January 19, 2019

Questions and Answers About Bike Path Planning In Charlestown

SteeringCommittee / Charlestown Rhode Island, Mailbox

There has been much misinformation about Charlestown’s planning efforts for bike paths. We hope this post helps to answer citizen questions. If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please post a question below in the comment section for this post.

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Planning For A Coastal Bike Path

Charlestown for years has been talking about a coastal bike route that would link Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown and, ultimately Narragansett. This is a big vision, but it could be accomplished one piece at a time. As a result, the town has been looking at designs for one portion of the vision–a bike path from Ninigret Park to the traditional village district to the South Kingstown line at Matunuck School House Road. Part of the design process involves choosing one option that residents prefer from three proposed by the town’s consultant. When residents make the choice that they prefer, Charlestown will be ready when the state begins to plan any reconstruction of all or part of Post or Old Post Road. This will allow Charlestown to get the transportation improvements it wants using state and federal funds.
Why Will RIDOT Fund And Build A Bike Path?

Federal and State law require that walking and bicycling be accommodated in road design and construction.

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) policy states that every transportation agency (including state departments of transportation) has the responsibility to improve conditions and opportunities for walking and bicycling and to integrate walking and bicycling into their transportation systems.

Transportation 2037: Rhode Island Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) recommends a growing network of bicycling and walking paths, and that continued expansion in this network is a strategic investment in the state’s future that will provide transportation options and enhance the attractiveness of the state. The LRTP further recommends that pedestrian and bicycle travel be consistently mainstreamed into transportation project and community planning and design.

Rhode island law requires the Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to fund a variety of projects and programs when rebuilding state roads. These include improvements supporting walkers and bicyclists such as walking routes and bike lanes.

Bikeways are funded through State and Federal Grants. Grant money is available from the Rhode Island Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), The Green Economy Initiative and other sources.
Why Is A Plan Needed Now?

Competition for funding is intense and towns that show initiative and that coordinate with neighboring towns have a competitive advantage.

These are State Roads, and RIDOT is required to provide for alternative modes of transportation, but if Charlestown doesn’t have a bike path plan when the State begins reconstruction of Old Post Road, we may not get the path we want.
What Has The Town Done So Far?
The Town Council has taken actions to place our town in a favorable position to be awarded grants:

In 2016 they formed a 4-Town Coastal Bikeway Route Committee with representatives from Charlestown, Westerly, South Kingstown, and Narragansett. The goal is to coordinate efforts toward development of a Coastal Route Bikeway from Watch Hill to Narragansett and improve each town’s position when applying for grants.

Charlestown then commissioned Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) to perform a Bikeway Feasibility Study to connect Ninigret Park with the Charlestown Old Post Road business district and connect to South Kingstown at Matunuck Schoolhouse Road.

VHB was tasked to review existing conditions, present alternatives, evaluate the impact on the community, provide estimate cost for grant applications, and identify anticipated permitting actions.
What Is In The VHB Report?
The preliminary report has been completed. Three options were detailed in the VHB report:

Option A – Shared-Use-Path along US-1

Option B – Old Post Road Bicycle Lane

Option C – Old Post Road Shared-Use Path

You can read the entire VHB report and a matrix that compares each of the options.
Has Eminent Domain Ever Been Used In RI For Bike Paths?
Why Sell Or Give Land For A Bike Path?
What About North Of Rt. 1?

Charlestown should have multiple bike routes. Some already exist and can be improved.

The state has identified Rts 2, 216, 112, and 91 north of Route 1 as “most suitable for biking”, but no roads have that designation south of Rt. 1 and hence the focus of the study has been to find ways to make cycling safer south of Rt. 1.

In the state map below blue lines show roads considered “most suitable”. These have a break down lane that is wide enough for bikes and are marked with signs that say “Bike Route”, and also white bike symbols are painted on the ground. There needs to be more signage and symbols and the Town should continue to request these. Red lines are roads that are considered “suitable”.
What Are The Next Steps?

Tuesday, January 22nd, at 7 p.m. the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Commission will review the VHB report to discuss the pros and cons of the different possible bike routes and designs.

At a future Town Council meeting (we’ll be sure to publish a post with date and time) the Council will decide which plan, if any, to ask the RIDOT to include in their long range planning for funding and construction by the DOT.