Ongoing Transportation Projects

The Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning (RIDSP) is working on a limited update of our state’s long-range transportation plan (LRTP). The LRTP is a Federally required plan that sets the vision for our state’s multi-modal transportation system - our roads, bridges, public transit, bike paths, sidewalks, ports, and more, over a minimum of 20 years. Moving Forward RI 2040 was approved in December of 2020 – this project will update that plan with new data and trends, with new sections based on new requirements and evolving needs, and with any changes to the goals, strategies, and projects.

We want you to help shape Moving Forward RI 2050. Please join us for any future public workshops:

You can also share your experiences and opinions by taking our 10-minute survey, or by submitting a comment in the comment portal.

Project Manager: Liza Farr, Supervising Planner, RIDSP, liza.farr@doa.ri.gov, 401-222-6479

Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning (RIDSP), in partnership with Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Public Transit Agency (RIPTA), is developing a plan and guide for both State and municipal governments to build transportation projects that are “complete” – user friendly, safe, and accessible for all roadway users, thereby creating a healthier, greener, and more equitable roadway system. The plan will include Complete Streets policy recommendations, implementation guidance, and design guidelines.

You can provide your feedback on this Plan by attending public workshops for the long-range transportation plan, Moving Forward RI 2050, where one of the feedback stations will be focused on complete streets.

Project Manager: Liza Farr, Supervising Planner, RIDSP, liza.farr@doa.ri.gov, 401-222-6479

Difference between Complete Streets and Safe Streets for All

Complete Streets is focused on guiding the way our governments operate day-to-day, providing guidelines and recommended processes that will help ensure each road in our state becomes a complete street. Every time a road is re-paved or re-designed is a chance to make it a complete street. This Guide won’t identify specific streets or intersections for complete streets projects – instead it will help staff incorporate complete streets elements into every project that gets implemented. On the other hand, Safe Streets for All (SS4A) is intended to produce action plans that set up specific projects and policies that cities and states can undertake to make streets safer for all road users. RIPTA is working with municipalities across the state to develop these action plans, as well as a statewide action plan that will identify priority corridors for safety projects.

Complete Streets is a priority area for the federal government, but it doesn’t have a set funding stream like SS4A. Instead, all MPOs and States must spend at least 2.5% of their planning funds on complete streets projects each year, and do not have to provide match on those funds. SS4A is also focused largely on safety, whereas Complete Streets has multiple goals. Safety is still central to Complete Streets, but other goals include reducing climate emissions, integrating climate resiliency, promoting economic development through making attractive business districts and ensuring people can access jobs, and helping rectify inequities and public health impacts from our transportation system.  These two programs work together to ensure we have a transportation system and culture that supports the implementation of streets that work for all users. 

In 2022, RIPTA was awarded funding from the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program to develop roadway Safety Action Plans on behalf of the state of Rhode Island, and with collaboration from 32 municipalities. The project will include a three-tiered analysis of road safety, including both past crash analysis and predictive analysis, and a wide-reaching community engagement process, with a statewide survey, interactive website, and on-the-ground outreach in each participating community. Ultimately the data analysis and public engagement will feed into the Safety Action Plans and inform recommendations for transportation system improvements in each community.

The project timeline runs from April 2024 – June 2025, with the majority of data analysis and public engagement occurring in the summer of 2024, and the municipal plans completed by early spring 2025. This planning process will set up the participating municipalities to be eligible for future implementation funding through the federal SS4A program.

Contact Information:

Julia Evelyn - Long Range Transportation Planner at RIPTA

Email jevelyn@ripta.com 

Website (or other links as available):

Public Outreach:  The online public survey will run from late June through the end of September. In-person pop-up engagement events will occur throughout the summer and early fall. Specific dates for each participating municipality are available on the project website, and will be updated throughout the summer as they are scheduled.

Transit Forward RI 2040, Rhode Island’s statewide Transit Master Plan, was adopted into the State Guide Plan in 2020. The Plan identified that much of metropolitan Providence has very high underlying demand for transit which rivals that found along existing light rail and bus rapid transit corridors in much larger cities across the US. Two corridors were identified that connect such areas of high demand and that run north-south across the Providence metropolitan region, extending from the Central Falls/Cumberland border through Pawtucket, downtown Providence, Cranston and Warwick.
 

The purpose of the Metro Connector Study is to consider options for providing fast, frequent and reliable transit that connects regional activity centers, neighborhoods, and major transportation hubs in the metro Providence area while supporting other State goals related to climate, sustainable growth, public health, and economic development in an equitable manner. 
 

The goal of this Study is to determine a locally preferred alternative (LPA) for High-Capacity Transit on the possible corridors. These LPAs would identify a preferred alignment, mode, stop locations, approximate ridership, and construction and operational costs. The LPAs should be implementable and developed to the point where they can move into project development.   
 

Contact  Information:
Zachary Agush - Principal Planner for Capital Development at RIPTA
Email: MetroConnector@ripta.com 

Website (or other links as available): In development 

Public outreach:  RIPTA will be engaging at the community level and holding focus groups with major stakeholders. Next round of public meetings anticipated for January/February 2025. Stay tuned for potential hybrid or digital interactive opportunities.

RIDOT undertakes a rail passenger survey every two to three years in order to better understand demand for services and performance. Rail passengers can expect to be asked to take a short online survey about where they began their journey, where they are traveling to, how often they take the train, their experience, and a little about themselves.

Contact: – Lillian Picchione

Public Outreach: – Surveys and sampling will take place between April and October 2025.

The City’s first Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan will take a comprehensive look at East Providence’s active transportation network, use best practices and objective analysis to determine how public rights-of-way can be used to achieve City goals more effectively, and develop an implementation strategy that sets a clear and achievable path for future investments. The Plan will reflect the goals and objectives of Moving Forward RI 2040, the State’s Long-Range Transportation Plan. It will reflect the long-term vision and build upon the guidance from the RI Bicycle Mobility Plan (2020). The City of East Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will identify and address the significant need for multimodal connections throughout the city. Creating a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is important for improving safety, intermodal connectivity, and addressing equity by prioritizing active transportation options within low-income and EJ neighborhoods. Creating more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods also improves the quality of life for all residents, visitors, and people who work in the city, by activating neighborhood centers and creating vibrant public street life. The proposed plan would provide recommendations on where to add bicycle lanes, cross walks, sidewalks, bus shelters, and additional safety treatments. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will advance mobility for all transportation users.

This Master Plan project has an 18 month timeline and will kickoff in August of 2024 and be completed by the Spring of 2026

• Project contacts: 
  • Josh O’Neill, AICP,  Supervising Planner RI Division of Statewide Planning
  • Quinn Molloy, PhD, Project Manager The Toole Design Group
• Project website: 
  • Project information will likely reside on the City of East Providence Planning Department website here: https://eastprovidenceri.gov/departments/planning-economic-development
• Public Outreach Events:
  • First public outreach events will likely occur in Fall of 2024

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is developing and implementing a Rhode Island State Rail Plan. It will be a visionary plan to guide rail investments in the state over the next twenty (20) years. The plan will study what rail planning has been done in the state, develop potential investments for the future, and develop a comprehensive guide to both passenger and freight rail systems and services in Rhode Island. This is will then serve as a blueprint for developing and maintaining a rail transportation network that meets the needs of the state, while continuing to improve our connections with the Northeast regional rail network.
 

RIDOT’s goal is to engage with transportation sister agencies, and our federal counterparts in keeping them informed on the development of the plan. These Agencies include, but are not limited to, Statewide Planning, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), other Federal and State Agencies, Municipalities, and other vested interest groups as required, including freight rail carriers, passenger rail providers, and private parties.
 

Contact Information
David Martone: Chief Program Development, RIDOT, Division of Planning
Email: david.martone@dot.ri.gov