Igliozzi Makes Appeal to Raimondo to Keep Plainfield Street 6/10 On-Ramp
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Providence City Councilman John Igliozzi is appealing to Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to reverse the city's plan to close the Plainfield Avenue on-ramp to the 6/10 connector.
He is comparing its importance to the community to that of the Davey Lopes pool, which had been closed over politics -- and had not only a devastating effect on the community, but on those politicians responsible -- namely then-Mayor Angel Taveras, who lost his bid for Governor.
Igliozzi's Letter
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIgliozzi sent the following to Raimondo:
I'm writing on behalf of the Silver Lake, Plainfield Street, Pocasset Avenue, Union Avenue, and Hartford Avenue neighborhoods regarding the City of Providence’s request to remove the Plainfield Street on-ramp to the 6/10 connector.
A few years ago, against the will of our constituents, the State of Rhode Island removed the Plainfield Street off-ramp to the 6/10 connector, causing traffic displacement that further burdened the roadway’s Hartford and Union Avenue off-ramps. Additionally, the change created a detrimental financial impact to businesses on Plainfield Street, and exposed the neighborhood to environmental health hazards caused by the increased traffic emissions; a particular problem since the Hartford Avenue off-ramp feeds directly into the State’s largest public housing complex, which is home to mostly single mothers and their children.
Today, the State of Rhode Island is proposing a reconstruction of the 6/10 connector. Our constituents appreciate and thank Director Alviti and RIDOT for holding neighborhood meetings that allowed the Silver Lake, Plainfield Street, Pocasset Avenue, Webster Avenue, Olneyville, Union Avenue, and Hartford Avenue residents and business owners to weigh in on the project, and are largely supportive of this initiative with one caveat: they are overwhelmingly opposed to the City’s plan to now remove the Plainfield Street on-ramp. Our constituents cited many negative impacts the removal of the Plainfield Street on-ramp would have on the neighborhood, including increased traffic congestion, increased environmental pollution, and a detrimental financial impact to the existing businesses on Plainfield Street.
Our constituents have presented a petition and letters in opposition of the removal of the Plainfield Street on-ramp, and all of the elected officials who represent these neighborhoods have voiced their concerns about the City’s request to remove it. We have approached the Mayor of Providence with these concerns, and discussed with him RIDOT’s alternative proposal to reconfigure the Plainfield Street on-ramp. Although RIDOT’s proposal achieves the goals of both the Mayor and the neighborhood, it has been met with ambivalence and ambiguity from this administration, which gives us cause for alarm.
We are now appealing to you because our constituents reminded me of another time when the City’s administration wouldn’t listen to the pleas of the neighborhood, back when they overwhelmingly wanted the Davey Lopes Pool opened. At that time, you were Candidate Raimondo; you championed our cause, and the neighborhood was heartened by your support. You stood by us, and at the Davey Lopes grand opening ceremony, you jumped in the pool to celebrate that important victory with us.
Now, as our Governor, we respectfully request your support to keep the Plainfield Street on-ramp. Will you jump in the pool with us again?
We thank you for your attention to our concerns and respectfully request to meet with you to discuss this matter further. Please contact our press secretary, Michaela Antunes, at your earliest convenience to arrange a meeting.
Sincerely,
John J Igliozzi
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