By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

RIPTA buses were welcomed back to Kennedy Plaza Tuesday, with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza riding a bus to work and cutting a ribbon after a months-long rehabilitation that created new traffic patterns for buses. He said the changes are aimed at bringing a pedestrian-friendly plaza to downtown Providence.

The more than $2 million in improvements included new bus shelters, lighting, signage and new trees, aimed at upgrading what, “was an unwelcoming, barren, hard urban edge,” in the words of City Council President Luis Aponte.

“We’ve re-imagined what our city center should be and what our city center can be,” said Elorza.

“There’s so many improvements that have been made, and these improvements will serve the needs of our commuters, they’ll also create a community space that’s welcoming to everyone.”

Elorza rode the bus to work from his home in the Silver Lake section of Providence.

“It was very, very nice. Very convenience, very comfortable, it was on time. We got into downtown in about 15 minutes. I have to do it more often, to tell you the truth. I encourage everyone to do it as well,” he said.

Riders gave the improvements mixed reviews.

“It’s great, I love it,” said one woman who did not wish to give her name, as she sat in a bus shelter on Kennedy Plaza.

“I ride the bus every day, and I used to have to walk all the way down to the Convention Center. Now, I just have to get off the bus and sit here, and go home. It’s great,” she said.

But, one man said the new traffic patterns, which has some buses dropping passengers off on the other side of Burnside Park present a particular problem.

“I have a walking problem, a breathing problem,” said one man who didn’t want to give his name, but wanted to be known only as ‘Bear’.

“My bus comes in on the other side of that park, and I have to walk across to here,” he gasped in the freezing cold. “I’ve already missed one bus, so now I’ve got to sit here for an hour, waiting for my next bus.”

According to the mayor’s office, funding for the improvements included a $1.7 million bond from the city’s downtown circulator plan, and a $700,000 federal “Bus Livability” grant.

RIPTA says more changes will follow.

“In the very near future, we will be a cashless system,” said Scott Avedisian, the Warwick mayor and chairman of the RIPTA board of directors.

“People will be able to use their debit card or credit card and go up to a kiosk and be able to buy their tickets, get on the bus, we’ll be able improve boarding times and move people along and make RIPTA effective and efficient. All of that is part two of what we have planned here in Kennedy Plaza,” Avedisian said.