2024-39

Resolution urging the RI State Legislature to support Allocating funding for permanent safety barriers on Rhode Island’s bridges over Narragansett Bay.

WHEREAS, the City of Newport City Council, recognizes that any and all suicides are devastating and extend our sympathies to our loved ones, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and communities affected by the loss; and

WHEREAS, we thank our City of Newport first responders for their heroic efforts to save lives including from our bridges over Narragansett Bay; and

WHEREAS, suicides from our state’s bridges over Narragansett Bay have affected our community since the time the bridges were built; and

WHEREAS, we seek ways to make our bridges safe from potential suicides; and

WHEREAS, the barriers erected by the Army Corps of Engineers on the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges have been shown to greatly reduce access to the bridge railings as a means for suicide; and

WHEREAS, most recently safety netting installed on Florida’s Skyway Bridge is showing great promise for reducing suicides from said bridge; and

WHEREAS, according statistics from the RI Department of Health from 2012 - 2021 there were 1,199 suicides in Rhode Island of which 54 were bridge related suicides of those 54 bridge related suicides 29 bridge suicides were in Newport County; and

WHEREAS, in recent years the RI General Assembly appropriated funding to the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority for engineering studies for the Jamestown and Mount Hope and the Pell and Sakonnet but we need to make the installation of safety barriers a reality on all four bridges; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT: RESOLVED, that the City of Newport urges
the Rhode Island Senate and House Finance Committees and the
Rhode Island General Assembly to support the legislative efforts
of Senate

XAY KHAMSYVORAVONG
LYNN UNDERWOOD CEGLIE
ANGELA MCCALLA
MARK ARAMLI
DAVID CARLIN
JEANNE MARIE NAPOLITANO

IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
APRIL 24, 2024

LAURA C. SWISTAK, CMC
CITY CLERK