Politics & Government
Report: Ridership Improving at Wickford Junction?
Ridership has risen 48 percent in the past two years.
It's been almost two years since the Wickford Junction commuter rail station opened in April 2012. A recent investigative report by Channel 10's I-Team found that ridership at Rhode Island's newest commuter rail stop is increasing, but slowly.
Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Michael Lewis told the I-Team that ridership has risen 48 percent since the station opened two years ago. About 175 riders buy roundtrip tickets each day. According to Lewis, when the Providence station first opened it only attracted 200 riders a day. Now, ridership is up to 2,400 at Providence.
The station and its 1,100-space parking garage cost $44 million, mainly in federal funds.
Lewis added that he hopes to add weekend service to Wickford in the near future.
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