Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Newport, RI public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
11 issues in roads with high priority
Federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant funds
Newport and two other Aquidneck Island communities are finalizing a federal safety grant agreement, with five years and no extensions to complete roadway safety improvements. Design should start within months.
Bicycle-related ordinances
The Bike and Pedestrian Commission presented 20 proposed ordinance updates, including codifying the state's 16-year-old minimum age for e-bikes and deleting an unenforced bicycle licensing law. The council referred the package to administration for a formal recommendation.
Possible closure of Hazard Road to vehicles
Rumors that the city might close Hazard Road to traffic dominated the meeting. Councilor Carlin, Councilor Napolitano, and Mayor Holder (absent) all voiced opposition to closing the road, and the deputy city manager agreed closure should not be an option absent a public safety necessity.
Memorial Boulevard safety
A resolution asking RIDOT for another traffic study got continued after Ceglie detailed years of already-completed improvements and argued for specific fixes instead — narrowing, signals or parking changes rather than another study.
Cruise ship bus congestion at Perotti Park
Summer bridge traffic runs about 13,000 cars per day higher than the winter trough, and downtown is the most congested area in Rhode Island on summer weekends. Draft strategies include better parking management, seasonal car-free streets, and making the Pell Bridge intercept lot work with shuttles and transit connections.
Traffic Calming on Maple Avenue
After a resident gathered 30 neighbor signatures, the council approved four-way stops at Bedloe and Hillside to slow cut-through traffic and address flooding-related confusion at the intersection.
Evarts Street parking and pedestrian safety
Tandem driveways mean cars stacked nose-to-tail, and residents say overflow will flood a street that already has no sidewalk on one side. The board added conditions but asked the city to look at no-parking rules and a sidewalk.
Bannister's Wharf pedestrian safety
A state-approved signal and crosswalk at Bannister's Wharf won't be built until 2028, and the council formally demanded RIDOT speed it up after counts showed 500+ pedestrians crossing a four-lane road in a peak hour.
Narragansett Avenue sidewalks and Transportation Master Plan delivery
The city has $500,000 set aside and a $4 million federal grant, but can't use the local money as the grant match if it's spent first. Waiting means better scope but a year-long delay for residents walking in the street.
2026 Road Improvement Program
Nearly $2 million in road work is heading out to PJ Keating Company — the fix for the streets some residents say are falling apart.
Sidewalk and road infrastructure funding
The CIP cuts sidewalk money by $2M, but staff point to a $4M Safe Streets for All grant and $1M+ in operating funds. Councilors are frustrated that Newport has among the lowest tax rates in the state yet crumbling infrastructure — and one wants to tap second-home owners to close the gap.