Providence residents voice concerns over South Water Street changes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — During Monday’s community meeting, Mayor Brett Smiley heard from residents on changes involved in the city’s Washington Bridge closure impact mitigation plan.

“We went through the proposals that we made in terms of our initial actions,” Smiley explained. “But I think there’s some good ideas that came out of it that will be more actions.”

“This wasn’t intended to be everything we’re going to do, but just the first round of what we’re going to do,” Smiley added.

Some of the changes in the works include traffic light time changes, additional signage, and removing the two-way bike path along South Water Street and relocating it to the raised sidewalk adjacent to the existing bike path.

A majority of the residents’ concerns are over the bike path removal, like Andrea Rojas, who frequents South Water Street with her sister, who has an intellectual and developmental disability.

“South Water Street currently as it is with the bike lanes is so pedestrian-friendly, so safe and accessible for people like my sister with disabilities,” Rojas said. “Just a block away south main street is treacherous.”

Rojas believes the money could be used in a better way to alleviate traffic and is worried the change will make the area dangerous for not only bikers but also pedestrians.

“So for us as residents of Providence and community members who enjoy South Water Street, we want to keep it as it is because it is clearly not directly related to the Washington Bridge,” Rojas said.

Despite the concerns of residents, Smiley said the bike lane changes will be executed this spring.

There will me more community meetings through the summer before the bike lane change plan is submitted to the Green and Complete Streets Advisory Council to review.

“One of the things that I’ve heard is from people who say how much they like having that bike trail there which is why we’ve proposed moving the trail and having a similar trail just off road,” Smiley said. “And so we’re going to do everything we can do accelerate that process.”