Alana M. Carroll
Staff Writer
The parcel on I-195 is no longer being considered as a location for the proposed Providence bus hub. The idea to replace Kennedy Plaza as the signature transit center for the state is not a new idea but a slow-moving one with suggestions being made since 2014. On October 21, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) confirmed that the location is out of the running, though also stated that their plans on choosing a location to build the terminal are far from over.
Kennedy Plaza has been used as a bus stop and a central hub for the city for many years; dubbed “Exchange Place” in 1848, the plaza is actually older than Providence City Hall. Buses have been servicing the plaza since 1983. Despite the location’s history, many believe that changing Kennedy Plaza from the main bus center to an optional stop would benefit RIPTA and the city of Providence.
Providence police intercepted a violent altercation in Kennedy Plaza at the beginning of October, the most recent of numerous violent and unlawful incidents at the bus terminal. A fight previously broke out between two school-aged girls with over 60 adolescents and teens gathering around to watch, some even involving themselves in the violence. Approximately two weeks before that, a woman was struck in the head with a brick as she was boarding one of the RIPTA buses.
Aside from being a hot spot for physical and verbal conflict, the area is frequented by people under the influence of drugs and administering them in public. On Sept. 23, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announced the arrest of 22 individuals who were caught using Kennedy Plaza to traffic illicit substances. Similar “drug busts” have happened over the past decade, though a “safe injection site” is set to open in December to hopefully lower the frequency of public substance use.
A spokesperson for Smiley has emphasized his ambivalence toward the development of a new bus terminal, though Smiley “looks forward to seeing the final location considered.” Many vehemently oppose the efforts being made; the Providence City Council Ordinance Committee voted in favor of an amendment opposing a new terminal, emphasizing that not everybody is as neutral on the proposition as Smiley.
“Rather than pouring money into a new, less desirable location, RIPTA should invest in making Kennedy Plaza clean, safe, modern, and sustainable,” said Providence City Council member Justin Roias.
According to the RIPTA website, “Kennedy Plaza is ultimately a public park,” which gives them “limited opportunities to improve transit within the plaza.”
Some agree with the opposition and would like to keep Kennedy Plaza as the main terminal. “It's easy to read the signs and find which bus I need to take,” says Relena Trudel, a Providence resident who uses the bus to travel to and from school, “and the stops themselves are nicely spaced and convenient to get to.”
Trudel’s opinions seem to align with those of the committee; when asked how she felt about replacing Kennedy Plaza as the main spot for bus transit, Trudel responded negatively. “I don't like the idea. I like how it is now because it makes getting to and from my classes easy, and I don't want to try to learn new routes.”
Whether or not the transit center will be finalized remains to be seen, though the RIPTA interim CEO Chris Durant reassures Rhode Island commuters that the plaza “will continue to maintain a presence in Kennedy Plaza while improving Rhode Island’s transit infrastructure for the future.” Similarly, the spokesperson for Smiley states that the plaza “will remain a vibrant public space to ensure its continued role in serving our community.”
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