Newport’s City Council is looking at ways to calm traffic on Admiral Kalbfus Road, including adding bike lanes and limiting truck access, after residents voiced concerns about safety and increased traffic.
City officials and residents met at Pell Elementary School for a Council Workshop on Wednesday, October 2 to discuss potential changes to the busy street, which has seen big truck traffic jump 38% since 2017.
City Manager Colin Kennedy outlined a plan to shrink driving lanes from 11 to 10 feet and add 5-foot bike lanes with a small buffer. The proposal also aims to redirect larger trucks to other routes.
“Narrowing those lanes by just a foot would trigger a state Traffic Commission review, leading to weight limits on Admiral Kalbfus Boulevard for trucks class seven and up,” Kennedy explained.
Residents back the changes but want quick action.
“We moved here seven years ago, and traffic wasn’t too bad then. Now my porch and windowsills are covered in soot, and my lungs are suffering,” said Alice Johnson, who lives on Admiral Kalbfus Road.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has already given the green light to several updates, including new traffic signals, “no turn on red” signs, and speed feedback displays.
Councilor Mark Aramli strongly supports the proposal. “We have a solution that fits our policy. Right now, one neighborhood is shouldering the burden of an entire island’s goods and services traffic,” he said.
Some council members, though, urge caution.
“I’m not against this plan, but it’s not finished yet,” said Councilor Charlie Holder. “We need to make sure we do this right.”
The council may vote on a resolution as soon as Oct. 23, pending talks with Middletown and more input from RIDOT on how to put the plan into action.
Watch The Workshop
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Newport City Council to host workshop on Admiral Kalbfus Road traffic calming
