Resident asks council to pursue bus shelters; planner says RIPTA sets placement criteria and costs can be high

A resident told the Town Council on July 28 that Portsmouth has bus stops without shelters and asked the council to open a conversation about installing shelters at high-use locations, including the new senior center.

Richard Nasau, who identified himself as a Portsmouth resident, asked the council to consider a phased rollout: "I think that that would be, in addition, and a good, plus, for the town," he said while urging that stops near the senior center be considered first.

Town Planner Hisham responded that the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has a formal shelter-placement guide and inventory. "RIPTA has shelter placement criteria, and they have 3,600 bus stops in the state and 350 shelters," Hisham said. She said RIPTA is finishing an inventory of stops and shelters and that placement decisions are based on ridership, proximity to health care and education, and other criteria.

Hisham provided an approximate cost range: a new bus shelter typically has a base cost of about $50,000, with benches and fixtures adding roughly $20,000 and site design, engineering and lighting adding up to $30,000, meaning total site-installed costs can approach $80,000 depending on amenities and site conditions.

Councilors noted that RIPTA would need to approve shelters sited on state right-of-way and that towns sometimes contribute funds or other support. A planner's presentation noted RIPTA is managing a significant budget shortfall and that route and shelter changes are subject to RIPTA budget and prioritization.

Ending: Town staff said they would share RIPTA's design guide and the council would continue to track RIPTA planning and hearings on potential route and shelter changes.