A MOTION TO APPROVE a contract between the Town of Narragansett and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for participation in the RI Ready Municipal Road and Bridge Program and AUTHORIZE the Town Manager, Finance Director and Solicitor to sign the contract for this project that will apply approximately $1.5 million to preventative road maintenance and minor restoration to forty-eight (48) Town roads.
On October 11, 2023, the Finance Director, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, with help from other departments, submitted the application for the RI Ready Municipal Road and Bridge Program for a 1/3 match from the State for general road maintenance consisting of Crack Sealing, Chip Sealing and minimal asphalt mill and overlay.
The Town of Narragansett has been approved for $502,272.00 grant from the RI Ready Municipal Road and Bridge Fund program. This works out to be a thirty-three (33) % match to the total road projects cost of $ 1,522,039.00. The Town of Narragansett would be responsible for a match of $1,019,763.00, which would be funded by the Department of Public Works pavement management operating budget. This would afford the Town the opportunity to address issues with forty-eight (48) roads in the Town over the next two (2) years.
The RI Ready Municipal Road Fund Program was passed by the General Assembly in Governor McKee’s FY24 Budget, making $20 million in matching funds available for projects on locally maintained city and town roads which account for roughly 80% of the total miles of roads in the Ocean State. The Program’s 2:1 matching formula aims to leverage $60 million for needed road and bridge repairs across the state. Since it launched in August 2023, all 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island have submitted project applications, with $16.5 million in state funds committed to date.
Funding will be available in the Pubic Works Capital Projects Account # 00200710 57002, Pavement Management for 67% of the project. The remainder 33% of the project will be reimbursed by RIDOT, utilizing State RhodeRestore funds.