R.I. DOT Director Alviti resigning amid criticism over Washington Bridge closure

[KCasiglio]

R.I. DOT Director Alviti resigning amid criticism over Washington Bridge closure - The Boston Globe

Governor McKee, who is seeking reelection in 2026, said Alviti will resign effective Feb. 27, and his administration will conduct a nationwide search for a successor.

www.bostonglobe.com

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., who has faced heavy criticism over the closure of the Washington Bridge westbound, is resigning, Governor Daniel J. McKee announced Wednesday.

McKee, a Democrat seeking reelection in 2026, said he has accepted Alviti’s resignation, which is effective Feb. 27, and his administration will conduct a nationwide search for a new director.

Robert Rocchio, chief engineer for infrastructure at the Department of Transportation, will serve as interim director.

[...]

Alviti, 75, was named Department of Transportation director in 2015 by former governor Gina M. Raimondo

 

[Stlin]

Rather overdue, but also kinda comes off as falling on the sword here - the washington bridge issue is such a big deal locally, and will remain so over the next couple of years until the replacement is finished. He was never going to escape it. The statehouse isn't blameless either - RIDOT suffers from endemic under investment.

 

[DBM]

Rather overdue, but also kinda comes off as falling on the sword here - the washington bridge issue is such a big deal locally, and will remain so over the next couple of years until the replacement is finished. He was never going to escape it. The statehouse isn't blameless either - RIDOT suffers from endemic under investment.

In an ideal world, McKee doesn't win reelection, and a whole new, far more dynamic regime is ushered-in that takes the I-195 bridge fiasco as a catalyst for exploring ways to improve West Bay/East Bay connectivity, period.

RI will always be cleaved by 'Gansett Bay--that's integral to its charm, beauty, identity. But for all of its advantages and picturesque beauty, it does remain an obstacle that impedes interconnectivity and thus economic growth, I'd argue.

To put it in the concrete terms: Downtown E. Greenwich and Downtown Bristol are both great little economic hubs in terms of restaurant/retail districts. They're only nine miles apart as the crow flies. But the cleavage caused by the Bay is formidable-no matter which way you drive, either south through Newport or up through PVD, it's 45 minutes. Taking a RIPTA bus? Please.

So... should there be more to be done on this front than merely repairing the I-195 bridge?

 

[Stlin]

In an ideal world, McKee doesn't win reelection, and a whole new, far more dynamic regime is ushered-in that takes the I-195 bridge fiasco as a catalyst for exploring ways to improve West Bay/East Bay connectivity, period.

RI will always be cleaved by 'Gansett Bay--that's integral to its charm, beauty, identity. But for all of its advantages and picturesque beauty, it does remain an obstacle that impedes interconnectivity and thus economic growth, I'd argue.

To put it in the concrete terms: Downtown E. Greenwich and Downtown Bristol are both great little economic hubs in terms of restaurant/retail districts. They're only nine miles apart as the crow flies. But the cleavage caused by the Bay is formidable-no matter which way you drive, either south through Newport or up through PVD, it's 45 minutes. Taking a RIPTA bus? Please.

So... should there be more to be done on this front than merely repairing the I-195 bridge?

Specifically related to E. Greenwich & Bristol... I kinda doubt that they're suffering economically for want of a connection to each other - their alignment to Providence and more major economic engines are well established. Perhaps a seasonal ferry wouldn't be the worst idea to test demand on that route, perhaps using the Prudence Island boat, but I'm skeptical. I admit East Bay is somewhat isolated from West Bay... but my experience of RI is that no one is too bothered by that. Its that their alignment and commute into Providence is throughly screwed up that's driving the anger. I do think we need more connections across the rivers to East Providence, though. Reasonable pitches: local traffic bridge reconnecting waterman, where the bridge used to be before they built henderson as an expressway bridge, cable ferry from Pawtuxet to Riverside. (crazy pitch is a dinky reactivating the east side tunnel, rebuilding the seekonk river bridge, using the Providence & Bristol route.)

In many ways, like many rural/suburban areas, I think that relative isolation is seen as a feature, not a bug - and rhodies don't really want to go that far? As the saying goes, a 15 minute drive is too far, and that extends to the western half of the state that doesn't suffer from the geography of the bay... I grew up in Lincoln RI, still own my dad's house there, and I legitimately don't think I've ever been to Glocester or Foster - we didn't go to Seekonk stores because thats 20 minutes away and way too far - we would only go to Attleboro or the Lincoln Mall.

 

[DBM]

I grew up in Lincoln RI, still own my dad's house there, and I legitimately don't think I've ever been to Glocester or Foster - we didn't go to Seekonk stores because thats 20 minutes away and way too far - we would only go to Attleboro or the Lincoln Mall.

No doubt a substantial portion of your apathy growing-up stemmed from being raised in AMICA-Ville--your friendly corporate overlords there discouraging the glimpsing of any horizons they didn't control.