Lombardi urges state support for student busing, says walking routes unsafe in winter

Representative Tarek Lombardi presented House Bill 7025 to the committee as a measure to address student safety and access to school during severe winter conditions and in neighborhoods where children must walk long or hazardous routes. "Can you imagine a child trying to navigate this," Lombardi said, describing snow‑clogged sidewalks and routes he called unsafe for students in Providence.

Members raised questions about the bill's cost and thresholds. One member noted the bill's 2‑mile threshold for state‑funded in‑district busing may exclude many Providence students who live closer but still face unsafe walks; Lombardi acknowledged the bill is a "jump off point" and expressed openness to adjustments. Representative Carter and others asked whether studies exist on the cost implications; Lombardi said he had not done a formal study but has discussed the issue with local officials who said funding is a constraint.

Andy Andrade of RIDE told the committee that codifying a statewide distance standard would be a significant change from long‑standing local control and that different districts use different thresholds (for example, Providence's in‑district distances were shorter). Andrade said RIDE would work with any district if the committee prioritized changes but emphasized implementation and funding are substantial considerations.

The committee requested follow‑up information on costs and how the proposed standard would interact with existing transportation provisions and waiver processes. No final vote on the underlying policy was taken at the hearing.