Prov Neighborhood & Business Leaders Oppose RIDOT’s Plan to Close Gano Street Off-Ramp

Wednesday, October 09, 2019

GoLocalProv News Team

A Coalition of Providence neighborhood associations and business leaders are opposing the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s (RIDOT) plan to close the I-195 Westbound Gano Street off-ramp.

RIDOT’s plan would send traffic along East Providence’s Waterfront Drive and over a newly constructed Henderson Bridge into Wayland Square.

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Leaders who signed onto the letter include State Representative Edith Ajello and Providence City Council Helen Anthony (Ward-2).

Businesses include Olympic Records, PVD Donuts, Silver Star Bakery, Taylor Interior Design, Inc. and others (see the full list below).

Read the Letter Below

Dear Director Alviti:

We the undersigned Providence neighborhood organizations, business organizations, and individual businesses write to share our strong opposition to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s (RIDOT) plan to permanently close the I-195 Westbound Gano Street off-ramp, divert that traffic along East Providence’s Waterfront Drive, over a newly constructed Henderson Bridge, and into Wayland Square at the intersection of South Angell Street and Butler Avenue.

This plan was announced in late July 2019 without any outreach to area neighborhood groups or businesses, yet could have severe negative quality of life and financial impacts for residents, businesses, and property owners in Fox Point, Wayland Square, College Hill, and potentially other city neighborhoods.

Indeed, over the past year that the I-195 Westbound Gano Street off-ramp has been “temporarily” closed for construction, businesses on Gano Street, Ives Street, Wickenden Street, and in Wayland Square have seen their revenue off by 10%-20%.  Losing hundreds of cars per day has meant fewer customers enjoying the many area coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and other retail locations.  The permanent closure of the I-195 Westbound Gano Street off-ramp could lock these losses in and threaten the viability of businesses that are so important to the vibrancy of these neighborhoods.

As for diverting traffic onto a newly constructed Henderson Bridge with only one lane of traffic in each direction, terminating at the intersection of South Angell Street and Butler Avenue, there is strong concern that this will lead to debilitating traffic gridlock.  Traffic at this intersection in the mornings has already become severe during the Gano Street off-ramp’s “temporary” closure.  Adding hundreds of additional vehicles per day to this already busy intersection will lead to severe traffic jams, frustrating people’s ability to easily access Wayland Square, College Hill, and Fox Point.  The additional traffic also threatens the character of Wayland Square as a walkable, pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhood.

For these reasons, we urge RIDOT to end any plans to close the I-195 Westbound Gano Street off-ramp and instead permanently reopen the off-ramp as soon as possible.  We similarly urge RIDOT to more carefully study the traffic impacts of a newly constructed Henderson Bridge with only one lane of travel in each direction. 

We stand ready to work with you on this issue and to assist in the creation of alternatives that accomplish RIDOT’s goal of facilitating efficient traffic flows on I-195 Westbound, while not harming existing Providence businesses and neighborhoods.  Finally, we look forward to meeting with you personally at your earliest convenience to discuss our concerns and begin working collaboratively to identify alternative options.

Sincerely,

• Sarah Abeles, Reliable Gold Ltd.
• State Representative Edith H. Ajello (House District 1)
• Councilwoman Helen Anthony, (Ward 2)
• Harrison Bilodeau, Bilodeau Property Management
• Bernard Boyd, Rustigian Rugs
• Catherine Branch, Hollester Interiors
• Neal Bromley, Bromley Real Estate
• Wendy Brown, Wendy Brown Home
• Jessica Clayburgh, Jessica Clayburgh Physical Therapy
• Dr. Elizabeth Collins, The East West Company
• Tiffany Costa, General Manager, CORE Fitness
• Jiro Darakian, Milan Providence
• Gwenn Delourme, French American School of Rhode Island
• Melanie Elman and Lexi Kriss, Mrs. Robinson Fine Lingerie
• Paul Griesinger, Capstone Properties
• Scott Given, Head of School, The Croft School
• Barbara Harris, Esq., BHLAW
• Jessica Leach, Opt Eyewear Boutique
• Karen Lemke, Edward Jones
• Stephen R. Lewinstein, Stephen R. Lewinstein Associates
• Mary Moore, Simple Pleasures
• Bruce Nathaniel, Commercial Manager, Bilodeau Property Management
• Emily Orlando, lululemon
• Bruce Owensby, Wayland Square Shoe Repair
• Roz Rustigian, Rustigian Rugs
• Kristin Sollenberger, Paper Nautilus
• Joe Sousa and Jose Dutra, Gano Street Dunkin’ Donuts
• Susan Steiner, Occupational Therapy Inc.
• Florence Voccola, F. Bianco
• Gregory Weiss, J&W Property Management LLC
• Central Meat Market
• Divine Barre Providence
• Fox Point Neighborhood Association
• Madeira Liquors
• Olympic Records
• PVD Donuts
• Silver Star Bakery
• Taylor Interior Design, Inc.
• Wayland Square Merchants Association
• Wayland Square Neighborhood Association
• Wickenden Area Merchants Association

 

Concerned Residents:

• Vincent Buonanno, Providence, Chairman, Mile of History Association
• James Bousquet, Wayland Square
• Karen Borger, College Hill, The Jewish Herald
• Ann Carty, College Hill
• Mary E. Chace, Riverside
• Julie S. Clifton, Fox Point,
• Karen Davidson, Esq., Cranston
• Sarah Denby, Barrington
• Nancy Dorsey, Warwick
• LuLu Lederman, East Side
• Peter Mars and Michael Dawson, Wayland Square
• Charisse Mayer, East Side
• Dan Shedd, Taylor Box Company, Warren
• Debra and John Schiavone, Wayland Square
• Pauline Talbott, Wayland Square
• Bruce Tillinghast, Providence, Former Owner, New Rivers
• Constance Worthington and Terry E. Tullis, East Side

 

cc:

• Governor Gina Raimondo
• Mayor Jorge Elorza

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