Wickford Junction Bicycle Path Assessment

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Wickford Junction Bicycle Path Assessment

• Rachel Kwok and Michael Dema
• Center for Environmental Studies
• Brown University
• November 12, 2009

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Project Description

• Assessed the need and feasibility of bike/ped
  infrastructures in Wickford area
• Analyzed and compared multiple alternatives and
  their impacts
• Identified challenges and costs and made
  recommendations accordingly

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Current Needs and Goals

• To provide a transit option in the Wickford
  Junction area
• To provide a recreational facility in North
  Kingstown
• To promote a healthy lifestyle

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Wickfords Opportunities

• Fulfillment of state and local objectives for
  transportation planning
• Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
• RI Greenways Plan
• RI Greenhouse Gas Action Plan
• RI Ground Transportation Plan 2020
• Town of North Kingstown Comprehensive Plan 5 Year
  Update, July 2001

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Alternatives Considered

• Alternative 1 Shared-use Class II bikelane on
  Route 102 (Ten Rod Road)
• Alternative 2 Construction of Class I greenway
  through Cocumscussoc State Park
• Alternative 3 Conversion of old Newport and
  Wickford rail ROW into Class I multiuse greenway

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Alternative 1 Blue.. Alternative 2
Yellow. Alternative 3 Red
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Alternative 1
Wetlands
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Alternative 2
Too dangerous!
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Preferred Alternative 3

• Safest
• Most cost effective
• Logistically feasible
• Successful precedents for conversion of rail
  lines into trails

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Land Use Existing Conditions

• Old rail ROW is approximately 80ft. wide and 2.5
  miles in length.
• Presently, an undeveloped trail exists on the
  rail bed.
• The ROW has been broken up into parcels, some of
  which are privately owned.
• Zonings are village residential (VR), open space
  (OS), and general business (GB).

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Parcels Along the ROW
Segment 2
Segment 1
Segment 3
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Path Design Segment 1

• Wickford Junction to Lafayette Road (entrance to
  Ryan Park-North Kingstown Town Forest)
• Most of the land is owned by North Kingstown
• Purchase of one parcel is necessary
• An overpass over the tracks is needed to approach
  the proposed rail stations platform on the west
  side

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Path Design Segment 2

• Lafayette Road to Tower Hill Road
• Purchase of 2 parcels or easements
• Chief concern around Belleville Maintenance
  Facility
• Per consultants findings, path should follow ROW
  with construction of retaining wall adjacent to
  salt facility

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Path Design Segment 3

• Tower Hill Road to Updike Avenue
• Purchase of five parcels or easements is
  necessary
• Chief concern is crossing Tower Hill Rd. and
  deviating path from Wickford Lumber
• The construction of an overpass through parcel
  86-104 is recommended

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Natural Resource Impacts
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Social Impacts
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Estimated Costs

• Est. purchase cost of land needed from eight
  aforementioned parcels is 114,000
• Est. construction cost for 12ft. wide, 2.5mi.
  asphalt path is 500,000-900,000
• Est. annual maintenance costs is 16,000
• Unfortunately, no national average data are
  available for overpass construction

Calculated from national averages
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Future Actions

• Increase public awareness of the project
• Gain community approval
• Acquisition of property/easements
• Obtain funding
• Consider possible connections with existing and
  future bike paths

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Our Vision