Motorists who frequent some of the main thoroughfares in the town, which is actually most locals, will soon begin to get a bit comfier of a ride when various agencies begin implementing the State Highway Improvement Plan or "STIP" for short.

Town Manager Brian Sullivan provided the council at its January 14 meeting with a review of the state roads in Warren that are included in the 10-year program, which was put together by the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning (RIDSP), the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA).

To keep the acronym theme going, STIP emerged from the Long-Range Transportation Plan or "LRTP, Moving Forward Rhode Island 2040" begun in 2020. Monies the state received from previously-allocated United StatesDepartment of Transportation funds are earmarked to pay for the repairs. RIDOT will oversee the program.

Up to be repaved during the current fiscal year, 2025, are the following: Market Street from Route 114 to Route 136; Route 136, Kickemuit Road to Schoolhouse Road; and Route 136, Market Street to Everett Street.

Drivers on Route 136, which is traversed often by residents leaving and entering the town limits, know how much repaving a road can improve travel. Route 136 is actually akin to an "interstate" as cross the state line with Massachusetts. That have, from just after Schoolhouse Road to Route 6 in Swansea, was repaved by Mass. DOT this past calendar year.

No time table as to when the 2025 projects would begin was provided to the council  at the January meeting.

Local roads are also included to be repaired every two years through the end of the decade under the Rhode Island STIP.

In 2027, Route 136, Everett Street to the Bristol town line; Arlington Avenue from Kickemuit Road to Metacom Avenue; and Vernon Street, Route 114-Route 136 are scheduled to be repaved.

In addition, Libby Lane to the Bristol town line; Metacom to Child Street; and Arlington to Child are set to be upgrades as part of the state's "Highway Safety Improvement Program." Some of the improvements expected to take place in town, according to Department of Public Works Director Brian Wheeler, are to crosswalks and coordination of traffic signals.

Lastly, in 2029, Water Street to Baker Street, Route 103, and Baker to Wheaton, Route 114, are targeted to be repaved.

Of note as well, Sullivan told the council state authorities are conducting what he called "a period of solicitation of projects that each community feels need to be done" for the back-end of the STIP program fiscal years 2030-2035. The manager said Wheeler will be Warren's point of contact going forward.

The council requested both the manager and director report back at its February meeting with anymore details on future aspects of the STIP program.