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One indication that roads are given a priority in the transportation system is the amount that is spent on roads compared to that spent on intermodal infrastructures. From 1992-2001, 64% of the state’s federal highway dollars were spent on roads (47% on repair and 17% on new construction) while 7% was spent on transit and only 1.6% was spent on pedestrian/bicycle infrastructures [11]. Continued investments into a roadbased infrastructure will lead to more congestion and landuse problems. The state needs to invest more resources into intermodal infrastructures to secure a sustainable future.

However, it is unlikely that transportation spending on intermodal infrastructures will increase any time soon. Like most states across the nation, Rhode Island currently struggles with a $200 million budget deficit. The budget problem has led to a transportation funding crisis in the state.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) faces a $6.7 million deficit for FY2004, which is expected to grow to $8.4 in FY2006 [12]. The deficit has crippled RIPTA's transit operations. The agency faces cuts in existing services and is unable to meet the growing transportation needs. In response to the deficit, RIPTA has already increased the price of its monthly passes and its Trolley Link fares [13]. Any additional increase in passenger fares will likely lower ridership and thus, is not a viable solution.

The city of Providence is also feeling the ripple effects of the budget crisis. The city currently has a $19 million deficit for FY 2003-2004. To makeup for the deficit, the Providence city council recently voted for Mayor’s Ciccilline’s plan for increased parking fees (at meters and parking lots) and more aggressive parking enforcements [14]. Soon, drivers to Providence will face higher parking costs, higher fines, and more citations.

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