Planning & Development
Moving Ahead With the Cranston Commuter Rail Station
The Cranston Commuter Rail Station project still has a pulse.
The area bounded by Elmwood Avenue, Park Avenue and Wellington has been eyed for conversion into a transit-oriented district. Although a commuter rail station is the most exciting component of the proposal, transit-oriented districts include a mix of residential and commercial developments that revolve around the easy access to public transportation.
The commuter rail station proposed for the district will likely remain small in comparison to the stations in Warwick and Providence, but the site is ideally located to incorporate some other form of public transportation, such as brt (Bus Rapid Transit) or light rail. A well designed, transit-oriented district can be an economic boon for a city. It also reduces sprawl and protects existing neighborhoods by concentrating stores and homes in a tight area, it can improve the character of a city by encouraging more pedestrians and reducing traffic, and ultimately help reduce sprawl.
An article in the Journal summarizes the status of the project.
As this project moves forward, I hope for three things: 1) That Mayor Fung and City Planning Director, Peter Lapolla, can keep the momentum of this project going. 2) That the project is planned in such a way that doesn’t sell the site’s potential short. ie: plans for the future. 3) And that the process remains as transparent and as democratic as possible, open to all business interests, and that it doesn’t become a pet project of any one well-connected party.
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Thursday April 14, 2011
The Convoluted Spiral That Is Cranston Planning
There was an Ordinance Committee meeting preceded by an Finance Committee meeting at Cranston City Hall last night. I know, why the hell would anyone go to that double-header? The masochists turned out in droves.
moreMonday March 28, 2011
Why Build High-Speed Rail in the Northeast?
This video makes a compelling case for the introduction of true high-speed rail to the Northeast Corridor. The Corridor’s $3 trillion economy, which is 20% of the nation’s total, is relying on infrastructure that’s hundreds of years old.
moreMonday October 11, 2010
The Warwick Commuter Rail Station Set To Open October 27
The commuter rail station at T.F. Green airport in Warwick is set to open on October 27. The building, called the InterLink, includes a parking garage, car rental facilities, a RIPTA bus stop and moving walkways that connect the station to the airport terminal. The tentative schedule calls for 3 commuter trains from Warwick in the morning, and 3 return trains. The details of the schedule are being finalized by RIDOT and the MBTA.
moreSunday July 18, 2010
Pontiac Bridge Closes
RIDOT will shut down the Pontiac Bridge on Monday. Yes, there actually is a bridge somewhere on Pontiac Avenue.
moreWednesday May 12, 2010
Thee Euston-Fairweather Registry of Hyper Links: Trashing the New Comp Plan Edition
Comp Planicide Amazing. After the years of work and workshops put into the city’s first true comprehensive plan by the Planning Department, the City Council has already changed it. Ward 2 Councilman Emilio Navarro amended the plan so that 75 acres owned by Albert Scaralia along Pippin Orchard Road could allow... more
Josh,
There was also an Op-ed piece in the Herald 2 weeks ago by Ken Filarski regarding the project.
— Rachel McNally · Feb 16, 08:06 PM · #
They are building something just past St. Matthew’s – where the old Wonderbread Thrift store was torn down recently.
At first I thought this could be the beginning of the rail project, or maybe a restaurant.
I tried to use my detective skills and think that maybe – sob – it’s going to be a self-storage building.
Looking for info to find out if I’m right or wrong, and how I hope I’m wrong!
— Anne · May 8, 11:22 AM · #
Hi Anne – I probably did the same thing you did… searched the Cranston City Hall web site for some clues about the new structure.
Sadly – I think you’re correct. It appears to be a three story self-storage building. It looks like they asked for a variance in order to get they height they needed.
If it’s true, then I have to say that it’s a very disappointing move by the city – and certainly not “transit-oriented.” I’m hoping that the structure was permitted because the TOD is actually going to set up further south in the Wellington industrial area.
— Josh · May 8, 02:21 PM · #