- Final Report - Broadway Streetscape & Traffic Calming Improvements Project
- Summary Response to Public Comments from the October 1, 2009 Meeting [PDF].
- Summary Response to Public Comments from the April 26, 2010 Meeting [PDF].
- Full Project Area Engineering Plan (April 2010 Update)
- April 2010 Engineering Update (3 Pages)
- Photos - Existing Street Amenities
- Photos - Proposed Street Amenities
- Photos - Additional Amenities & Lighting
- Photos - Signage
- Photos - Special Paving & Bump-Outs
- Photos - Street Trees & Plantings
- Rendering - Broadway at Marlborough Street
- Rendering - Broadway - Equality Park West Intersection.
- Rendering - Bus Shelter
- Rendering - Curb Bump-Out at 7-Eleven
- Rendering - View North from Washington Square
- Rendering - Widened Sidewalk with Café Seating
PLANS, PHOTOS, & RENDERINGS FROM THE APRIL 26 PUBLIC MEETING [PDF]:
PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to develop conceptual plans and studies to amplify with the City’s vision for the Broadway commercial corridor.
Through an active public participation process, including meetings with City officials, local elected officials, the City’s newly-formed Advisory Committee, local abutters and meetings with the general public, the programmatic design process will produce a context-sensitive design solution addressing concerns of all stake holders.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Broadway is a major north-south urban arterial that introduces southbound travelers to the City. The roadway primarily has one lane in each direction, with on-street parking on both sides. Within the project limits the adjacent land uses are primarily commercial in the south and a mix of commercial and institutional toward the north.
Major landmarks in the project locus include: Newport City Hall, Thompson Middle School, St. Joseph’s Church, First Presbyterian Church, Newport Police Department, Equality Park, and Congdon Park.
The varied character and varied adjacent land uses of the roadway will be important influences during design development. As a first step in initiating the public discussion, a Broadway Planning Charrette was conducted in 2004 by the City of Newport and the Newport County Chamber of Commerce. The Charrette participants identified several problem areas and recommended physical and functional improvements in the areas of lighting, sidewalk improvements, parking, traffic calming, and pedestrian crossings.
A primary outcome was that design elements must be sensitive to the roadway context, function, and primary use.
Concurrently or coordinated with the proposed repaving, the City desires to implement some of the Charrette recommendations to improve the Broadway corridor through targeted streetscape and traffic calming improvements including:
- Improvements for enhanced pedestrian safety at existing crosswalk locations
- Alternatives to maximize on-street parking capacity
- Sidewalk amenities including decorative paving, street furniture, and plantings at optimal locations
- Replacement/augmentation of cobra head lighting with historic pedestrian-scale fixtures
- Reconfiguration of sidewalk, parking, and travel lanes on Broadway between Equality Park Place and Caleb Earl Street to improve safety and reduce pedestrian crossing distances
- Potential conversion of Broadway to one-way traffic flow southbound between Marlborough Street and Farewell Street
MOVING FORWARD
Over the past few months, the project initiation tasks included field walks and meetings with local City officials and the Steering Committee and the preparation of alternative proposals. Based on these preliminary discussions and the general character of this roadway, it was decided to separate Broadway into three distinct sections.
The first was the section of lower Broadway, which begins at our southern limit at Washington Square and proceeds northerly past the Marlborough Street Intersection to City Hall.
The second section continues northerly to Caleb Earl Street. The third section that ends at Cranston Avenue involves possible roadway realignment, Traffic Calming, improved pedestrian movement, park expansion and the creation of a northern Gateway concept.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!
A Public Informational meeting for the Broadway Streetscape project was held on October 1, 2009. A short presentation was made to describe the various options under consideration and offered the community an opportunity to provide input.
These plans are now on the City website and may be viewed by clicking the links below.
As described previously, the Broadway Corridor study area has been divided into 3 zones for analysis and recommendations. Several design options are provided for each.
Lower Broadway: Washington Square to Marlborough Street
Commercial/Municipal Zone: Marlborough Street to Caleb Earl Street
Park Zone: Caleb Earl Street to Cranston Avenue
Special Area Study: Everett Street/Broadway
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Special Alt A
Special Alt B
