Cranston Mayor Hopkins Opposes Plan to Make Major Commercial Area Road One Way
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Cranston Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins has expressed opposition to the proposed ordinance to convert the Rolfe Street business corridor for one-way traffic.
Rolfe Street was once the thriving area for small businesses. There was the Park Cinema, a Benny’s, and dozens and dozens of stores from restaurants to barber shops to boutiques.
Now, Benny’s is gone, the Park Theatre is shuttered and a number of storefronts are empty.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn a letter to Councilman Matthew J. Reilly, Chairman of the City Council Ordinance Committee, Hopkins stated that he opposed making Rolfe Street one way in a northerly direction from Pontiac Avenue to Park Avenue.
He said, “As you are aware, the revitalization of the Rolfe Street business corridor has been the first and top economic development priority of my new administration. In the first six months, we have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars refurbishing and revitalizing the area for the benefit of local restaurants and businesses, neighborhood residents and consumers of the area.”
The mayor noted the substantial work has included new paving, painting, repairing sidewalks, decorative streetlights, and new tree plantings. “These efforts have transformed this commercial district back to an attractive business hub for central Cranston,” he said.
“In my view, the proposed ordinance would be detrimental to my goals and priorities to bring customers and residents to once again trade and utilize the available services and merchants along Rolfe Street,” stated Hopkins. He noted many Rolfe Street owners and businesses have expressed concern for this dramatic change to the area.
Hopkins emphasized that converting to one-way traffic also presents several traffic and safety concerns. He said “These include increasing travel distances, driver confusion and difficult emergency vehicle access. It will lead to excessive speed and driver disorientation for non-area residents.”
For all those reasons, he urged the City Council to not support the ordinance and to leave the Rolfe Street corridor open to two-way traffic.
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