The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has been riding in the red for some time, and budget-cutting measures could have an impact on riders.
"Every day, all day, and if it's not the bus I'm walking," said RIPTA rider Amanda Cazzarro on Monday.
Cazzarro and her family depend on public transportation and talk of cuts is frightening.
"That would be tough because I would have to walk mostly everywhere, and that's not fun especially in this heat," Cazzarro said.
RIPTA, facing a projected deficit of $4 million, is coming up with ways to save. It is considering a 10 percent cut to service and 41 layoffs, among other options.
"Everything is in the picture, right now. There is no way you're going to streamline service and not have to let some people go," said Charles Odimgbe, RIPTA chief executive.
RIPTA, like most public transportation organizations, is in the red and desperate to get out of it
"We really had to find a way to balance our budget for the year 2012. Since we didn't get any help from state legislators, we had to come up with another way to do it," Odimgbe said.
Talk of cuts to certain routes is premature and a last resort, said Odimgbe.
"The adjustments, as I like to call them, are going to be more strategic than just to go and decide that this route goes away and that route goes away," Odimgbe said.
But Odimgbe said there is the potential for some riders to be inconvenienced.
"I don't think they should cut anything. I think they should start spending their money wisely," Cazzarro said.
Odimgbe said overtime costs are also adding up. He's hoping to appeal to the General Assembly to change the way the agency is funded.
Public hearings will take place on proposed route changes.
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