Advancing Bus Rapid Transit (S2077, H7264)
The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a law that will allow RIPTA buses to use a new technology to extend green lights along routes. The authority to use the green light extension technology, recommended by the Aquidneck Island West Side Master Plan and the Providence Transit 2020 Working Group, lays the ground work for Bus Rapid Transit in Rhode Island. Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, is a form of rapid transit that uses buses, bus lanes, and bus sub-stations to provide rapid transit, rather than trains or streetcars. It is generally cheaper to build than rail transit. The bill was sponsored by Senator Daniel Connors (D-Cumberland) and Representative Edwin Pacheco (D-Burrillville)
  
The UPass Act (S2158, H7857)
The General Assembly also narrowly passed a bill that would give students at state colleges the ability to purchase discounted RIPTA passes through RIPTA's UPass program. So far, most private colleges in the state, including Slave Regina and Brown Universities, use the UPass program with great success. The UPass program provides an opportunity for college students to reduce their gasoline costs and will help to reduce pollution from cars. The bill was sponsored by Senator Joshua Miller (D-Cranston, Warwick) and Representative Art Handy (D-Cranston)

State Employee Commuter Choices (S 2881, H7377)
Governor Carcieri signed into law a bill that will establish a task force directed to identify clean, affordable transportation choices for state employees.The law will include the ability of state employees to opt out of subsidized parking in lieu of monthly RIPTA passes. During the last week of session, the Rhode Island Senate passed the bill unanimously. The bill was sponsored by Senator June Gibbs (R-Newport County) and Representative David Segal (D-Providence).

The Global Warming Solutions Act
While the Global Warming Solutions Act did not pass this year, we were effective at bringing this bill into public debate. Because of the phone calls, letters, and yard signs that Sierra Club members made, we are well-positioned to pass the Global Warming Solutions Act early next year. The State of Rhode Island needs to regulate the emissions of greenhouse gases from all sectors. When passed into law next year, this bill will cap global warming pollution by 20%  by 2020 and 80% by 2050 and create a reporting mechanism for all sectors of the Rhode Island economy. Rhode Island's global warming bill is the only one in the country that addresses the need to significantly reduce automobile traffic to solve global warming. In this way, Little Rhody is pushing any federal legislation to seriously address vehicle-miles travelled. So, please keep up the work educating your neighbors and your law-makers. And keep your yard signs!

Get involved and help make a change by talking to your decision maker about these issues. Contact Chris Wilhite at (401) 521-4734 or chris.wilhite@sierraclub.org if you would like to get involved with Sierra Club’s work at the Rhode Island State House or with the Rhode Island Chapter Political Committee.