With the growth of congestion in the I-95 and Route 1/Route 4 corridors, Rhode Island Department of Transportation and state and local transportation officials have sought to extend Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail service south from Boston and Providence to Wickford Junction in North Kingstown as part of the South County Commuter Rail project.  Future extension of the commuter rail service southward to Westerly is under consideration.

To assist the South County communities in preparing for growth that could accompany commuter rail service introduction, the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program entered into a cooperative agreement with the Town of North Kingstown on behalf of the Washington County Regional Planning Council to undertake a study of the potential for transit-oriented development (TOD) at Wickford Junction and other potential stations in the region.  The Washington County Transit-Oriented Development Planning Strategy was conducted by Pare Engineering Corporation for the Town of North Kingstown.  The report provides an overview of proposed commuter rail service, assesses development potential within a critical 10 minute drive time of Wickford Junction Station, addresses transit-oriented and transit supportive development and considers its suitability for Washington County villages adjacent to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, and presents management strategies that can promote smart growth concepts.

Washington County Transit-Oriented Development Planning Strategy: Assessment of Growth Potential, September 2005.

South County Commuter Rail: An Opportunity to Shape Regional Growth, June 1, 2005 PowerPoint Presentation by Pare Engineering Corp.

South County Commuter Rail: Environmental Assessment, by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration, February 2003.

If you should have any questions regarding this project please feel free to contact    Linsey Cameron, Principal Planner at 294-3331, Extension 312