State withdraws request to cut funding for bike projects

RIDOT cites influx of new federal funds, cancels public hearings

By Jim McGaw
Posted 2/22/19

PORTSMOUTH — Never mind, the state now says of its recent proposal to slash millions in funding for bike and pedestrian safety projects that would have impacted Portsmouth and other …

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State withdraws request to cut funding for bike projects

RIDOT cites influx of new federal funds, cancels public hearings

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Never mind, the state now says of its recent proposal to slash millions in funding for bike and pedestrian safety projects that would have impacted Portsmouth and other municipalities. 

Under an amendment to the state Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) that was requested Jan. 24 by the R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the R.I. Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), the primary source of funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects statewide, would have been slashed by 33 percent over four years.

However, on Thursday, Feb. 21, RIDOT asked to rescind that request, known as Amendment 11 to the TIP, due to the “unexpected influx” of about $70 million in federal funds allocated to Rhode Island though the 2019 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill.

“The availability of these resources across several different categories of federal funding has resulted in the withdrawal of RIDOT’s request for a STIP Major Amendment, as proposed in January 2019,” stated a Friday, Feb. 22 letter, from Linsey J. Callaghan, secretary of the Transportation Advisory Committee.

“RIDOT has requested additional time to consider how to best utilize these added transportation funds to support their program of projects,” Ms. Callaghan continued. “It is anticipated that RIDOT will return to the Transportation Advisory Committee and State Planning Council for a Major Amendment to the STIP in the near term with a modified request that reflects available resources.”

Because the amendment was rescinded, two upcoming public hearings on the original proposal have been canceled. The first had been scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25, at Narragansett Town Hall, the second for Thursday, Feb. 28, at the R.I. Department of Administration in Providence.

Town denounced cuts

The latest news comes on the heels of two resolutions denouncing the proposed funding cuts that were approved unanimously by the Portsmouth Town Council on Feb. 11.

The first resolution asked TAP and the State Planning Council to reject the proposed TIP amendment and requested RIDOT to “address the transportation budget shortfall within the more robust highway and pavement projects and leave the already underfunded (TAP) intact.”

The resolution also requested that RIDOT consider every road project a “complete streets" project and work to maximize the safety of all road users by accounting for motorized traffic, bicycles, and pedestrians in every road design.

The second resolution addressed the same TIP amendment, but focused on a proposal to delay essential improvements to East Main Road.

In an e-mailed message on Friday, council member Daniela Abbott, an advocate for alternative transportation programs, said she was pleased with the most recent development.

“I am happy to hear that the RIDOT has requested to rescind Major Amendment #11 to the STIP, preserving millions of dollars in funding for bike and pedestrian safety projects in Portsmouth,” Ms. Abbott stated. “I look forward to seeing the revised amendment to the STIP and hope that any new proposal will prioritize the projects in Portsmouth that are long overdue to ensure the safety and well-being of pedestrians, riders, and drivers.”

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Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.