WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help Rhode Island's buses run more efficiently and effectively, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will receive $1,943,557 to expand its statewide facility.

"This grant will allow for the expansion of RIPTA's maintenance facility to ensure that our buses and vans are properly stored and maintained. This will help make the transportation system more efficient and better able to serve the Rhode Islanders who depend on it to get to work, run errands, or go to the doctor," said Reed, who helped secure the funding. "It is essential that there is an infrastructure in place that can support the state's paratransit fleet."

RIPTA plans to expand its sole, statewide facility to better accommodate the functions of administration and maintenance of the state's paratransit fleet. In order to ensure proper and consistent maintenance of vehicles across the fleet, RIPTA assumed responsibility for all paratransit vehicles in 2003. The shift in the state's vehicle maintenance practice has brought over 100 additional vehicles to RIPTA facility for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Due to this demand and the need for new indoor bus storage, RIPTA must expand its maintenance facility.

Alfred J. Moscola, RIPTA General Manager, said: "RIPTA and the public it serves owe Senator Reed a big thank you for helping to obtain the funds to build a Paratransit Operations and Support Center. When it's constructed, this center will enable us to consolidate all of the RIde Paratransit Program operations—which serve our State's elderly and disabled populations—in one place, making the whole program more efficient We'll be able to put the RIde administration, Ride operations and maintenance and the RIde vans under one roof. Currently, RIde vans have to be stored outdoors, creating winter-related problems on winter days. Once the center is built, we'll have a place to store them inside. And the new paratransit center will provide room for a second, much needed fueling station and a second bus wash. We're very excited also because the Center will include a conveniently located customer service center where the public can come for ID cards, apply for jobs, obtain bus information and purchase fare products."