Dorrance Street bus hub gains momentum, but riders not ready to give up on Kennedy Plaza

Transit riders see a new bus hub on Dorrance Street as much better alternative to the unpopular "multi-hub" scheme that was proposed last year — but some remain unconvinced that it's worth spending tens of millions of dollars to replace the existing transit hub at Kennedy Plaza rather than upgrading it.

In November, a coalition of businesses and nonprofits such as Grow Smart RI and the Providence Foundation proposed creating a transit center near the Garrahy Judicial Complex on Dorrance Street, about a five- to 10-minute walk from Kennedy Plaza. The facility would be part of a multi-story, mixed-use development that would contain workforce housing as well as retail space, and would replace surface parking lots.

As the Providence Business News first reported, the controversial multi-hub plan was quietly scrapped earlier this month, and the state is now focused solely on moving forward with the Dorrance Street plan.

New features at bus hub

The first of several public hearings to solicit input took place Thursday. Rhode Island Public Transit Authority officials stressed that the plan was still in the conceptual stages and their goal was to get feedback early in the process.

In a statement Friday, the group Rhode Island Transit Riders said that bus riders "liked much of what they heard," but are "not yet willing to take Kennedy Plaza off the table."

Among the aspects of the plan that the group applauded: The new transit center would have covered bus berths and an indoor waiting area designed to allow riders to transfer from one bus to another without being exposed to the elements.

According to RIPTA, the waiting area would have an expanded customer-service center with digital screens listing arrivals and departures, ticket machines and restrooms.

Other amenities could include a coffee shop, lockers where commuters could pick up their Amazon packages on their way home, a community event space and bicycle repair stations.

Officials have said that people would be able to access some social services at the new transit center. There would also be security in place, and possibly a police substation.

Why not expand and upgrade Kennedy Plaza?

But some transit riders question whether providing those amenities really requires building a whole new transit hub — in what they consider to be a less convenient location. Since Kennedy Plaza already has a bus station with restrooms, a customer service desk and an indoor waiting area, why not upgrade and expand it?

"It's just a really fantastic location for a bus hub," said Jonesy Mann. "There are lot of cities that would kill to have a transit center so centrally located."

Mann works as operations director for AS220, which has no dedicated parking. Of the arts organization's 50 residential tenants and the hundreds of participants in its youth programs, many rely on the bus, he told The Providence Journal.

He agrees that sheltered bus berths and increased indoor space would be a major improvement — but thinks that both could be added to Kennedy Plaza, "if someone really put their mind to it."

"Kennedy Plaza has such a big footprint," he noted.

Sean Sierra-Patev, who said that the ability to rely on public transit was part of the reason that he and his wife moved to Rhode Island, told The Journal that aspects of the proposal for the new bus hub seemed promising.

But he wanted to be certain that the new transit center would be "an improvement on its own merit," not a compromise to appease downtown business owners who "don't like looking at us bus riders"

Though imperfect, Kennedy Plaza still works very well, he said.

"It's close to goods and services, employment centers, it has capacity for many busses and routes and seems to be flexible enough to accommodate improvements and changes," he said.

Greg Nordin, RIPTA’s chief of strategic advancement, said at Thursday's hearing that RIPTA has "outgrown" Kennedy Plaza. Although the new transit hub would have a smaller footprint, it would be more efficient and allow more room for RIPTA to expand service, he said.

Rhode Island Transit Riders called that rationale "unconvincing."

"There is no reason to give up on improving Kennedy Plaza as a transit center, but we retain an open mind and could be convinced to support Dorrance if the case were stronger," the group wrote.

The cost is estimated at roughly $77 million, which would be covered in part by a $35-million bond to enhance mass transit. Some funding may be available through the federal infrastructure bill that passed last year, officials have said, and the public-private partnership for the residential and commercial space could help make up the difference.

The parking lots where the new transit hub would go are currently owned by Bliss Properties and managed by the Garabedian family. RIPTA spokeswoman Cristy Raposo Perry said that the property owners "are aware there is state interest in this project" and that the details are being worked out.

Two additional virtual public meetings where the public can weigh in are scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, at noon and 6 p.m. An in-person meeting will take place on Monday, March 21, at the Cambridge Innovation Center at 225 Dyer St.at 6:30 p.m. Riders can also submit comments at RIPTA.com/TransitCenter.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Kennedy Plaza bus station moving to Dorrance Street? Riders weigh in