Statewide Bike and Transit Advocates Make Plea to TAC

The following was reported in its entirety by John Flaherty of Grow Smart RI:

Thank you to the nearly two-dozen people who spoke up before the State Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Thursday evening, November 17, 2022.

There was a diversity of voices heard loud and clear making the case to fund and prioritize implementation of the state’s bold plans for improving transit and bike mobility across Rhode Island.   Whether for Climate Action, Racial and Social Justice, Seniors, Youth, spurring Transit-Oriented Housing, More Affordable Mobility Options, Public Health & Safety or Economic Development, there were many perspectives focused around a shared community goal (see video clips below).

So far, the following two media reports about this have been published.  

Community groups call for state to quit stalling on bicycle, transit expansion – Providence Business News

Transportation Committee Hears Urgent Pleas to Revamp Rhode Island’s Transit System – EcoRI News

We’ll be following closely the development of the FY24 State Budget, now underway, as well as the State’s $9 billion 10-year transportation budget forecast to ensure that it includes phased implementation of both plans.   If you’re not on the Grow Smart RI e-newsletter list, you can sign-up here.

You can adjust play-back speed in YouTube to hear all the testimony in less time, or skip to individual speakers.

00:35   Eugenia Marks 
06:18   Peter Brassard, RI Association of Railroad Passengers 
07:13   Cheryl Space, Community Libraries of Providence 
08:51   Scott Wolf, Grow Smart RI 
12:31   Rita Kerr-Vanderslice 
13:37   David “Jonesy” Mann 
16:11   Kathleen Gannon, RI Bike Coalition 
18:05   David Veliz, RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty 
19:10   Liza Farr 
21:25   Cedric Ye 
26:26   Leon Ye 
28:35   Dylan Giles 
30:11   Unidentified Individual 
31:02   Christian Roselund, Clean Energy Associates 
34:00   Haley Bucky 

35:46   Matt Schaelling 
36:56   Justin Boyan, Climate Action Rhode Island 
39:50   State Representative Elect Enrique Sanchez 
42:09   Patricia Raub, RI Transit Riders 
45:43   Barry Schiller, former TAC Member 
48:46   State Representative David Morales

Thanks to John Flaherty and Grow Smart RI for compiling this helpful review of the testimonials.