What a pleasure it was to ride the bus with Congressman Gabe Amo, grab a coffee, and discuss the crucial role public transit plays in so many statewide priorities—from economic development and Main Street revitalization to housing production and climate action. And fittingly, we traveled on the very route he grew up riding in Pawtucket.
That route has come a long way since then. What was once the old #99 is now the all-electric, high-frequency R-Line—the busiest route in the system, with buses running every 10 minutes. Given that frequency is the most significant factor in boosting ridership, it’s no surprise that the R-Line now carries about 20% of all public transit passengers in the state, linking Pawtucket, Providence, and Cranston.
Our destination? Pawtucket’s Downtown Main Street district, where we met local developer Leslie Moore for coffee at Seed Café and Espresso Bar, housed in the Still On Main building.
Moore has been leading a steady revitalization of the area, restoring historic buildings and fostering a vibrant local business scene. “Main Streets are where you see your neighbors,” Moore noted. “We have to work hard to build those connections and create the places where they happen.”
Yet, despite Rhode Island’s ambitious, data-driven plan to enhance transit connections from Woonsocket to Westerly (and beyond), new uncertainties over federal support are raising concerns about the system’s future. At a time when the state is struggling to develop a sustainable funding model to keep buses running and prevent drastic service cuts, the need for reliable investment is more urgent than ever.
Congressman Amo has already proven to be a strong advocate for transit, co-sponsoring H.R. 7039, the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, in 2024. Though its future is now doubtful with a new administration and Congress, the bill aimed to provide much-needed federal funding to sustain and expand transit service in metro regions nationwide.
“For us to be future-oriented, our transit system has to reflect the lived experiences of people across the state.” Congressman Amo emphasized.
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Learn more about Rhode Island’s Transit Master Plan, a data-driven, publicly-vetted and adopted vision for getting more Rhodies where they’re going when they need to get there, conveniently, affordably and with dignity.