NK State Legislators Oppose Potential Loss of Park and Ride
The Park and Ride at Route 2 and 102 may be sold to CVS.
North Kingstown state legislators are speaking out against the potential loss of one of NK’s Park and Ride lots.
According to press releases from Rep. Doreen Costa, Rep. Robert Craven and Sen. James Sheehan, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is looking to sell the Park and Ride property located at the corner of Route 2 and 102.
For some time, there has been a proposal before the DOT to sell the property to CVS and move the parking area a quarter-mile up the road to another plot of land on Route 2. The sale between the two parties is currently pending. According to information relayed to both Sen. Sheehan and Rep. Craven, that land is no longer considered feasible as an alternate location for the Park and Ride.
“I really believe it is incumbent on the DOT to provide a new, free parking area in or near North Kingstown if the current free lot is taken away from our community’s commuters,” said Craven in a press release. “That would clearly be the fairest way to handle this. It does not seem at all fair that commuters have a free parking lot replaced with a pay lot.”
According to press releases from the legistlators, the DOT is now looking to send commuters to park at the MBTA parking garage at Wickford Junction – which charges $4 a day for parking.
“I have been working with the DOT and looking at every option available to ensure that free parking continues to be available to my constituents,” said Costa. “It is my goal to have DOT establish a new, free lot for commuters should the current property be sold.”
Additionally, Sen. Sheehan has written a letter to DOT Director Michael Lewis in hopes of finding an alternative site. According to Sheehan, for many of his constituents, the issue is not having to drive to another Park and Ride location (there’s another Park and Ride located farther up Route 2 over the East Greenwich line), but rather that the DOT would be forcing motorists to pay for parking, which is now free of charge at the current location.
Tired of Tired
7:28 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Another CVS? How many do we need? Why not see if Dunkin Donuts is interested and starht a bidding war. After all, a Dunkin there would mean I don't have to drive to the one all the way up at Home Depot. Here's a thought, why do we have the commuter lots in the first place? Answer: because people have to go out of state for employment. Instead of arguing about where another CVS, D&D or McDonalds should go, why not get some real jobs here.
nnwshe
11:19 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
yes!
John Eastman
7:41 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
All the displaced vehicles should park in the parking garage at the new train station and TAKE THE TRAIN to Providence instead of clogging up the highways.
RIPTA Rider
10:14 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
1) Vehicles at the Park and Ride are there because their owners are taking the bus or carpooling to Providence or other locations, already doing their part not to clog up the highways.
2) As the article explains, parking in the garage at the new train station costs $4.00 per day. Switching from the Park and Ride to the train station garage would cost commuters approximately $80.00 per month, compared to free. Hardly a good tradeoff!
3) MBTA runs 2 trips from Wickford Junction to Providence between 6:30 and 8:30 AM every workday. RIPTA runs 8 trips to Providence from the Rt. 2 & 102 Park & Ride in that same timeframe - much better service to commuters!
ooyl
9:05 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
yes it will be important to find another free park n ride lot if the sale were to go thru, but I have a bigger objection to clogging up the intersection with a business. if cvs wants to build a store, put it in the plaza across the street!
NK Parent
9:35 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
I agree. That intersection is already busy. Once again to the town council and developers ... Why building something new when there is already TONS of vacant space all over NK. Not to mention there is already a CVS less than 5 min. away.
How about wait until the predetermined new development at the other 102 and 2 intersection is finished at put a CVS there?
Kris G
9:51 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
There is already an approved site at the corner of Old Baptist and 102-- and many other places to put new businesses on Post Road and across the street from the existing park and ride without losing our free parking- the one the state just spend $$$ on... what a waste of tax dollars that would be legislators- Stay awake!
nnwshe
11:18 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
I agree with previous posts. When will people realize there is a cost to all taxpayers by NOT supporting public transit? When considering the true cost of eliminating the park and ride, figure in the additional cost to all of us for road maintenance/expansion, as well as the environmental impact.
Govstench
8:14 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Wickford Junction would be a good alternative site. The place looks abandoned every day. I don't see the gain with another CVS there. I don't suppose anyone has checked to see if a traffic study was performed there. That is a very busy intersection!!
Dave
9:09 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
The objective here is the save the foolishly overbuilt Wickford Junction railroad by making sure NK residents susidize that lot and therefore, don't have a free lot like every single other community in the state. Why is it that NK residents always get screwed? Thank you, Doreen Costa, Jim Sheehan and Bob Craven for fighting for the residents of your town.
Doreen Costa
9:57 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
STATE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE
AGENDA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013, AT 10:00 A.M. CONFERENCE
ROOM “C”
ONE CAPITOL HILL, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
The next scheduled meeting of the State Properties Committee will be
held on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.
ITEM E – Department of Transportation – A request for
reconsideration of the original Proposal Award for the Park-n-Ride lot
located at Routes 2 & 102 in the Town of North Kingstown. (Robert
Jackson to attend)
The Committee may move to go into Executive Session, pursuant to
Rhode Island General Law 42-46-5(a)(5) for the specific purpose of
discussion or consideration related to the acquisition or lease of real
property for public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held
property wherein advanced public information would be detrimental.
Samantha Turner
11:36 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Doreen,
Do you know if the State Properties Committee will be addressing this issue at its Jan. 29 meeting?
Doreen Costa
10:00 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
IF anyone has questions on this meeting feel free to contact me. I am going to do my best to be there. If I am unable to attend due to my work schedule I will be updated as soon as the meeting is over.
rep-costa@rilin.state.ri.us
vineyard vulture
11:59 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Why don't they sell this park and ride and expand the one that is 2 miles up the road at Rte 2 and Rte 4. Do we really need two park and rides in such close proximity? Clearing the land and paving the expansion would be minimal in cost and continue to provide free parking.
We R NK
2:36 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Thanks Doreen for all you are doing and especially for putting a sock in Dave's pie hole.
Politics Sheriff of NK
8:05 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
how rude, as usual. dave made a positive comment about all four rep's advocacy to keep the park and ride free. from your comments, I suggest that anything free/ripta/bus related would be up your alley. think.
chucklesinri
11:18 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Is public comment being taken at the STATE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE MEETING? Can comments be emailed? Any info on this would be useful.
Dave
7:13 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
We R NK, why the rudeness? I made a legitimate point. I noticed the Town Manager discussed this issue in last night's meeting, and was whining about someone saying the town was was subsidizing CVS. I never said that. I said, if the free lot were closed and not re-opened elsewhere, and residents were forced to park at Wicklford Junction rail, the town's residents were subsiding the railroad and the state, who bailed out the owner of the railroad. Either way, a bad deal for the people of NK. Seems pretty obvious.
We R NK
8:51 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
You and the Sheriff of Nottingham took 16 days to reply...really????? Delayed thought pattern or had to get your stories straight? LOL
Dave
7:54 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
we r nk, not everyone is trolling patch 24/7, LOL, some people have lives to live, and better things to do. Didn't see your rude gratuitous comment until yesterday.
We R NK
10:04 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
As you can see my comments are few and far between as well. In case you miss it I responded to your constant "rude" remarks on another story: "My comments are not rude however they are truthful and some people have a hard time distinguishing between the two. I do not mean to be offensive but if you are offended I do apologize. Please know that I am only calling it as I see it. Have a nice day.