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H 8178Public Transit

Public Utilities and Carriers - Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011

This bill increases the percentage of highway maintenance funds allocated to RIPTA for public transit operations starting in 2025.

Held for study
Population
Affected
65
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the "Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011" regarding how funds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account are distributed. Currently, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) receives 5% of the available proceeds from this account for its operating expenses. This bill increases that allocation to 10% starting on July 1, 2025, and further increases it to 20% starting on July 1, 2026. This change shifts a larger portion of existing highway maintenance funds directly to support public bus operations.

For younger readers

The state has a special piggy bank called the "highway maintenance account" that is usually used to fix roads. Right now, a small part of that money helps pay for the public buses (RIPTA) to run. This new rule says that in the future, a much bigger slice of that money will go to the buses. Instead of just a little bit, the bus system will get a larger share to help them operate and drive people around the state.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)Public Transit RidersDepartment of TransportationMotoristsTaxpayers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Significantly increases funding for public transit, which promotes environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and lowering carbon emissions.
  • Enhances social equity by securing operational funds for RIPTA, ensuring reliable transportation for low-income residents, the elderly, and people with disabilities who rely on bus services.
  • Strengthens public infrastructure by shifting financial priorities from car-centric investments toward community-based mass transit solutions.
  • Relies on shifting existing funds rather than creating a new, dedicated revenue stream, which could pit road safety needs against transit needs.
  • Delays the increased funding until 2025 and 2026, leaving the public transit authority with potential budget shortfalls in the immediate future.
  • Does not explicitly mandate that the increased funding be used to expand routes or lower fares, but rather for general "operating expenditures."
For Conservatives
  • Utilizes existing state revenues to fund the transit authority rather than creating new taxes or raising fees on citizens and businesses.
  • Maintains the concept of user fees staying within the transportation sector, ensuring highway funds are still used for transportation-related purposes.
  • Avoids the creation of new government agencies or debt by simply reallocating percentages within an existing account structure.
  • Diverts significant revenue away from road and bridge maintenance, potentially leading to deteriorating infrastructure that negatively impacts commerce and drivers.
  • Subsidizes a public transit system that often operates at a loss, redistributing funds paid by motorists to support a service they may not utilize.
  • Reduces the capital available for the state match of federal transportation funds, which could lead to fiscal irresponsibility or increased borrowing to fix roads later.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 5 additions · 1 deletion

SECTION 1. Section 39-18.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-18.1 entitled "Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011" is hereby amended to read as follows: 39-18.1-5. Allocation of funds.

(a) The monies in the highway maintenance fund to be directed to the department of transportation pursuant to § 39-18.1-4(b)(1) — (b)(3) shall be allocated through the transportation improvement program process to provide the state match for federal transportation funds, in place of borrowing, as approved by the state planning council. The expenditure of moneys in the highway maintenance fund shall only be authorized for projects that appear in the state’s transportation improvement program.

(b) Provided, however, that beginning with fiscal year 2015 and annually thereafter, the department of transportation will allocate necessary funding to programs that are designed to eliminate structural deficiencies of the state’s bridge, road, and maintenance systems and infrastructure.

(c) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2025, five percent (5%) of available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island public transit authority for operating expenditures.

(d) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2025, ten percent (10%) of available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island public transit authority for operating expenditures.

(e) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2026, twenty percent (20%) of available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island public transit authority for operating expenditures. (e)(f) Provided, further, that from July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, in addition to the amount above, the Rhode Island public transit authority shall receive an amount of not less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) each fiscal year, except for the period July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022, during which such amount or a portion thereof may come from federal coronavirus relief funds.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.