Rhode Islanders deserve a safe, modern transit center with state-of-the-art amenities, and we are committed to making that a reality.

Throughout this project, we will be engaging with riders, advocates, and other stakeholders in a robust public process to collaboratively locate and design this new transit center.

About this Project

We will be constructing a new, modern transit center with state-of-the-art amenities based on feedback from riders and RIPTA drivers.

This new transit center will improve rider safety. It will include adequate lighting, and an emphasis on pedestrian safety. We want to create a transit center that does not require riders to cross many streets. Passengers will be able to transfer in an environment that is safe and controlled. This center will also be interconnected to other transit options, built to minimize transfers and maximize efficiency for riders. It will include a direct link to the Providence Train Station, Kennedy Plaza, the Rhode Island Convention Center, and other high-traffic areas.

Project Status Update (12.17.25)

Following more than a year of extensive exploration, technical analysis, and public engagement, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) today announced the next major step in advancing a new, modern transit center in downtown Providence. RIPTA and its development partner, Next Wave, will begin site investigations on parcels adjacent to the Providence Train Station on Francis Street, the preferred location identified through the planning and public feedback process.

The initial site investigation phase will evaluate the physical and environmental feasibility of the parcels for a state-of-the-art transit center. The results will inform final design considerations and help RIPTA confirm that the preferred site can support a facility that meets rider needs, improves service operations, and strengthens Providence’s multimodal transportation network.

Over the past year, RIPTA and Next Wave solicited extensive input from riders, transit advocates, local organizations, and the broader community. Feedback was clear: riders want a multimodal, fully accessible transit hub with indoor customer amenities that are clean, safe, and comfortable.

The preferred location, adjacent to the train station and steps from the heart of downtown, reflects those priorities. The site offers seamless connections between bus, rail, bicycling, and walking, allowing RIPTA to advance a transit center that will dramatically improve the passenger experience and make it easier for both current and new riders to choose public transportation.

RIPTA has identified federal funding it already has access to for this phase of the project, enabling the Authority to responsibly advance planning and site analysis without new state appropriations.

Project Documents

Task 2 Report Part I

Task 2 Report Part 1 Appendices

With this community feedback and technical research in hand, RIPTA is now beginning a deeper investigation of potential sites, as well as land adjacent to the train station on Francis Street and a parcel known as Park Row West.  Click here to view a map of these two sites.

Frequently Ask Questions [FAQs]