An $800,000 federal earmark will help advance pedestrian safety in Barrington.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, U.S. Senator Jack Reed joined Barrington officials, Rhode Island Department of Transportation Interim Director Robert Rocchio, and community members to celebrate the funding he secured to add more than a quarter-mile of sidewalk to Massasoit Avenue to boost safety, accessibility, and connectivity.

After years of advocacy from community members, parents, and town leaders, the project will create a continuous sidewalk the length of Massasoit Avenue to address significant safety concerns along the major route to and from Hampden Meadows Elementary School, Barrington High School, and Barrington Middle School.

“Sidewalks help keep pedestrians safe and roads clear for all road users,” Sen. Reed said. “Upgrading our roads with safe, continuous sidewalks helps give a significant boost to public safety. I am pleased to deliver this $800,000 federal earmark for Barrington to help make this important thoroughfare safer, more accessible, and better connected to the rest of the community. Adding these sidewalks will make Massasoit Avenue a safer path for local students and community members.”

Barrington Director of Planning, Building, and Resilience Herbert Durfee, III remarked on the federal and state partnership.

“The effort of Sen. Reed highlights success in government whereby local, state, and federal assets can achieve cross-jurisdictional projects for ‘win-win’ results, especially for our Barrington residents,” Durfee said. “The Town is grateful to be able to, again, partner with the Senator, his staff, and the state for this invaluable pedestrian/bicycle improvement.”

RIDOT Interim Director Robert Rocchio said he was pleased to see the project coming together.

“RIDOT is grateful for the efforts of Senator Reed to obtain this additional federal funding,” Rocchio said. “On top of that, we are able to provide funds from our transportation program to make these dollars go farther to provide long-awaited improvements for pedestrians and residents living along these roads.”

Massasoit Avenue is a state-owned road and is heavily-traveled as a cut-through from New Meadow Road to County Road (Route 114). Design and planning for the sidewalks project is ongoing and expected to continue into next year before construction begins by early 2028.

Sen. Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, secured the federal earmark to make this project possible.  RIDOT is the recipient of Sen. Reed’s federal earmark and the Town of Barrington will administer the project, taking the lead on the design and construction phases.

Sen. Reed’s earmark for Massasoit Avenue is also helping the town move forward with new sidewalks on New Meadow Road. In total, the project is expected cost up to $2.59 million and is supported by other federal funds as well as state and local funding.