#MiddletownRI is taking part in an effort across Rhode Island to make our streets safer for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, one that's aiming to eliminate deaths and injuries on area roads.
WORKING TOWARDS SAFER STREETS
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JANUARY 13, 2025) – The Town of Middletown is taking a strategic approach towards improving traffic, bicycle and pedestrian safety across the community.
The Town Council received a report recently from Project Manager Shawna Kitzman of Toole Design about an ongoing effort across Rhode Island that Middletown is taking part in to systematically improve all facets of transportation.
The work is part of a nationwide initiative overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation administered locally through the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority “Safe Streets And Roads For All” (SS4A) aimed at roadway safety and saving lives.
In 2024, Middletown was awarded a $100,000 grant for its work, which looks to get the “highest priority” safety projects “shovel ready” when future money becomes available.
“Completing the safety action plan funded by the Safe Streets for All program will allow the town to identify actions that will improve safety for all users of local roads,” said Town Planner Ronald Wolanski, one of Middletown’s representatives to the SS4A team.
“The actions identified will then be eligible for additional funding for implementation. And the Town Council's adoption of the Vision Zero resolution, committing the town to working toward eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes in the next 10 years, also enhances the opportunity to secure funding to make our roads safer.”
Recent SS4A surveys found there were consistent themes with motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian safety across the community.
Kitzman said the results showed the No. 1 priority was to improve East Main and West Main roads, consistently noted as the “top roads of concern” in the 50 plus surveys returned by residents.
Those two state roads bisect Middletown from north to south and act as the major arteries for traffic, with 40,000-50,000 vehicles a day reported by the state Department of Transportation in certain areas.
She said surveys also suggested adding sidewalks and protected bicycle lanes to as many streets as possible along with stepping up education for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians alike.
They also recommended working to slow vehicles down more and taking steps to limit aggressive driving.
“Safety action plans are being implemented across the (United States),” Kitzman said. “They really do address all roadway users, drivers, people on foot, people who are biking, scootering, all modes. The goal is to significantly reduce and eliminate fatalities and serious injuries across Rhode Island.”
That isn’t to say that significant steps haven’t been taking in Middletown over the past two decades to improve transportation.
In that time, the state Department of Transportation has overhauled essentially every major intersection in Middletown, including Two-Mile Corner where East Main and West Main roads intersect, West Main and Coddington Highway, West Main and Valley roads, Green End Avenue and Valley Road, upper Aquidneck Avenue and a host of others.
DOT has said the goal of the work was to improve traffic flow for motorists and make each location safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Towards that end, DOT also performed a “road diet” on Coddington Highway to the Newport city line aimed at slowing vehicles. Dedicated bicycle lanes were also installed with that project.
As part of its annual road improvement efforts, the town has repaved miles of local streets and installed both permanent and temporary traffic calming measures like speed humps on Chases Lane, Forest Avenue and Turner Road. Vehicle weight limits have also been implemented on a handful of area roads to prevent cut through commercial traffic.
DOT and Middletown have also undertaken an aggressive sidewalk installation program, most notably along East Main and West Main roads to make it easier for pedestrians to get from point A to point B.
Middletown Police leaders have also said cutting back on speeding and bad driving is one of the department’s most pressing charges, with officers seen regularly on major and local roads alike.
At a recent meeting, the council approved creating a new school speed zone on Valley Road in front of Middletown High. The move will help clear the way for the installation of new school speed zone cameras, which will issue fines for those traveling more than 10 mph over the posted limit during school hours.
Residents and businesspeople can get directly involved in the effort through the town’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The volunteer group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm in the Fire Station Community Room to discuss the issue.
Kitzman reminded council members and the audience that SS4A was no academic exercise, but very real.
The Boston-based consultants said statistics showed the faster vehicles go, the far greater the chance there was of a fatality or severe injury.
Toole Design statistics showed that at 20 mph, there was a 13 percent chance of a death or bad injury, figures that increased to 73 percent at 40 mph.
Using data and community input, Kitzman said those involved will come up with a workable plan to help improve transportation safety. To view her report to the council, go to https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17494/Safe-Streets online.
“The fundamental shift from the traditional approach to roadway safety is that the Safe System approach calls for town managers, planners, engineers, police departments, educators, first responders in the community at large to really all participate and buy into the fact that death on your streets is unacceptable,” Kitzman said.
In addition to the Planning Department, council Vice President Thomas Welch III has assisted along with the Police Department and representatives from BankNewport and Aquidneck Land Trust.
“What will come out of the study will be very helpful to be smart with the (grant) money and make a real difference,” Welch said.
“Anytime you can improve any type of roadway, whether it’s sidewalks or anything related to transportation, that’s a win…” council President Paul Rodrigues said. “I think we also need to look at what the root causes are for some of these issues. Like you said, humans are humans and anytime we can save one life, it’s a win.”
Councilor Dennis Turano said taking a grassroots approach towards transportation and improving safety could help. He suggested creating a program where different neighborhoods had a representative to focus on transportation could help spread the message.
“I think awareness is a big piece of this,” Turano said. “The more we’re talking about it, the more we’re getting it out there, people become aware and they’ll slow down.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Safe
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
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