The Town of Bristol is hosting a “Thames Street as a Shared Street” Design public workshop on November 9, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, in -person at the Bristol Maritime Center, located at 127 Thames Street, Bristol, RI.
As part of its overall Bristol Bicycle Network Project, funded by a grant from the RIDEM Bikeways Program, the Town of Bristol has been studying ways to improve overall safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and vehicles, and foster economic growth in downtown Bristol. We are studying ways to create a more bicycle friendly downtown as a first step in an overall bicycle network throughout Town.
In earlier phases of the project, the project team proposed Thames Street as a shared street. A shared street is a roadway designed for slow travel speeds where pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists all share the right of way.
As part of this phase of the study, we are exploring design options for improvements for Thames Street to become a shared street.
The primary goals of the project are to:
- Create conditions for safer pedestrian and bicycle travel
- Slow vehicular speeds and reduce “cut-through” vehicular traffic
- Service resident, customer, visitor, and delivery traffic to the area
- Create everyday spaces and places where residents and visitors can gather, sit, and enjoy the commercial and scenic waterfront area
- Enhance connectivity to/from key spaces and destinations such as the entrances to East Bay Bike Path, Independence Park, State Street Dock, Rockwell Park, Prudence Island Ferry Terminal, and Fireman’s Memorial Park
- Create zones for community events and gatherings where sections of street may be temporarily closed and made into pedestrian/limited vehicular areas.
The project team has created several potential design options for improvements that meet these goals, including changes to pavement materials, curb modification, enhanced gateways, street furniture, wayfinding signs, and enhanced landscape features, including landscaping that addresses coastal resiliency.
We invite you to come to an in-person workshop where the project team will present these design options and be available to hear your feedback.
If you can’t attend in person to participate, the presentation portion of the event will be simultaneously broadcast on Zoom for VIEWING ONLY.
To view the live presentation on Zoom, please visit zoom.com and type in the meeting code: 86822467500.
Please be advised that the link to the virtual meeting will allow viewing only and will not allow for public participation. However, we welcome you to join us in person for feedback, or email us via the project website where you can also learn more about the project.
For questions, please contact:
Diane M. Williamson
Director of Community Development
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 401-253-7000 ext. 126
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you!