Newport’s proposed $98.5 million bond for infrastructure improvements in its neighborhoods cleared a hurdle Tuesday, with the House of Representatives’ passage of legislation to put the bond question before voters in November.
The bill (2024-H 8086), sponsored by Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), now goes to the Senate.
“Our city will benefit tremendously from the projects to be included in the bond proposal, particularly in terms of increasing the resilience of the infrastructure at some of the places that make Newport the special place that it is,” said Representative Carson.
The legislation authorizes the city to ask voters in November’s election to approve up to $98.5 million in general obligation bonds to finance eight projects in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan:
- $47 million for a new location for the cramped City Yard and Utilities Offices, some of which has been displaced by the new Pell Bridge ramps.
- $5 million for the renovation or demolition of the vacant, city-owned James L. Maher Center on Hillside Avenue.
- $12 for Easton’s Beach, including demolition of the carousel and snack bar buildings, and the start of replenishment of eroded sand.
- $10 million to remove the soil stockpiled from the construction of the new Rogers High School construction project and the remediation of the Harrison Avenue landfill. The fill from the high school project was originally planned for use at the former landfill, but was deemed too silty.
- $5 million to replace the Harbormaster building at Perrotti Park, and add public restrooms.
- $2.5 million as the city’s match for a grant from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to repair the seawall and make other improvements at King Park to prevent flooding.
- $5 million for the city’s share of the repairs to Cliff Walk.
- $12 million to replace the Perrotti Park bulkhead.