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Council backs 1-way direction and asks administration to draft resident-sticker parking changes for upper Bridge Street
Summary
The council approved a resolution asking the administration to pursue making the upper portion of Bridge Street one-way westbound toward America's Cup and separately approved a resolution directing staff to draft an ordinance for 24-hour resident sticker parking on Bridge Street and Marsh Street (with process language).
The Newport City Council approved two related measures addressing traffic flow and parking on Bridge Street after hearing from residents who have asked for traffic-calming and resident parking protections.
Councilor Carlin introduced a resolution requesting the city designate the upper portion of Bridge Street as one-way (westbound toward America’s Cup Avenue). After correcting the directional language and a short procedural exchange about interdepartmental traffic-committee precedent, the council voted to instruct the city manager to take steps to prepare the necessary ordinance and traffic changes. Staff noted that America’s Cup Avenue is a state road and that coordination with RIDOT and affected landowners will be necessary.
A separate resolution asked the administration to implement 24-hour resident-sticker parking on Bridge Street (Washington Street to America’s Cup) and on Marsh Street. The resolution language included a “notwithstanding the ordinances” clause to accelerate action; the council debated precedent and the usual 65% resident-petition threshold for resident parking but ultimately approved the measure with direction to the administration. Councillors acknowledged that the Interdepartmental Traffic Commission (ITC) has taken similar requests under a local process in the past and that the city typically notifies abutting property owners and collects petitions for resident-designation requests.
Residents in the public record said they had been pursuing traffic and parking changes for years. Councilors asked staff to coordinate with police and the ITC, notify neighbors, and report back with the steps and any required traffic engineering or RIDOT coordination.
