RIPTA holds job fair in response to staffing shortage

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is having a job fair today.

RIPTA shared that there is a nationwide shortage of licensed commercial drivers and is impacting the transit authority.

They added that despite recruitment efforts, drivers are retiring more quickly than they are able to recruit new ones.

RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian released the following statement:

“Our goal is to ensure we can meet 100% of our scheduled service 100% of the time. In order to do that, as painful as it is, we must make prudent changes, particularly given our workforce challenges — in the meantime, we are actively working with our union to create a new starting wage for drivers that should address our recruiting challenges and help RIPTA better execute its mission.”

A job fair will be held Thursday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at RIPTA headquarters.

The transit authority encourages anyone interested to stop by 705 Elmwood Ave., and apply.