RIC expansion concern North Providence residents

August 2, 2017 6:37 am

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A proposed expansion to a parking lot at Rhode Island College has many residents in nearby North Providence on edge.

Residents voiced their concerns about traffic and safety at a North Providence Town Council meeting Tuesday night.

The college has proposed expanding its Sheffield Avenue parking lot and opening the college gates in the process. However, residents say enough students already cut through their neighborhood, and increased traffic is one of their biggest worries.

“It is a cut through between Fruit Hill and Smith Street,” Don Rhodes told ABC6 News. “So there’s a speed issue, there’s a litter issue.”

“To me, there are too many issues to consider: The safety of our elderly, children and pets, and vandalism and theft,” said resident Jennifer Zaroogian, addressing town councilors at the meeting Tuesday night.

Councilors echoed their concerns, passing three motions: To send a letter stating their opposition to the college’s proposal to open three gates, to set up a meeting between the council and the RIC vice president, and to instruct the town’s legal council to draft.

Meanwhile, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi says he is not thrilled by the expansion but hopes to keep all communication lines open.

“The college has been a great neighbor of ours in the town of North Providence. We want to work along with them but as long as it doesn’t as i stated before disrupt any peacefulness in the neighborhood,” said Mayor Lombardi.

Several Providence Councilors have voiced concerns with the project. They are still working out the details.