RI Delegation Announces $33M in Federal BUILD Grants for New Providence Transit Center & Mt. Hope Bridge Renovations

PROVIDENCE, RI -- In an effort to upgrade Rhode Island's transportation infrastructure and improve connectivity and mobility, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced $33 million in new federal funding is coming to the Ocean State in the form of Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants.

Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo announced that Rhode Island is getting $25 million for the Providence Transit Center and $8 million for the Mount Hope Bridge Rehabilitation Project. These federal investments will help fund necessary transportation improvements.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is seeking to build a state of the art transportation center in downtown Providence, adjacent to the Amtrak station, that will serve as the hub of RIPTA's statewide bus service, enhance connectivity to regional rail services, and support multimodal transportation. The Providence Transportation Center would centralize bus hub operations for three million transit trips annually and provide direct access and connection to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail. The modernized facility would include an indoor concourse with passenger amenities and 36,000 square feet of bus berth space to support the needs of the statewide bus system. It could also serve as a catalyst for transit-oriented housing and economic development.

As part of the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of the Mount Hope Bridge, which is approaching nearly a century of service connecting Bristol and Portsmouth, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) will get an infusion of $8 million to design the rehabilitation of the bridge's deck system. This project will incorporate new technologies and prepare the project to be bid for construction while limiting disruption of transit once in active construction. In tandem with an ongoing cable dehumidification project, a new bridge deck would extend the life of the bridge for another half century or more.

"I am committed to delivering for the state's transportation priorities and I am pleased we were able to get these BUILD grants across the finish line so they can be put to work upgrading Rhode Island's infrastructure. This is another federal investment in Rhode Island's transportation infrastructure that will enhance connectivity, improve safety, and benefit residents, businesses, and taxpayers for years to come. I will continue working to direct federal funding toward Rhode Island's highways, bridges, transit, rail and safety programs," said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD).

"I am delighted to join the delegation in announcing another major step forward in the restoration of the majestic Mount Hope Bridge - a high priority for me. We're also making a significant investment in the future of RIPTA and transit in the Ocean State," said Senator Whitehouse. "As the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, I am working hard to secure additional strategic investments in upgrading Rhode Island's infrastructure."

"This funding is a major win for Rhode Island commuters," said Congressman Magaziner. "A modern transit center will make it easier for Rhode Islanders to get to travel across our state and region. At the same time, this funding will help maintain the Mount Hope Bridge for the next generation. I am proud to work alongside my colleagues in the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation to fight and bring federal infrastructure funding home to Rhode Island."

"This BUILD Grant will improve connectivity through the Providence Transportation Center and extend the life of the Mount Hope Bridge, an iconic symbol of Rhode Island, making commuting for work, play, or school safer and easier for countless Rhode Islanders," said Congressman Amo. "I'm proud to work with our federal delegation to deliver funding to connect Ocean State communities and provide safe, reliable transportation for years to come."

The BUILD Grant program -- previously known as RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) and TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery), was established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Over the years, the program has awarded more than $18 billion in 18 rounds to local governments and entities. Administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, BUILD grants provide competitive federal funding for transportation projects that improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity of significant local or regional impact.

In 2026, Congress allocated $1.5 billion for BUILD grants.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet