PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has agreed to keep funding an increase in security measures at Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence. Interim CEO Christopher Durand said the additional police presence has significantly improved the overall atmosphere of the transportation hub. "We have 9,000 to 12,000 people a day going through there and they deserve to be protected," he said. To enhance security, Durand announced that RIPTA agreed to pay the city $25,000 a month for two designated officers to be on duty for eight hours each weekday, in addition to the assigned police already on shift. The board authorized extending the length of time and dollar amount to continue this increased presence. RIPTA no longer considering I-195 parcel for new transit center At Thursday's meeting, some residents spoke in favor of the decision, noting that criminal activity can be frightening. In support of these efforts, there is a dedicated space for Providence police within the Kennedy Plaza intermodal passenger building, providing them with access to surveillance cameras. "At the beginning of this Administration, we discovered there was no ongoing security in Kennedy Plaza, private or public," city spokesperson Josh Estrella said in a statement. He explained that the city signed a Memorandum of Agreement last year, allowing them to use funding RIPTA had allocated for private security but had not utilized in recent years. This agreement allocated $100,000 to be spent throughout the year for extra police presence in the Kennedy Plaza area, and an additional $50,000 to the Downtown Improvement District to support security personnel. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW