Senate president calls for RIPTA chief to go, agency to merge with RIDOT

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio is calling for the ouster of Rhode Island Public Transit Authority CEO Scott Avedisian and for the agency that runs the state's buses to be subsumed by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

As the Journal reported earlier this week, RIPTA, like virtually every transit agency in the country, is facing a large budget shortfall when federal pandemic aid ends next year. Ridership has not returned to pre-COVID levels.

In a news release, Ruggerio laid the fiscal crisis at Avedisian's feet, saying "there has been no change in direction."

"No meaningful plan to confront the agency’s fiscal challenges has been presented to the General Assembly, and we are again faced with putting band aids on a gaping wound," Ruggerio said. "Foreseeable challenges, such as a driver shortage at the start of the school year, were left unaddressed until there was a crisis."

Ruggerio also hit Avedisian for "granting a no-bid lobbying contract to a political ally," a reference to the $84,000 lobbying contract the agency signed with the law firm of former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung. RIPTA officials have said they never wanted Fung to lobby for them and have tried to have the contract amended to have any other member of the firm but Fung lobby.

He said the Senate would hold oversight hearings on RIPTA.

More:RIPTA wants out of $84K lobbying contract with Fung's law firm

"The challenges at RIPTA are many and stretch back many years. Since my first day here I have worked with the dedicated RIPTA team to make us better, and we have accomplished a great deal," Avedisian said in an email response to Ruggerio. "We have balanced the agency budget and increased capital funding. We have added new buses and paratransit vehicles to our fleet and the agency’s pension plan is in a much better place."

A plan to merge RIPTA with the state Department of Transportation was floated under former Gov. Gina Raimondo, but never moved ahead.

Transit activists have warned that having the DOT, which is primarily focused on building highways, run RIPTA would further marginalize mass transit in the state.

Ruggerio Friday did not elaborate on why he thinks the Department of Administration will do a better job running RIPTA.

"The time has come to place the agency under the auspices of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, and I will be submitting legislation to that effect," Ruggerio said. "I am asking that CEO Scott Avedisian step down immediately, and that the governor conduct a national search for someone with expertise in transit to head Rhode Island’s public transit office, under this new structure."

Gov. Dan McKee Friday appears open to ending RIPTA's quasi-independent status and bringing it within his full control of administration.

"Just as the General Assembly created RIPTA as a quasi-public agency with its own board and governance structure, it is within their purview to make adjustments to that structure," McKee spokesman Matt Sheaff wrote in response to Ruggerio's proposal. "Governor McKee and the Administration want what is best for transit riders in Rhode Island. Once the legislation is released, our office will review the details of the Senate President’s proposal."

Avedisian also appears to be on the wrong side of organized labor and at least one member of his own board of directors.

"I fully support @SenatorRuggerio on this," Patrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer of Rhode Island AFL-CIO, tweeted. "As a @RIPTA_RI board member, I look forward to the @RISenate oversight hearings. RIPTA is a critical part of our state's infrastructure and proper management is key to meeting our goals of the Act on Climate."

But RIPTA Board Chairman Normand Benoit on Saturday fired back that Avedisian's record is strong and RIPTA "outperforms similar agencies across the country."

"Despite a chronic lack of state funding, RIPTA still provides more trips, in a larger area, at a more effective cost per trip than other transit agencies that serve similar population areas or provide statewide service anywhere inAmerica," Benoit wrote in a news release. "RIPTA also outperforms its peers in total trips, fare revenues, farebox recovery and trips per capita."

He also blasted the idea of putting the DOT in charge of public transit.

"Subordinating RIPTA to DOT was proposed, and rejected, only three years ago," Benoit wrote. "Nothing haschanged since then, and I am certain that I speak for our riders, and all supporters of public transit across Rhode Island when I say that making RIPTA an adjunct to DOT would be a grave error."

Avedisian was the longest serving mayor in Warwick history -- 18 years -- and was frequently mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for governor when Raimondo hired him to lead RIPTA in 2018. He replaced Ray Studley, who stepped down as RIPTA CEO and then spent nearly a year working as Avedisian's chief of staff in Warwick City Hall.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RIPTA CEO should step down, Ruggerio says, and merge with RIDOT