PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Transportation last week released a 10-year transportation vision for the state.
The plan, based on Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s RhodeWorks proposal, positions Rhode Island to become the third state in the union to adopt a 10-year planning approach to transportation, according to a RIDOT release.
The plan calls for a $1 billion surge of additional investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure, primarily focused on bridges. Rhode Island would reach the federal minimum standard of 90 percent structural sufficiency for bridges by 2025, seven years ahead and $1 billion less costly than what existing funding levels could achieve.
The 10-year plan identifies $800 million for funding for the long-delayed Route 6/10 interchange project. It also includes additional funding for transit projects, highway improvements, bike and pedestrian upgrades and safety improvements.
The plan must be approved by the State Planning Council and by the Federal Highway Administration. •
