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Council delays $199,600 Bowman traffic-study contract after scope and timing concerns
Summary
The Department of Public Services recommended a not-to-exceed $199,600 contract with Bowman Consulting to study Newport’s traffic network. Councilors and residents questioned cost, summer-timing and geographic scope; the item was continued for more information.
The Newport City Council declined to finalize a $199,600 contract with Bowman Consulting to study the city’s traffic network and instead continued the item to clarify scope, timing and price comparisons.
The Department of Public Services presented the proposed transportation engineering contract, described in the agenda as a not-to-exceed $199,600 work order. Councilor questions focused on why the study would cost roughly $200,000 for an 11–13 street area, whether prior transportation master-plan work (completed in 2023) made some work redundant, and whether traffic counts should be taken during summer high-season conditions.
Residents urged a broader geographic scope. “I highly encourage the traffic study,” said Kendra Munter, who lives on Homer Street, asking the Council to study Memorial through Narragansett and to include summertime peak volumes. Mark Delgirdis, 40 Hammond Street, and other residents said changes such as the Dixon Street reversal have redistributed heavy traffic onto Hammond and adjacent streets.
Councilors and members of the public also urged the administration to pursue a procurement approach that gives the Council better ability to compare prices; Councilor Stephanie Smythe recommended “lowest price technically acceptable” as a model for future bids. City staff said the procurement used a state Master Price Agreement process for high-technical professional services, in which firms submit qualifications and the administration then negotiates price with the chosen, qualified firm.
After public comment and council discussion about scope (including suggestions to extend study boundaries toward Ruggles and other connectors) the Council voted to continue the item to obtain additional information on scope, summer timing, and comparative pricing.
Why it matters: Residents and councilors said localized street changes have produced a “domino effect” moving traffic into residential neighborhoods; a traffic study will inform future operational changes but must capture peak-season patterns to reflect worst-case conditions.
What’s next: The administration will return with clarified scope, timing for peak-season counts, funding options and pricing comparisons.
