The Ripta efficiency study remains behind the schedule

Last May, the legislator of Rhode Island of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority gave another 15 million US dollars from the non -issued pandemic aid reserves of the state to alleviate its budget deficit -on the condition that Ripta would carry out an efficiency study to assess their operations and finances by March 1.

From March 13th, according to Cristy Raposo Perry, director of communication and public relations, Ripta has not yet selected an external company to carry out the study. The agency now has a budget deficit of 32.6 million US dollars for the 2026 financial year.

The final inquiries from proposals from external companies were due on March 13. The study should now begin on April 1, wrote Raposo Perry in an e -mail to the Herald.

The spokesman for the House of Representatives Joseph Shekarchi (D-Warwick) finds it “disappointing” that Ripta has extended her timeline when the legislator wants to ensure that “the money we have assigned is used in an indicative way”, he wrote in an email to the Herald.

If Ripta's budget deficit cannot be closed, Ripta would have to “reduce our workforce by almost 300 employees”, which would include “significant service decrees nationwide”, wrote Raposo Perry.

The efficiency study will not only determine where Ripta can be more cost -efficient, but in view of the organization's budget deficits, the study could open the door for further financing of the state, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said the door, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said, said the door said

Patricia Raub, co-coordinator of the Rhode Island Transit Riders working group, explained that the study could open the door for more funds if Ripta could be able to prove its financial efficiency.

Christopher Durand, CEO of Ripta, said that the study was delayed due to the recent management changes within the organization in a letter to Shekarchi, governor Dan McKee and the President of the Senate Dominick Ruggerio (D-North Providence), which was raised (D-North, Providence).

“It is more important to take the time to correctly complete the analysis than to hastily carry out a deadline,” wrote Durand in the letter.

Durand appeared as an interim CEO when his predecessor Scott Avedisian returned last April and was later appointed CEO in November. Ripta stopped the study until the transition was completed so that Durand could adapt the scope of the study to adapt with his goals for the organization, he wrote in the letter.

According to Raposo Perry, Ripta has recorded reduced passenger revenue that have not returned to Pandemies mirrors before Koviden-19. Ripta also receives funds from the state alley tax revenue, which have decreased with transitions to electric vehicles and increasingly fuel-efficient cars.

“The Federal Aid Financing was crucial to compensate for these financial challenges, but it should always be a temporary solution,” wrote Raposo Perry. “We are carefully optimistic that this efficiency study identifies areas in which ripta can be more cost -efficient.”

The Save Ripta Coalition, which consists of several community organizations and unions – including Ri Transit drivers – supports a package of seven invoices that aim to close the ripta budget deficit.

“If these laws were issued, you could offer a sustainable annual source of income for Ripta of around $ 7 million,” wrote Senator Samuel Zurier (D-Providence), a sponsor of several invoices, in an email to the Herald.

The state representative Terri Cortviand (D-Portsmouth) said that the future state financing of Ripta until the general assembly in May will remain unsafe what the results of the efficiency study will take into account.

“I conceptually support Ripta,” said Cortviandend, but she doubts that the agency will receive more funds in the future.