This week, the staff of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) met with United States Representative Seth Magaziner and his team for a productive discussion on several important initiatives. The conversation covered the Bicycling in Kids’ Education (B.I.K.E) Act, Greenway improvements, and accessibility upgrades for Merino Park, reflecting our shared priorities and collaborative efforts.
B.I.K.E. Act and the Red Shed Bike Program
The B.I.K.E Act, sponsored by Representative Magaziner, aims to make in-school bike programs eligible for funding under Section 405 of the State Highway Safety Program. During our meeting, we delved into the details of this act, explored its origins, and discussed how Rhode Island’s Rhode 2 Bicycle Safety Program, led by WRWC Bicycle Education Director Donny Green, could serve as a nationwide model for bicycle safety and education. The B.I.K.E Act seeks to extend Highway Safety Grants to educational programs in elementary and secondary schools, targeting a reduction in non-motorized road user fatalities involving motor vehicles.
Heath Street Improvements
We also extended our gratitude to Representative Magaziner for his significant support of our Greenway Projects. He successfully directed $1,000,000 in federal funding towards the Heath Street improvement project. This project is vital for local residents and workers, as Heath Street connects Hartford Avenue to Merino Park but currently lacks infrastructure for non-motorized vehicles. The planned improvements will provide handicapped accessibility from Hartford Avenue to the Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
The Hartford Park Housing Development, located on Hartford Avenue, houses 1,275 residents, including many women, children, and elderly individuals, with 215 residents having disabilities. Currently, there is no accessible route from Hartford Park or Hartford Avenue into Merino Park. Heath Street, a narrow and poorly lit road adjacent to the highway, has no sidewalk and is separated from Route 6 by a chain-link fence overrun with poison ivy, invasive vegetation, and trash. Each spring, vegetation from the highway right-of-way encroaches onto Heath Street, forcing pedestrians and vehicles into a confined space as they access Merino Park.
Expanded Greenway Priorities
Our discussion also highlighted our shared vision for a fully connected Woonasquatucket Greenway multi-use trail. We reviewed ongoing work in North Providence, Johnston, and Smithfield and explored opportunities for linking the Greenway trail with the Blackstone River Greenway, Burrillville Bike Path, and other regional trails. WRWC Civil Engineer Mark Pereira emphasized the need for a state-level position dedicated to coordinating and connecting local and state agencies to enhance active transportation infrastructure.
We appreciate Representative Magaziner’s continued support and look forward to working together to advance these crucial projects.