Residents and councilors press for safer streets: data, complete-streets framework and a requested workshop

A resident and bicycle advocate told the council Monday that 2024 police crash records show more than 1,100 accidents citywide and urged the council to prioritize walking and cycling infrastructure.

Sean Clark, who gave an address on Morin Street, quoted Woonsocket Police Department numbers he said showed 1,118 accidents in 2024, including 25 pedestrians and 17 cyclists. He identified what he called the city's 10 most dangerous roads, listing Mendon Road at 116 crashes, Main Street at 103, Social Street at 95, Diamond Hill Road at 86 and other corridors. Clark urged the council to "rethink our city's circulation" and called for bike lanes, signage, speed cameras and a workshop to plan changes. "By a huge margin, cars cause over a thousand accidents in our 8 square mile city annually," he said.

Councilwoman Fox provided an update on the council's interest in a green and complete streets policy. She said she has met with advocates and policy experts at Rhode Island AARP, PVD Streets and Grow Smart Rhode Island and referenced similar frameworks adopted in Providence and Newport. Fox said the framework under discussion could include speed or red-light cameras and using revenue from enforcement to fund pedestrian and cycling improvements. She urged residents to contact the council and the mayor's office and said the council had discussed holding a work session or community meeting but had not yet set a date.

Council members and staff did not adopt any new regulations at the meeting; Councilwoman Fox and the resident both urged a community process and a date for a work session. No formal motion to adopt a complete-streets policy was made at the meeting.