 15, 2021
Press Releases
RIPTA Proud to Be Part of Team that Worked on Transit Forward RI 2040
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is proud to be part of the team that worked on the Transit Master Plan that has been cited for an award by Grow Smart RI. The Transit Master Plan, called Transit Forward RI 2040, was chosen as an Outstanding Smart Growth Plan and was a featured project during the 10th Annual RI Smart Growth Awards program held this week. The master plan is the first plan of its kind for Rhode Island, and was a collaborative effort by RIPTA, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the Division of Statewide Planning.
Adopted by the State Planning Council in December 2020, the Transit Master Plan creates a visionary plan for the future of transit in Rhode Island, including bus, rail and ferry. The plan identifies both near and long-term investments to improve the economic health of the State as well as the quality of life of its residents by improving its transit network. The proposed improvements are designed to enhance mobility, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support economic development.
“Grow Smart RI has long believed that one of the key ways for our state to optimize its economic and community development potential is by having a robust, user-friendly and integrated public transportation system,” said Scott Wolf, Executive Director of Grow Smart RI. “The recently adopted Transit Master Plan provides detailed action steps to make this critical vision a reality. We salute RIPTA for ensuring that this plan is comprehensive, bold and that it reflects broad public input.”
Greg Nordin, RIPTA’s Chief of Strategic Advancement said, “Transit Forward RI 2040 is a critical plan to advance transit in Rhode Island. This visionary plan focuses on connecting Rhode Island’s residents with all of life’s activities, including work, self-care, and leisure, and aggressively sets a course to get Rhode Islanders out of their cars. Grow Smart’s acknowledgement of this work helps legitimize this vision, and is a crucial step in helping build the case of why this plan needs to be funded.”
In selecting the Transit Master Plan for an award, Grow Smart RI also cited the State’s new Bicycle Mobility Plan, noting that for the first time, Rhode Island now has two data-driven action plans for vastly improving transit and bike mobility access.
Details of the Transit Master Plan are available at https://transitforwardri.com. To read about all the 2021 Grow Smart RI award recipients visit https://bit.ly/35qpIFT.