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Local businesses to pilot employee shuttle from middle school to Pier to relieve summer parking
Summary
The Narragansett Chamber, working with two major businesses, will pilot a summer employee shuttle using middle‑school parking and school buses to reduce Pier parking pressure from June 21 through Sept. 1. Businesses will pay shuttle costs and the town’s school buses will be used under existing coverage.
The Narragansett Chamber of Commerce presented a summer parking relief pilot on April 21 that will shuttle employees from the middle school parking lot to the Pier and Pier‑area businesses to ease downtown parking demand.
Peg Fredette, executive director of the Narragansett Chamber, said Cedar and Steel Hospitality (represented by Brad Marceau) and the Coast Guard House (represented by Bob Leonard) are acting as anchor participants and will pay for buses and drivers. “This is independent of the town,” Fredette said, adding that the Chamber coordinated businesses and the school department to set routes and schedules.
Scope and schedule: The pilot will run June 21 through Sept. 1 without breaks, with initial runs timed to common shift changes (morning opening shift, afternoon 3–6 p.m., and late shift roughly 10 p.m.–1 a.m.). The plan uses the middle school as a staging/parking location and school buses to transport employees to and from Pier‑area employers.
Insurance and operations: Council members asked about liability and hours. The presenter said school buses participating are covered by the town’s existing insurance arrangements. The Chamber said participating employers will track ridership and that organizers plan to evaluate usage and costs after the season to determine whether to continue or expand the program.
Why it matters: The pilot aims to reduce on‑street congestion in Narragansett’s busiest summer district and provide a no‑cost option for employees who otherwise compete for limited parking. Organizers said results will inform whether the model can be expanded to other businesses.
Ending: Town staff and council thanked the Chamber and participating businesses for taking the lead and said they will monitor usage data in 2026 to decide whether to continue or expand the service.
