TRANSPORTATION

I have long been an advocate for mass transit in Rhode Island, the problem is that the money that could have been used for such an endeavor has been wasted.

Transportation funds are largely related to federal funds. The federal government, in its attempt to by-pass state sovereignty granted state’s under the United States Constitution, provides transportation funds, usually with strings attached. In doing so, the federal government can exert its power over the states that receive funding.

It is a trap that Rhode Island, and all states for that matter, has fallen into. That said, there is very little that can be done in terms of major transportation projects without the involvement of the federal government.

Still, state governments are not absolved of responsibility. The states propose various uses of the transportation funds. Unfortunately, Rhode Island has used these funds to target auto-centered projects and not mass transit.

As a result, Rhode Island’s ability to fully utilize its capability for mass transit is sorely limited. Yes, we have a bus system that runs statewide, but that is far short of what could be done with mass transit.

Given Rhode Island’s size, its urban population centers, and its use of urban cores to locate businesses, Rhode Island is ripe for a good mass transit system. The reality, however, is that this may never come to fruition.

The past squandering of funds, coupled with the budgetary crisis related to mismanagement of funds in other budget areas, has made it next to impossible to implement a mass transit system of the type that would actually work. Sure, there could be a piecemeal plan, but the reality is that unless a high grade system is constructed, there will be limited use. Limited use makes this an unrealistic option.

Mass transit must be safe, reliable, easy to access, and operational at times when it is needed. People all over the world use mass transit systems, but the ones that are the best get the most use. People are moved by price and ease. If a system is constantly running, it can fulfill the needs of the users. Once any of the major components breaks down, the system is doomed.

Rhode Island needs mass transit. It has the compact service area and it surely has the transportation problems that would be alleviated by such a system. The only problem is that the operation of such a system would require an education effort and money, neither of which is among Rhode Island state government fortes.