Making Connections: RI Delegation Delivers $2 Million to Reunite Providence Neighborhoods

New USDOT grant will fund study and engage stakeholders in ways to reconnect communities that were separated by construction of I-95 and RI-10

WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to improve community connectivity and pedestrian safety, spur economic growth, and catalyze smart transit-oriented development in underserved communities, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced $2 million in federal funding for a smart-growth study of multimodal transit improvements and new commuter connections throughout Providence's busy urban core.

This $2 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program will be used by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to advance its "Connect Four: Bridging Providence's Urban Core" project. The federal grant will enable RIDOT to gather community input and feedback and advance analysis to determine the best ways to reunite neighborhoods separated by previous transportation-related projects dating back to the construction of Interstate 95 (I-95) and Rhode Island Route 10 (RI-10).

Improvements and new resiliency measures studied with this federal funding will focus on boosting safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users to ensure these neighborhoods once again have access to user-friendly routes. Furthermore, this project will help ensure residents have reliable and safe routes and public transit options to community centers, job hubs, and other key destinations.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for Rhode Islanders. This new $2 million grant will help make roads safer, revitalize neighborhoods, and promote healthy and connected communities," said Senator Reed. "RIDOT can use this federal grant to help remove roadblocks to transit access, improve mobility, and reduce traffic jams and pollution. It will take outdated infrastructure that divides and find new solutions to better connect bisected neighborhoods."

"Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to make smart investments to improve safety and connectivity across the Ocean State," said Whitehouse, who helped craft the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. "This latest round of federal funding will lay the groundwork to create new connections between Providence neighborhoods and make getting around our capital city easier and more efficient."

"Legacy policy decisions on transportation-related projects have left lasting impacts on neighborhoods in Rhode Island, but with this federal funding, we are taking a step to ensure all residents have access to transit and services," said Rep. Seth Magaziner. "This new funding will help reconnect neighborhoods, create safer streets, and improve transportation options that will benefit those particularly in underserved communities."

"The U.S. Department of Transportation's Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program has helped bring down historic barriers imposed by our nation's transportation infrastructure. In Providence, working-class, majority-minority neighborhoods have been divided since the construction of the I-95 and RI-10 highways," said Congressman Gabe Amo. "With this $2 million federal investment, our delegation is accelerating efforts to restore communities through thoughtful growth as we deliver safer routes and greater public transit options for the largest city in our state."

"We thank our congressional delegation for again delivering for Rhode Island with these important grant funds," RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr. said. "We will put these funds to work right away, incorporating a complete streets design for these new bridge projects to support the current and future needs of residents and visitors in Providence."

According to the American Public Transportation Association, on average, American households across all income levels spend nearly 16 percent of their income on transportation, which can be a significant burden for low-income households.

With this project, RIDOT will reimagine the design of four key bridges throughout Providence that span RI-10 and I-95 along Atwells Avenue (Bridge #775); Dean Street (Bridge #776); Washington Street (Bridge #573); and Westminster Street (Bridge #572). These four bridges are in need of replacement and have been programmed into RIDOT's 10-year State Transportation Improvement Program.

The project will also help to identify unnecessary ramp infrastructure that can be eliminated while maintaining the efficient flow of traffic and freight. Parcels that were once occupied by ramp infrastructure will then help create new opportunities for development.

Created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), the RCP program is a competitive grant program that supports projects that allow for innovative community planning in areas that were impacted by infrastructure projects of the past focusing on improving access to daily needs such as jobs, education, health care, food, nature, and recreation.

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