FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2020
CONTACT
Diane Williamson, AICP – Director of Community Development
Town of Bristol, RI
401-253-7000 x 126
[email protected]
Bristol, RI– The Town of Bristol has launched efforts to design and establish the Bristol Bicycle Connector, a series of improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities to connect the southern terminus of the East Bay Bike Path with the southern area of Bristol for safer and more efficient commuting and recreation.
For the past several years, the Town of Bristol has been exploring options to enhance connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians in town. A focus has been on the connection from the Roger Williams University campus to the East Bay Bike Path and downtown Bristol to expand opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to commute and further integrate with the community and spur economic growth for downtown businesses.
“We are very excited about the opportunity for a potential bicycle path to connect the end of the East Bay Bike Path to the southern part of Bristol. There are many benefits for the residents, including an increased opportunity for more active recreation.” said Diane Williamson, Director of Community Development.
The Town has convened a Steering Committee to help guide the planning process and build consensus for the preferred design concept. In June, the Town selected the consultant team of Fuss & O’Neill and Toole Design to assist the Town with the Connector’s design. During August and September 2020, the team will conduct an alternatives analysis to evaluate potential routes and engage with the public to assess the routes and make recommendations for a preferred alternative. Once selected, the Town will move forward to complete the design and permitting of the chosen route.
Members of the public can participate in the process in several ways:
- Presentations and workshops will take place on Zoom, and links to all meetings will be on the Bristol Bicycle Connector website. The following events are currently scheduled:
- Town Council presentation of Route Alternatives on 8/19/20 – 7 pm
- Community Workshop to discuss Route Alternatives on 8/25/20 – 7 pm (Zoom Invite)
- Town Council presentation of prioritized Route Alternatives on 9/9/20 – 7 pm
- Community Workshop to discuss prioritized Route Alternatives on 9/16/20 – 7 pm
- Presentation to Town Council on 9/30/20 – 7 pm
The study is funded by a grant from the 2018 Green Economy Bond of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. The program supports communities improving facilities for cycling and recreation. The Town of Bristol has no local match for this study.
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