Newport unveils Green & Complete Streets report; BPAC and staff prioritize nine streets for redesign

Planning staff presented Newport's first Green & Complete Streets annual report and described a new exception and scoring process to determine when full design standards should be applied or when an exception is warranted.

Hayden (planning staff) said the policy, in place since 2022, aims to ensure every transportation project serves all users and enhances the natural environment. The staff-developed evaluation form inventories existing roadway conditions and scores candidates out of 35 points; "a higher score indicates a greater need for Green Complete Streets design improvements," Hayden said. The scoring rubric was piloted on a list of 70 candidate roadways.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) reviewed the evaluations and voted with staff recommendations: nine streets were identified as priorities for advanced redesign requiring engineering and a public input process; roughly 28 streets were recommended for simple improvements such as inaccessible-sidewalk replacement; and 33 streets were recommended for exceptions with no design changes. Hayden listed the nine priority streets, including Narragansett Avenue, Ochre Point Avenue, Hillside Avenue, and Washington Street, and said staff will pursue funding to advance redesign work.

On state-controlled roads, Hayden explained the city will use the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and collaborate with state agencies where possible, but acknowledged the city has less direct control over state rights-of-way. Board members raised America's Cup and other high-profile corridors as examples where coordination with the state will be needed.

Hayden emphasized the green aspects of the work, including a technical-assistance grant that produced a tree-canopy analysis and an outreach program to provide trees to consenting homeowners on target streets. He also reported external recognition: "We received bronze status and are now one of about a little over 450 communities nationwide recognized as bicycle friendly communities again," Hayden said, adding the community expects to receive a BFC report card with actionable items to pursue silver status.

Funding context: staff and a board member reported a large Safe Streets for All grant had been secured for the island; Hayden said the island-wide award was about $19 million and that Newport's portion is roughly $4 million, which the board identified as a key funding source for improvements.

Next steps: staff will use the evaluation scores to prioritize candidate projects, pursue funding, and bring preliminary designs for high-priority roads to the three advisory commissions for public input as required under the policy.