2025-50 Bridge Realignment Parking

WHEREAS, traffic and congestion continue to grow as challenges for the City, impacting quality of life for all who reside or visit Newport; and

WHEREAS, creating a “Multi-Modal Transportation Network” to address this challenge is one of the key goals of the City’s recently enacted Strategic Plan, which state’s that “Newport strives to connect our community through a variety of safe, reliable, convenient, and innovative transportation options”; and

WHEREAS, the City adopted a Transportation Master Plan in 2023, which detailed how such a Transportation Network could be established, and included recommending the establishment of an intercept lot or “park and ride” lot, connected to downtown Newport via multimodal transportation as a way to reduce traffic; and

WHEREAS, as part of the Pell bridge ramp realignment project, the State constructed such a lot with 200 parking spaces and a bike and pedestrian multimodal path that have been functionally complete for a number of months yet which have not been officially opened; and

WHEREAS, the use of that lot would reduce congestion, but requires both communications that it is open and encouraging its use, and additional multimodal connections to the rest of the City must be intentionally established to make such a lot reasonably appealing to users; and

WHEREAS, the State, through the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority ("RITBA") and Rhode Island Department of Transportation ("RIDOT") have existing fixed digital message boards on the route leading into Newport, and the City has mobile digital signs it could use to encourage people to use the new lot and transit options; and

WHEREAS, the City maintains a robust and talented Communications Office, which could advertise and encourage the use of the new lot and multimodal transit options; and

WHEREAS, there are a number of public transit and common carrier transportation options available in Newport that could encourage the utilization of the new lot by affording visitors alternative ways to get into the City, including multiple Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority ("RIPTA") trolley and bus routes which currently bypass the lot multiple times per hour, the existing railway which is to be restored as part of the Bridge Realignment project, and multiple bike rental vendors; and

WHEREAS, Newport’s peak visitor season is rapidly approaching, bringing with it a record number of visitors with cars; now THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that City Council respectfully requests that RIDOT officially open the park and ride lot and multimodal path; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that the City Council requests that the City Manager work with the State and its respective departments and agencies to utilize existing fixed and deployable signage and other communications channels to encourage the use of the new lot and multi-modal transit options; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that the City Council respectfully requests that RIPTA modify the schedules of its vehicles currently bypassing the lot, establishing stops at the lot moving forward, including specifically RIPTA Trolley Route 68; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that the City Council requests that the City Manager work with the State to accommodate other providers of multimodal transit options to ensure visitors have fast and convenient transportation options to get around Newport available at the lot; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that the City Council requests the City Manager include in future plans consideration of re-establishing the use of the existing rail line once re-installed; and BE IT FINALLY

RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Honorable Governor Daniel J. McKee, RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, RIPTA CEO Christopher Durand and RITBA Executive Director Lori Silveira.

XAY KHAMSYVORAVONG
DAVID R. CARLIN, III
STEPHANIE SMYTH
CHARLIE HOLDER
ELLEN PINNOCK

IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
MARCH 26, 2025

LAURA C. SWISTAK, CMC
CITY CLERK