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Council reviews five-state DOT project proposals including state maintenance facility and salt shed
Summary
DPW recommended five projects for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) planning cycle, led by a combined state maintenance facility and salt storage shed (placeholder estimate above $10 million), plus four road reconstruction/drainage projects on Ocean Avenue, Kunamus Road, Lakeside Drive and Mohegan Trail.
Jim, representing the town's DPW submission process, presented five candidate projects the town intends to place on the Rhode Island Department of Transportation's STIP list for the 2026–2035 planning period.
He described the top-priority project as a combined state maintenance facility and adjacent salt storage shed and said, "We're estimating that to be over $10,000,000, by the time it goes out to construction." Jim said DOT currently holds a draft plan that the town has not yet received and that the $10 million figure is a placeholder intended to ensure the project is queued for federal funding opportunities.
Council members pressed for more detail about scope and cost allocation. One council member asked whether housing previously discussed for the site remained part of the plan; Jim said he did not believe the housing component remained in DOT's current draft. Jim also said the building must comply with the town's historic-district standards because the site lies within the Historic District.
Jim summarized the four proposed roadway projects (all described as micro‑milling, overlay, reconstruction and drainage improvements, including shoulder work): Ocean Avenue (0.3 mile, projected $5,000,000), Kunamus Road (1.4 miles, projected $12,800,000), Lakeside Drive (about 1 mile, drains at six crossings, cost notated), and Mohegan Trail (0.9 mile, projected $4,600,000). He said the consultant developed cost estimates and that the maintenance-facility cost would be reduced in the application to encourage consideration.
Council members asked staff to pursue coordination with DOT, Pam Carter and the town manager to ensure the project remains a priority and to lobby for available funds; Jim said the town should continue to demonstrate community support and that adding the project to the TIP queue would not prevent the town from continuing to pursue other discussions with DOT.
