Rhode Island § 24-16-2 - Safe Access to Public Roads

§ 24-16-2. Complete street design.

(a) When the state of Rhode Island constructs or modifies roads and highways, the relevant department must consider complete street design features that facilitate safe travel by all users that expands upon currently accepted state and federal design requirements to accommodate all users, including current and projected users, particularly pedestrians, bicyclists and individuals of all ages and mobility capabilities. These features of complete street design shall include, but not be limited to, sidewalks, paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists, lane striping, bicycle lanes, share the road signage, “road diets,” roundabouts, crosswalks, pedestrian control signalization, bus pull outs, curb cuts, raised crosswalks and ramps and traffic calming measures.

(b) Exceptions to subsection (a) of this section shall be permissible only after the agency with jurisdiction over the project, fully demonstrates with supporting documentation which shall be available to the public, that one of the following exists:

(1) Use by bicyclists and pedestrians is prohibited by law, such as within interstate highway corridors; or

(2) The cost would be disproportionate to the need as determined by factors including, but not limited to, the following: (i) Land use context; (ii) Current and projected traffic volumes including non-motorized traffic; and (iii) population density; or

(3) Demonstrated lack of need as determined by factors, including, but not limited to: (i) Land use; (ii) Current and projected traffic volumes including non-motorized traffic; and (iii) population density.