PAWTUCKET DOWNTOWN DESIGN PLAN FINAL ... - VHB.com

STATUS AND IMPLEMENTATION Projects
NEXT STEPS AND IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES
The next steps can be read more directly in the project lists on the previous
pages, but the following are more general directions for immediate projects that
can begin.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
East Avenue Extension is the low-hanging fruit with the biggest impact of the
three proposed street improvement projects. The portion of Exchange Street
will also be accomplished shortly as it is currently funded. Of the mediumterm
projects, Main Street is the biggest priority for moving in downtown and
Pleasant Street connecting to Pawtucket and East Avenues has the biggest
potential for impacting how people get to downtown. These are both critical
conversions. Main Street between Church and Mineral Spring Avenue is a short
and simple segment that could be accomplished easily as well. Broadway will
be the most difficult as it is a state maintained segment. The most important
goal of all of the turnpike segments is opening one way to two way traffic.
Any segments that can be modified will have am important impact on the
functionality and thus the perception of downtown Pawtucket.
PARKING
The low-hanging fruit for the “P”arking project are the signage and tree
planting strategies, as these are inexpensive, can be organized by the city,
and incremental. Making the parking zone change on Roosevelt Avenue is
also simple and does not require funding along with the proposed regulatory
change of decreasing parking requirements for commercial use development.
The parking enforcement will take greater city coordination, but could be
begun in small designated areas, specifically on Main Street and near Tolman
High School and can later be expanded with greater infrastructure. The
permeable paving replacement will happen more slowly and through attrition.
TRANSIT
The most immediate project that can help begin the bicycle network was
developed prior to the PDDP-- the temporary bike striping between the end
of the Blackstone Valley Bikeway and the Blackstone Boulevard bike network.
The bicycle lanes included as part of the Exchange Street improvement
will add to this network and can be further extended by striping the bike
circulators. The city may be able to find supportive private partners show can
help fund these amenities, such as local child or sport-oriented businesses.
THe next steps will involve coordinating with RIPTA and RIDOT n the upcoming
transit initiative so the MBTA stop and Rapid Bus line. Their integration will be
key to the longer-term success of the downtown systems.
STREETSCAPE AND PEDESTRIAN
SYSTEMS
The current streetscaping project organized by PADS and the Pawtucket
Foundation can have an immediate visual impact on Main Street by replacing
banners and providing planters with plantings and a few of benches. The larger
pedestrians systems will come through the upcoming street improvement
projects, Exchange Street in the Armory District and East Avenue Extension
being the first two in the pipeline.
LANDSCAPE
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The most immediate potential for the landscape plan for the PDDP is the
opening of public space in the Bridge Park East, as it already has funding,
PDDP STATUS & IMPLEMENTATION