On Saturday, January 17th, RIPTA plans to welcome passengers back to the newly renovated Kennedy Plaza! Over the past few months, the plaza has been closed for renovations–including new lighting, improved signage, and trees–that will enhance the area’s safety and aesthetics. The changes will create a pedestrian-friendly plaza with new bus stop locations that should be easier for passengers to use.

Under Mayor Taveras’ leadership, the city wanted to make the plaza safer, less congested, and more appealing. Initial funding came from $1.7 million in bond money from the city’s downtown circulator plan, plus an additional $700,000 federal bus livability grant that RIPTA secured.

Changes involved the removal of two narrow bus lanes, the repaving of the area as a contiguous pedestrian space, the addition of new lighting, and the planting of trees. New passenger amenities include lollipop signs, route maps, automated ticket vending machines, and digital boards that show actual bus arrival and departure times. For added security, RIPTA’s camera network will be reconfigured and the customer service center will have extended hours.

Find the new bus map and other details at ripta.com.