RIDOT seeks to amend Rhode Island transportation program

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The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) would like to overhaul the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and recently submitted an amendment to the Transportation Advisory Committee for review.

The amendment includes 496 changes that RIDOT says will help the agency reach a 90-percent bridge-sufficiency rating by 2025 to meet state and federal mandates. The agency is currently on track to achieve that goal.

Among the changes is a 5.97 percent increase in spending to $358.71 million over ten years.

A previously submitted amendment revised 67 project budgets and schedules in the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) reducing funding from the current STIP of $12.8 million over ten years. The Pavement Capital Program was reduced by $61 million over ten years based on available funding sources.

The amendment also included $20 million a year over 10 years for a new bike and pedestrian infrastructure, more than double fiscal years 2013-2016 STIP.

STIP is a 10-year plan designed to replace 150 structurally deficient bridges and repair or rehabilitate an additional 500 bridges. RhodeWorks requires the plan to be updated annually.

Since being implemented in 2016, RIDOT’s RhodeWorks program has completed 84 projects. This construction season, 77 active construction projects are totaling $715 million.