Newport unveils draft city‑center revitalization plan, emphasizes 'couplet' design and phased implementation

Newport city officials and their consultants presented a draft City Center Revitalization Plan during a joint work session, detailing five goals — an active mix of uses, safe and efficient traffic flow with managed parking, a clean welcoming appearance, planned property development and targeted infrastructure investment — and recommending a phased implementation that includes design‑code updates, streetscape changes and housing studies.

The plan places heavy emphasis on a one‑way couplet design for U.S. 101 through the central business district. Jim Henke, a consultant on the project, described the tradeoffs in pedestrian and vehicular performance between the couplet and a conventional two‑way configuration: the couplet reduces pedestrian‑vehicle conflict points and shortens crossing distances, he said, noting an approximate 24‑foot curb‑to‑curb crossing on the couplet (an estimated 6–7 seconds for a healthy adult) compared with about 56 feet (about 16 seconds) for the two‑way option. Transportation staff member David said a traffic analysis for the couplet was included in the 2022 Transportation System Plan and that the couplet produced “some slight improvement in highway operation,” but the corridor is still expected to experience congestion in the future.

Why it matters: Consultants and staff framed the plan as a multi‑year program intended to change the character of downtown Newport — making the 101 corridor and adjacent streets more walkable and attractive to residents, visitors and developers — while recognizing the need to phase work, secure funding and coordinate with state…