The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is reminding interested persons of three public hearings scheduled for tonight, Friday, July 27 for the purposes of soliciting comments on its Environmental Assessment (EA) for Toll Locations 3, 4 & 6 through 13 on I-95, I-195, I-295, US Route 6, and RI Route 146 in the towns of Warwick, Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston, Johnston, Cumberland, East Providence, Lincoln, and North Smithfield, Rhode Island. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), RIDOT earlier this month posted its EA for public comment.
The public hearings to receive public comment begin at 6 p.m. at the following locations:
Toll Gate High School, 575 Centerville Rd., Warwick, RI 02886
Mount Pleasant High School, 434 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI 02908
Central Falls High School, 24 Summer St., Central Falls, RI 02863
In addition to these meetings, to accommodate members of the public who may not be able to attend this evening, and to encourage maximum participation and transparency, RIDOT has added an additional set of public hearings for Tuesday, August 21 at 6 p.m. at the same three locations as tonight's hearings:
Toll Gate High School, 575 Centerville Rd., Warwick, RI 02886
Mount Pleasant High School, 434 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI 02908
Central Falls High School, 24 Summer St., Central Falls, RI 02863
Individuals may also submit written comments on the EA document by August 24, 2018.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has acknowledged that the Environmental Assessment can be made available for public comments. Following the public comment period and once the comments are incorporated into the report, the FHWA will examine it further to determine if a full Environmental Impact Statement is warranted or the report results in a finding of no significant impact.
Each toll functions independently and is associated with the reconstruction or replacement of specific bridges in accordance with the Rhode Island Bridge Replacement, Reconstruction, and Maintenance Fund state law known as RhodeWorks and consistent with requirements set forth in 23 C.F.R 129.
The Environmental Assessment has been posted on the RIDOT website and in public venues in public libraries and town halls close to the tolling locations. These towns are:
Attleboro, MA Burrillville Central Falls Coventry Cranston Cumberland East Greenwich East Providence Exeter Foster Glocester Jamestown Johnston Lincoln Middletown Newport N. Kingstown N. Providence N. Smithfield Pawtucket Portsmouth Providence Scituate Smithfield Uxbridge, MA Warwick West Greenwich West Warwick Woonsocket