RIPTA Riders Alliance rallies against fare increases

Today, the State House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a proposed budget of 8.9 billion dollars. The new budget could lower the corporate minimum tax, cut beach parking fees, and also impact bus ridership for seniors and people living with disabilities.  The RIPTA Riders Alliance held a rally at the State House yesterday afternoon to protest the discontinuation of free bus passes for seniors and people with disabilities before the crucial House vote today. Alliance President Don Rhodes says if the free bus program is cancelled, this will have “detrimental effects” on up to 13,000 Rhode Islanders. Rhodes has helped gather nearly 200 signatures in a petition, calling for the free passses to be reinstated. “We all know that unless the legislature receives notice from voters that they’re not happy with the situation, nothing gets done about it,” Rhodes said.  Back in December, the RIPTA board voted unanimously to end free bus passes for seniors and people with disabilities. After opposition, the state has delayed discontinuing the free bus program until January 2017. The annual state budget, which includes how much money is allocated to RIPTA, is only voted on once a year, in June. This means the free bus program cannot be renewed for another year if the budget is not amended this month to include the program. The petition states that $800,000 would have to be allocated to run the program.