The Newport Pell Bridge is one of 68 bridges nationally being recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board for a vulnerability assessment due to a possible vessel collision. The Pell Bridge, which links Newport and Jamestown, was built in 1969 and it spans the east passage of Narragansett Bay. It is named for the late […]
Transportation
Posted inLocal, Metro Desk, Transportation
Advocates ask General Assembly to pull RIPTA out of perpetual funding crisis
In total, legislators have or plan to introduce seven bills aimed at funding RIPTA. One bill, if passed, would eliminate RIPTA’s deficit for the year left by Gov. Dan McKee’s proposed budget. Some of the bills would add surcharges and taxes to Lyft and Uber rides as well as gas. State Rep. David Morales was […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
RIDOT head says RI has enough bridge money even with possible Trump block on funds
Even if the Trump administration hangs onto hundreds of millions of federal dollars already promised to Rhode Island, the state will have more than enough money to build a new westbound Washington Bridge, Transportation Director Peter Alviti said Thursday. Alviti said more than $600 million has been allocated for the bridge and a series of […]
Posted inLocal, South Coast Bureau, Transportation
South Coast Rail set to open in late March
At long last, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has an opening date for South Coast Rail. The MBTA announced that trains will begin carrying passengers from Fall River and New Bedford to Boston starting Monday, March 24, pending final approval from the Federal Railroad Administration. The long-awaited project will revive train service between those cities […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
RI officials object to Trump administration block on transportation aid
State officials say the Trump administration is blocking billions of dollars in previously awarded federal transportation aid, including hundreds of millions planned for the Washington Bridge and other needs in Rhode Island. “We don’t know the answer to the likelihood of getting it or not getting it,” House Speaker Joe Shekarchi said in an interview […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
State officials say eastbound Washington Bridge remains safe
State officials said Monday the eastbound Washington Bridge has not experienced any significant deterioration despite carrying twice the normal traffic since it was pressed into an expanded role last year. The eastbound bridge was reconfigured to accommodate six lanes of traffic, three in each direction, after the westbound bridge was closed on an emergency basis […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
Finalists announced to replace westbound Washington Bridge
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee marked the one-year anniversary of the emergency closing of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge by announcing two finalists to replace the structure and by asserting that things are going in the right direction after some initial missteps. “It has been a difficult year for everyone impacted by the […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Politics, Transportation
McKee appoints former MA official as housing secretary
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee announced Thursday the appointment of Deborah J. Goddard as the state’s housing secretary. If confirmed by the state Senate, Goddard will fill a vacancy created in July when former Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor left for an unspecified private sector job in the finance sector. He is now a partner at […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
State of RI sues 13 companies over Washington Bridge
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Friday that the state is suing 13 companies that worked on the Washington Bridge, in an effort “to hold accountable those companies responsible for the near-miss catastrophic closure of the bridge and to recover the significant resources required to rebuild the bridge and compensate the state.” In a […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
Lawsuit over westbound Washington Bridge likely, state’s lawyer says
A lawyer hired by the state of Rhode Island to claw back money for the debacle involving the westbound Washington Bridge said a lawsuit is more likely than not, although a final decision is not expected for a few more weeks. Barring a surprise, lawyer Max Wistow said the call on whether to pursue litigation […]
