Flip-Flop-Flip - Bureaucratic Chaos on South Water St. Continues
Thursday, October 21, 2021
The move from two lanes down to one South Water Street has been mired in controversy -- and governmental back-and-forth. PHOTO: GoLocal
Following the meeting, RIDOT said, "FHWA informed us that they will not get involved nor will they implement any penalties against the City of Providence for the breach of contract."
This comes after RIDOT told GoLocal in July that they supported the City of Providence's plan to close the lane for purposes of a bike lane.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOn July 23, RIDOT officials told GoLocal in an email that they were aware of the traffic plan by Elorza’s administration, and signed off on the plan.
“South Water Street is maintained by the city. We are aware of their project and have no issue with it, especially since the plans have the road returning to two lanes before the light at Wickenden Street to provide enough space for cars waiting at the light,” wrote Charles St. Martin, the spokesperson for RIDOT.
Then, RIDOT flipped-flopped and moved to block Providence from finishing the project.
According to RIDOT, the project South Water Street project may be inconsistent with a 1999 agreement between the city and state.
Thursday, RIDOT said, "It is our opinion that taking a lane of traffic on South Water Street creates traffic and safety issues but the FHWA, which was a signatory to the contract, does not want to get involved. Therefore, we will not press the issue any further."
"We are aware that some of the adjacent businesses, including two universities, object to the City’s taking of a traffic lane from the highly traveled Route 44. We sympathize with the abutters but since FHWA is not supportive of any corrective action, we encourage them to seek remedy through city government," RIDOT continued. "With the development that is in this area and with new development anticipated, it would seem that taking a major connector road that is part of the U.S. highway system and cutting it down to one lane is not the best course of action. However, if the FHWA has no interest in getting involved, we have no choice but to let the construction stand."
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