| R 152 |
| 2024 -- H 8080 Enacted 03/19/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MARCH 18, 2024, TO BE "TRANSIT EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Tanzi, Chippendale, Fellela, Ajello, Handy, Edwards, and Bennett |
| Date Introduced: March 19, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, In 2022, approximately 6.19 billion people used public transportation in the |
| United States. It is estimated that approximately eight percent of the United States population, |
| twenty-eight million people, are public transportation dependent; and |
| WHEREAS, Across the United States, it is estimated that 399,316 hard-working |
| Americans work in the public transportation industry. Each day they strive tirelessly to ensure |
| that their riders are picked up and dropped off promptly at their intended destination, be it for |
| work, doctor’s offices or any other number of destinations such as the beach in the summertime, |
| and these fine professionals ensure that they arrive safely; and |
| WHEREAS, Public transportations workers secure safe rides for many handicapped |
| passengers, elderly passengers, minors and students attending college. They work in all weather |
| conditions and stayed on the job during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic healthcare issues; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, It is estimated that every $1 billion dollars invested in American public |
| transportation yields 5 billion dollars in additional economic impact, including the creation of |
| 18,000 new jobs. In addition, public transportation is certainly one of the weapons that will be an |
| essential component in the fight to mitigate global warming and its devastating impact on planet |
| Earth; and |
| WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) |
| was created in 1966, and since then it has provided public transportation services for the past 58 |
| years to countless Rhode Islanders. RIPTA operates seven days a week and operates 2,700 daily |
| trips on more than 58 statewide-fixed bus routes. RIPTA also operates ADA Paratransit services |
| statewide, and provides Park N Ride Service at 32 sites across Rhode Island. RIPTA employs 873 |
| hard-working employees, maintains a fleet of 229 fixed-route buses, 72 paratransit buses, and 13 |
| flex vans, and operated 9,627, 384 fixed-route vehicle miles in 2022; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims March 18, 2024, to be “Transit Employee Appreciation Day” in the State of Rhode |
| Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Scott Avedisian, Chief |
| Executive Officer, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. |
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| LC005765 |
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