Freight Planning

Freight is the movement of goods into and through the state by means of roadways, railways, ports and waterways, and airports. Residents and businesses in Rhode Island depend on freight transportation for nearly everything including what we eat, wear, and use.  Freight movements have an enormous impact on our daily lives and on the economic vitality of the state and the region. In addition to providing important materials for the production and consumption of goods in the state, freight movement supports thousands of jobs in Rhode Island. 

In Rhode Island, most of the freight corridors run north to south. The main freight corridors for trucks include Interstate 95, Interstate 295, Route 4, and Route 146. The main rail freight corridor is the Amtrak Northeast Corridor. The marine shipping corridor is Narragansett Bay via the Port of Davisville within the Quonset Business Park and the Port of Providence. East-west freight corridors are primarily limited to truck freight on Interstate 195, Route 6, and Route 44. In addition, rail connects Rhode Island to the national and Canadian rail networks through interchanges in MA, CT, and NY.  

Freight planning is an important and ongoing component of Rhode Island’s transportation planning processes as it impacts the economy, safety, congestion, air quality, and quality of life.

Building on ongoing state efforts to generate economic development and support a competitive freight system, the Division of Statewide Planning updated the main body of Freight Forward 2026: Rhode Island Freight and Goods Movement Plan.. This Plan update was adopted by the State Planning Council on June 11, 2026 and received FHWA approval on August 6, 2026. In addition, RIDSP has selected WSP USA, Inc. as the consultant team to update two appendices.  The first appendix is the Freight Commodity Flows & Forecast, which involves investigating the current movement of goods coming into, leaving, passing through, and circulating within Rhode Island as well as 2050 estimates. The second appendix is the Statewide Truck Parking Assessment, which concerns itself with issues related to parking shortages for commercial vehicles, an inventory of existing facilities in and around Rhode Island, possible solutions, and a strategy for implementation to overcome adverse effects on the economy. These two components will fulfill federal freight plan requirements and will complement the 2026 plan update. They are due to be completed by Spring.

The plan evaluates goods movement via air, rail, truck, and marine transport.  The Rhode Island Freight Advisory Committee advises the Rhode Island State Planning Council and the Transportation Advisory Committee on freight and goods movement priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs that utilize Rhode Island’s roadways, rail facilities, airports, marine ports, and pipelines.