In a surprising turn of events, Scott Avedisian, the CEO of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), has submitted his resignation amidst the aftermath of a hit-and-run incident in a McDonald's drive-thru. Avedisian handed his resignation letter to Governor Dan McKee, culminating his six-year tenure as the head of RIPTA.

Following the news of Avedisian's decision, the RIPTA board held a closed-door meeting to discuss the situation. Peter Alviti, the Chair of the RIPTA board and Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, stated that a meeting between the board members and RIPTA officials is necessary before finalizing Avedisian's separation agreement and voting on it. Thus, Avedisian will continue as the CEO until the agreement is settled.

Although Alviti did not disclose the details of Avedisian's severance package, he mentioned that lawyers from both sides are currently negotiating the potential terms of the deal. The board is tentatively planning to vote on the agreement next Tuesday.

In his resignation letter, Avedisian acknowledged the various improvements implemented during his tenure at RIPTA, including the installation of a charging station for electric buses, the establishment of a high-frequency bus corridor connecting the train station to the hospitals, upgrades to the maintenance center, and improvements in the pension plan funding. However, recent events have overshadowed these accomplishments, leading Avedisian to regretfully resign and request termination of his contract.

Avedisian expressed his gratitude to Governor McKee for their years of friendship in a personal note enclosed with the resignation letter. Meanwhile, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who had been calling for Avedisian's resignation for over a year, suggested that his departure offers a fresh start for RIPTA, an agency grappling with budget shortfalls and driver shortages.

In the hit-and-run incident, Avedisian has pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of an accident with damage. Witnesses reported that he appeared intoxicated at the time of the collision involving two other drivers. Avedisian was driving a RIPTA-issued car, which was found parked in his Warwick home's driveway with visible damage and a still-warm engine hood. Despite repeated attempts by the police to contact him, Avedisian did not answer the door.

Avedisian, who previously served as the mayor of Warwick for nearly two decades, was appointed as the head of RIPTA in 2018 by then-Gov. Gina Raimondo. Former R.I. House Speaker John Harwood, representing Avedisian in the criminal case, dismissed allegations of Avedisian driving while under the influence as unfounded. The Rhode Island Attorney General's office is managing the case.

Since the incident, Avedisian has refrained from speaking publicly and is scheduled to appear in court later this month. As RIPTA moves forward, the focus now shifts to finding a new CEO who can guide the agency through its many challenges.