New Kennedy Plaza Opens Saturday with New RIPTA Schedules

 Twitter: @markcurtisABC6

It’s the final construction and clean up as the renovated Kennedy Plaza reopens Saturday morning in Downtown Providence. The state’s new Governor was a regular RIPTA rider in her high school days.
 
“It’s a priority to make sure that all Rhode Islanders have access to high quality public transportation. So I’m delighted; I’m excited, and I hope that more people start to ride RIPTA,” said Gov. Gina Raimondo, (D) Rhode Island.

There will be new bus shelters; different stop locations; and new time schedules for many RIPTA routes.
 
“It’s revitalizing the city; it looks nice. It’s a lot cleaner than what it looked like before. It’s been a long time coming,” said RIPTA rider Kevin DeBritto,

ABC6 Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis said, “One of the big changes here at Kennedy Plaza will involve public safety. This section of Exchange Terrace will now feature two-way traffic instead of the current one-way.”

The completion means many RIPTA buses will be returning from distant, outlying stops.
 
“People were sick and tired of running around to all these different bus stops. It was a hassle,” said RIPTA rider Raymond Scott.
 
“I will get dropped off like down there, and I’ll have to walk all the way up here, to get on my next bus,” said Patricia Pennaccia, a RIPTA rider.
 
But all of that confusion ends Saturday morning, when the new permanent RIPTA stops are in place.

For all news schedules see: www.RIPTA.com