This Tuesday, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is holding a virtual workshop to inform the public about the latest developments of the Pell Bridge Ramp Realignment project. The workshop is at 6 pm on Tuesday. The Ramp Realignment will reshape the entrance to Newport and impact our entire City. I strongly encourage you to attend to learn about the project.
During this week’s Council meeting on Wednesday, we will be voting on an application from Aquidneck Community Table to use the vacant Gateway Center as a winter home for the Aquidneck Growers’ Market. I think that the Market will be a great temporary use for the Gateway Center as the City works to develop a strong long-term plan for the space.
I signed on to co-sponsor a resolution introduced by Councilor Taylor which calls on Governor Raimondo to begin distributing the funds Rhode Island received from the CARES Act. So far the State has not distributed any of the funding to municipalities, and Newport is not alone in facing significant fiscal challenges due to lost revenue from the pandemic. On top of that the State also has withheld State Aid payments to municipalities. The combined loss in revenue with the lack of State Aid payments puts Newport and all Rhode Island municipalities in a tight spot. We are joining with multiple communities from across the State to ask the Governor to take action.
In July and September the Council approved two separate resolutions instructing the City staff to improve the safety of Hillside Avenue, Ruggles Avenue, and Harrison Avenue. We approved those resolutions because the entire Council saw a need for near term solutions for immediate traffic and pedestrian safety issues on these streets – specifically because they are direct routes to some of our schools. During Wednesday’s meeting we will be considering an action item from the Department of Public Services to approve a contract for plans for a sidewalk on Hillside between Bedlow and Adm. Kalbfus, and to develop traffic calming measures on all three streets. In parallel, the City is working to develop a Transportation Master Plan that will take help us form a broader picture of traffic and mobility issues here in Newport along with ways to improve them for the long term.
Election Day is just 9 days away. City hall will continue to be open this week, as well as next Monday, for early in-person voting. If you requested a mail ballot, you can drop it off in the drop box by the front steps of City Hall (or any official drop box in RI) before 8pm on Tuesday, November 3. If you are voting at the polls next Tuesday, please confirm your polling location - Newport has moved one polling location from Donovan Manor to the Edward King House.
