I-95 'Missing Move' and Quonset Ramps Construction - Linking an Important Freight Connector Away from Local Roads
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I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and
Quonset Ramps Construction
Linking an Important Freight Connector
Away from Local Roads
Basic Project Information
Field Name Response
What is the Project Name? I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and
Quonset Ramps Construction
Who is the Project Sponsor? Rhode Island Department of
Transportation (RIDOT) and
Quonset Development
Corporation (QDC)
Was an INFRA application for this project submitted previously? No
Project Costs
INFRA Request Amount $60 Million
Estimated Federal Funding (excl. INFRA) $20 Million
Estimated Non-Federal Funding Anticipated $20 Million
Future Eligible Project Cost $100 Million
(Sum of Previous Three Rows)
Previously Incurred Costs $0.46 Million
Project Cost (Sum of ‘Previously Incurred’ and ‘Future Eligible’) $100.46 Million
Are matching funds restricted to a specific project component? Yes
If so, which one? Component 2, The Quonset
Ramps
Project Eligibility
Approximately how much of the estimated future eligible project $100 Million
costs will be spent on components of the project currently located
on National Highway Freight Network (NHFN)?
Approximately how much of the estimated future eligible project $100 Million
costs will be spent on components of the project currently located
on the National Highway System (NHS)?
i
Approximately how much of the estimated future eligible project $0
costs will be spent on components constituting railway-highway
grade crossing or grade separation projects?
Approximately how much of the estimated future eligible project $0
costs will be spent on components constituting intermodal or
freight rail projects, or freight projects within the boundaries of a
public or private freight rail, water (including ports), or intermodal
facility?
Project Location
State(s) in which project is located Rhode Island
Small or large project Large
Urbanized Area in which project is located, if applicable Providence, RI-MA
Population of Urbanized Area 1,190,956 (2010 Census)
Is the project located (entirely or partially) in Federally designated No
community development zones?
Project Programming
Is the project current programmed in the:
• TIP? • Yes
• STIP? • Yes
• MPO Long-Range Transportation Plan? • Yes
• State Long-Range Transportation Plan? • Yes
• State Freight Plan? • Yes
Date of Submission
March 19, 2021
Contact Information
Peter Alviti, Jr., P.E., Director
Rhode Island Department of Transportation
peter.alviti@dot.ri.gov
Two Capitol Hill, Providence, RI
(401) 563-4000
ii
Dear INFRA Review Team:
In the past six years, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), has undergone a
sea change. It started with developing state-of-art project management practices and passage of
the landmark 2016 RhodeWorks law.
Since then RIDOT has committed time and resources to making unprecedented and accelerated
progress in repairing the state’s infrastructure, and now, despite the COVID-19 crisis, RIDOT
continues to work at a record pace to manage projects on-time and on-budget, providing
accelerated performance and great project outcomes.
For our Department, it’s not just about providing shovel-ready projects. With this INFRA grant
application we have developed a shovel-worthy project, one that will move freight in a straight-
forward, efficient manner to improve the lives of countless Rhode Islanders near this important
highway corridor at I-95 and Route 4 in East Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingstown, RI.
RIDOT received a $4 million BUILD planning grant last year to begin planning and engineering
studies to support the I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and Quonset Ramps Construction and determine its
environmental feasibility. FHWA-RI is now poised to concur with a categorical exclusion (CE)
for the project and preliminary engineering is underway.
RIDOT is partnering with the Quonset Development Corporation (QDC), which operates the
Quonset Business Park (QBP), to request $60 million in INFRA Grant funding support to construct
the final link in Rhode Island’s “missing move” between I-95 and RI-4. The continued prosperity
of QDC is largely dependent on the success of this project because the more than 200 industrial
and commercial businesses located in the Park, its 12,200 employees, and users of the Port of
Davisville, require a more direct connection to I-95 South. Located on former Navy base lands,
the Park is also disjointed by a connection of local roads that are not conducive to heavy truck
traffic. The ramps to the West Davisville district of the Park were not completed in the creation of
Route 403 in 2008, an area outlined in this application as a secondary project area.
This project encompasses RhodeWorks’ goals of improving public safety and stimulating
economic growth by connecting the entire state to an employment center that affords many good-
paying, often union, jobs. This project offers Rhode Island big-picture progress that will last long
after the end of the slated 10 years of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). It
also brings quiet and safety to people living in nearby affordable-housing, now on a heavy-truck
route, and leverages the federal investment INFRA provides with matching funds from our partner
and the state’s transportation funds, which includes truck-only tolling.
It is time to fully connect Quonset’s businesses and other travelers in the southern portion of the
state to Interstate 95. The state’s economic health and vitality depend on this INFRA award.
Sincerely,
Peter Alviti, Jr., PE
Director
iii
Table of Contents
Basic Project Information ................................................................................................................ i
Project Costs ................................................................................................................................ i
Project Eligibility ......................................................................................................................... i
Project Location .......................................................................................................................... ii
Project Programming .................................................................................................................. ii
Date of Submission ..................................................................................................................... ii
Contact Information .................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv
Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................ vii
I. Project Description ...................................................................................................................... 1
Project Summary......................................................................................................................... 1
Background ............................................................................................................................. 2
Project Goals ............................................................................................................................... 2
II. Project Location ......................................................................................................................... 3
Primary Project Location ............................................................................................................ 4
Secondary Project Location ........................................................................................................ 4
III. Project Parties ........................................................................................................................... 5
IV. Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of All Project Funding .......................................................... 5
Project Budget ............................................................................................................................. 5
Previously Incurred Expenses ................................................................................................. 5
Future Eligible Costs............................................................................................................... 5
Sources and Amount of Funds for Future Eligible Costs ....................................................... 5
Budget for Each Source of Funds ........................................................................................... 6
Contingency ............................................................................................................................ 6
Limit on Freight Rail, Port, and Intermodal Infrastructure ..................................................... 6
V. Merit Criteria.............................................................................................................................. 7
Criterion #1: Support for National or Regional Economic Vitality ............................................ 7
Job Creation ............................................................................................................................ 8
Support for American Industry ............................................................................................... 8
Criterion #2: Climate Change and Environmental Justice Impacts ............................................ 9
Criterion #3: Racial Equity and Barriers to Opportunity .......................................................... 10
iv
Identifying Minority and Low-Income Populations Within the Project Area ...................... 10
Potential Impacts on Minority and Low-Income Populations in the Project Area ............... 11
Criterion #4: Leveraging of Federal Funding ........................................................................... 11
Criterion #5: Potential for Innovation ....................................................................................... 11
Area #1: Deployment of Innovative Technology ................................................................. 11
Area #2: Project Delivery ..................................................................................................... 12
Area #3: Innovative Financing.............................................................................................. 13
Criterion #6: Performance and Accountability ......................................................................... 13
Key Accountability Metrics .................................................................................................. 14
Additional Considerations ........................................................................................................ 14
Project Readiness .................................................................................................................. 14
Freight Rating ....................................................................................................................... 14
Non-Motorized Multimodal Rating ...................................................................................... 14
Evaluation of Large Project Requirements ........................................................................... 15
Previous Awards ................................................................................................................... 15
VII. Project Readiness .................................................................................................................. 15
Technical Feasibility ................................................................................................................. 15
Engineering Design Studies and Activities........................................................................... 15
Development of Design Criteria and Basis of Design .......................................................... 15
Basis for the Cost Estimate ................................................................................................... 15
Project Scope and Statement of Work ...................................................................................... 15
Primary Project Area: The I-95, RI-2, and RI-4 Interchange ................................................... 16
Secondary Project Area: The Ramps on RI-403 and the Roundabout at West Davisville ... 18
Project Schedule........................................................................................................................ 20
Required Approvals .................................................................................................................. 20
Environmental Permits and Reviews .................................................................................... 20
Reviews, Approvals, and Permits by Other Agencies .......................................................... 21
Right-of-Way ........................................................................................................................ 21
Broad Public Support ............................................................................................................ 21
Required Approvals—Federal Transportation .......................................................................... 21
Assessment of Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies ............................................................ 22
X. Large/Small Project Requirements .......................................................................................... 22
v
Large Project Requirement #1: Economic, Mobility, and Safety Benefits............................... 22
Large Project Requirement #2: Cost Effectiveness .................................................................. 22
Large Project Requirement #3: Accomplishing the Goals in 23 U.S.C. § 150......................... 22
National Goal #1: Safety ....................................................................................................... 22
National Goal #2: Infrastructure Condition .......................................................................... 22
National Goal #3: Congestion Reduction ............................................................................. 22
National Goal #4: System Reliability ................................................................................... 23
National Goal #5: Freight Movement and Economic Vitality .............................................. 23
National Goal #6: Environmental Sustainability .................................................................. 23
National Goal #7: Reduced Project Delivery Delays ........................................................... 23
Large Project Requirement #4: Preliminary Engineering ......................................................... 24
Environmental Assessments ................................................................................................. 24
Utility Engineering................................................................................................................ 24
Traffic Studies ....................................................................................................................... 24
Financial Plans and Revenue Estimates ................................................................................ 25
General Estimates of Types and Quantities of Materials...................................................... 25
Other Work Needed to Establish Parameters of Final Design .............................................. 25
Large Project Requirement #5: Non-Federal Financial Commitments .................................... 25
Large Project Requirement #6: Completion Without Federal Funding .................................... 25
Large Project Requirement #7: Expected Construction Date ................................................... 25
Appendix A: Supplementary Graphics ............................................................................................ I
Appendix B: Supplementary Text ................................................................................................ III
Design Criteria .......................................................................................................................... III
vi
Table of Figures
Figure 1 -- Directional Sign at Division Street, East Greenwich .................................................... 1
Figure 2 -- RIDOT 2020 BUILD Planning Grant Application ....................................................... 2
Figure 3 -- Project Location Map Showing Impacted Towns......................................................... 4
Figure 4 -- Project Budget by Funding Source and Expenditure Type........................................... 6
Figure 5 -- Project Budget by Phase and Component ..................................................................... 6
Figure 6 -- Economic Impact of Quonset Development Corporation............................................. 7
Figure 7 -- Jobs Created by QDC ................................................................................................... 8
Figure 8 -- Building Futures Program ............................................................................................. 8
Figure 9 -- Sea Level Rise Projection by 2050 (7 feet SLR) .......................................................... 9
Figure 10 -- EV Charging Locations Near the Project Area ......................................................... 10
Figure 11 -- EJ Area Near the Project Limits ............................................................................... 10
Figure 12 -- Key EJ Demographics Near the Project Area ........................................................... 10
Figure 13 -- ITS Improvements, Primary Project Area ................................................................ 11
Figure 14 -- ITS Improvements, Secondary Project Area ............................................................ 12
Figure 15 -- Commercial Real Estate Growth Near RI-4 ............................................................. 12
Figure 16 -- Phase 1, RI-2 Improvements ..................................................................................... 16
Figure 17 -- Phase 1, RI-4 Ramps ................................................................................................. 16
Figure 18 -- Phase 2, RI-2 Improvements ..................................................................................... 16
Figure 19 -- Phase 2, RI-4 Ramps ................................................................................................. 17
Figure 20 -- Phase 3, RI-2 Improvements ..................................................................................... 17
Figure 21 -- Phase 3, RI-4 Ramps ................................................................................................. 17
Figure 22 -- Phase 1, RI-403 and Post Road ................................................................................. 18
Figure 23 -- Phase 1, RI-403 and West Davisville Road .............................................................. 18
Figure 24 -- Phase 2, RI-403 and Post Road ................................................................................. 18
Figure 25 -- Phase 2, RI-403 and West Davisville Road .............................................................. 19
Figure 26 -- Phase 3, RI-403 and Post Road ................................................................................. 19
Figure 27 -- Phase 3, RI-403 and West Davisville Road .............................................................. 19
Figure 28 -- Project Schedule ....................................................................................................... 20
Figure 29 -- Projection of Congestion Improvements, RI-403 ..................................................... 23
Figure 30 -- Status of Preliminary Engineering Activities ........................................................... 24
Exhibit A -- Detailed Project Map ................................................................................................... I
vii
Exhibit B -- Peak Hour Travel Time Improvements, Primary Project Area ................................... I
Exhibit C -- Top 10 Intersections in RI by Delay (INRIX Report Card) ........................................ I
Exhibit D -- 2056 Congestion Map, No Build Condition (Primary Project Area) ......................... II
Exhibit E --2056 Congestion Map, Preferred Alternative Condition (Primary Project Area) ...... III
viii
I. Project Description
Project Summary
There is an old joke about a New England tourist asking for
directions, who’s then told by a grizzled local wearing a flannel
shirt, “You can’t get there from here.” While we all know that
travelers can always get from point A to B, getting there in a safe,
logical manner isn’t always the case.
That’s been true for those in Rhode Island seeking a link between
the heavily traveled RI-4, where drivers literally have to go north
to head south on I-95, taking local roads that clog up with beach Figure 1 -- Directional Sign at Division
and truck traffic, shoppers and commuters. Street, East Greenwich
While the final stages of RI-4 were completed in 1988, in the 33 years since that ribbon-cutting
there has been much development in the southern portion of Rhode Island, and a great clamoring
for the “missing move” to be complete. One of the most significant developments is the 3,200-
acre QBP, which was connected to RI-4 via Route 403 (RI-403) when the highway was built in
2008. QBP is currently home to more than 200 businesses and 12,200 employees, and includes the
Port of Davisville, which continues to see year over year growth.
As such, this project will construct two important transportation connections that will improve the
movement of freight in Rhode Island:
1. Component 1, The Missing Move: Installation of two new highway ramps to
complete the movements between I-95 and RI-4. One ramp will use a new bridge to
link RI-4 North to I-95 South, and the other will link I-95 North to RI-4 South. To
accommodate these new structures, a small portion of I-95 will be shifted south, and
the existing ramp from RI-2 North to I-95 South will be removed. Intersection and ramp
improvements will also be installed to allow a single ramp to carry traffic to I-95 South
from RI-2 in both directions.
2. Component 2, The New Quonset Connector Ramps: Construction of three new
ramps along RI-403 in North Kingstown to connect the main portion of QBP to the
West Davisville District via limited-access highway. One ramp will link US-1/Post
Road to RI-403, and the other two will link to West Davisville Road. Component 2 will
also include construction of a roundabout just south of RI-403 at Compass Circle.
Nearly 300,000 vehicles circulate through the project areas on a daily basis, including commuters,
commercial freight operators, and a steady stream of tourists and beachgoers in the summer
months. To transform this critical freight corridor, RIDOT is requesting $60 Million in INFRA
Grant support against a total project cost of $100 Million for construction of the two project
components, which are linked by three miles of RI-4.
A key benefit of the “I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and Quonset Ramps Construction” project is that
although it provides a crucial interstate link, it is being built almost entirely on existing state-owned
right-of-way. The efficient preliminary design presented in this application resists falling into the
pattern of over-builds prominent in mid-century highway construction.
1Background
RIDOT designs, constructs, and maintains the state's surface transportation system. This includes
not only roads and bridges but also the state's rail stations, tolling program, bike paths and ferry
service. In 2016, RIDOT underwent a complete restructuring with passage of the sweeping
RhodeWorks legislation. As a result, RIDOT developed its first 10-year state transportation plan
and adopted unprecedented accountability measures. The $6 billion RhodeWorks program
provides for the planning, execution, management, and funding to bring Rhode Island's
infrastructure into a state of good repair within 10 years.
RIDOT received a $4 million BUILD planning grant last year to
begin planning and engineering studies to support the project and
determine its environmental feasibility. FHWA-RI is now poised
to concur with RIDOT’s determination that a categorical
exclusion (CE) is needed for the project and preliminary
engineering is underway.
Despite the COVID-19 crisis, RIDOT continues to work at a
record pace to manage projects on-time and on-budget, providing
accelerated performance and great project outcomes. The state’s
signature 2016 RhodeWorks law allows for truck-only tolling to
help fund Rhode Island’s 10-year Transportation Improvement
Program, with an asset-management based approach to upgrading
the state’s crumbling infrastructure.
Figure 2 -- RIDOT 2020 BUILD However, the most recent American Road & Transportation
Planning Grant Application Builders Association inventory still ranks Rhode Island 50th of all
states in bridge condition, and the state’s roads have yet to rank
above 45th in similar surveys.
Project Goals
RIDOT has chosen the I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and Quonset Ramps Construction project for its
FY2021 INFRA grant application because it aligns with USDOT’s key program objectives:
• Support for National or Regional Economic Vitality – I-95, RI-4 and RI-403 combine
to create an important freight corridor, and traffic flow improvements will facilitate
economic development with its direct link to one of the state’s largest employers. This
project creates a direct link to I-95 South for more than 63,000 vehicles that use RI-4 daily.
• Climate Change and Environmental Justice Impacts – Reducing congestion in this
corridor will eliminate transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions and other
pollutants. In addition, the new ramps will take heavy truck traffic away from local roads
near affordable housing units where families reside.
• Racial Equity and Barriers to Opportunity – QBP is home to over 12,200 full- and part-
time jobs, many of which are good-paying, manufacturing and union careers that do not
require a college degree. Providing transportation links for all Rhode Islanders to get to
one of the largest employment areas in the state is an important step to equal opportunity.
2• Leveraging of Federal Funding – QDC, a quasi-public state agency, is a partner in the
grant application and will contribute $2 million to the non-federal funding of the project
• Potential for Innovation - Broadband improvements, fiberoptic installation, other modern
ITS amenities, and a high-friction highway ramp are included in the project to improve
safety, modernize the transportation network, and help save lives.
In addition, the project will support economic competitiveness by improving access to growth
areas in the southern portion of the state. RI-4 is known as the “gateway to South County” a large
area of beaches, tourism and economic vibrance in addition to some of the most pristine wooded
and rural areas on the East Coast. The project will also incentivize the continued development of
the Quonset Business Park and Port of Davisville.
In addition to bringing this critical freight segment to a state of good repair with an improved
design, the project will include:
• Construction of two new highway ramps, completing the interchange linking RI-4 to I-95
• Intersection safety improvements along RI-2 in East Greenwich
• Construction of 3 new ramps linking the 2 districts of QBP via limited-access highway
• Installation of new guardrail, lighting, and striping throughout the project area
• Creation of new drainage systems, water quality basins, and treatment areas
• Intelligent Transportation Systems traffic monitoring for full corridor length
• Installation of fiber/broadband throughout corridor
II. Project Location
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United
States, running generally southwest-northeast through Rhode Island. South of Warwick, I-95 does
not follow U.S. Route 1 (US-1), which it generally replaced in New England. Instead, it takes a
shorter inland route, parallel to RI-3, and linking with RI-4, also known as the Colonel Rodman
Highway, a 10.37-mile-long numbered state highway located in Washington County and southern
Kent County, Rhode Island.
RI-4 is a major north–south freeway in the southern Providence metropolitan area, directly linking
Providence with eastern Washington County, home of the State’s largest economic generators -
QBP, and the beaches of Narragansett and South Kingstown.
It is also one of the primary routes for traffic in and out of the City of Newport, one of the state’s
most popular tourism and entertainment destinations.
RI-4 begins as a two-lane divided highway at an intersection with US-1 in the town of North
Kingstown, becoming a limited-access freeway after 1.89 miles. The route has four numbered
interchanges before terminating in the City of Warwick, where the northbound lanes merge into I-
95. The origins of RI-4 date back to 1952, when construction began on a short, unnumbered arterial
from US-1 to the modern location of Exit 3 at RI-2 and RI-102 in North Kingstown.
3In 1965, the Rhode Island Department of Public Works began work on a 5.4-mile freeway from
modern Exit 3 north to the merge with I-95. The freeway, designated as RI-4, was completed in
1972. The last improvements of RI-4 were completed in 1988, with connections between the (then-
named) Exits 3 and 5.
In its current configuration, there is no direct connection between RI-4 north and I-95 south, nor
between I-95 north and RI-4 south. This lack of movement between these major arterials poses a
transportation problem for southern Rhode Island, and especially for the truck and other traffic
supporting the over 200 businesses located within QBP.
Primary Project Location
The Primary Project Area includes the
entirety of the interchanges between I-95,
RI-2, and RI-4 in all directions. It includes
elements in the Town of East Greenwich,
and the Town of West Warwick, and the
City of Warwick. The project limits on RI-
4 are defined by the I-95 Interchange to the
north and the point at which realignment
would need to begin to the south, roughly
1,500 feet south of the Division Street
Bridge. On I-95, the project limits stretch
from approximately 2,500 feet north of the
existing ramp linking I-95 South and RI-4
South to the end of the ramp linking RI-2 to
I-95 South
Secondary Project Location
The Secondary Project Area is the eastern
end of RI-403, within the Quonset Business
Park, including RI-403’s connections to
West Davisville Road and Post Road. It is
located entirely within the Town of North
Kingstown. The limits on RI-403 span US-
1/Post Road to West Davisville Road.
Project Area 2 also includes the installation
Figure 3 -- Project Location Map Showing Impacted Towns
of a roundabout at the intersection of West
Davisville Road and Compass Circle.
RI-403 was completed in 2008 without the three deferred ramps that would have provided a direct
connection to the West Davisville district of the QBP and Post Road. Two ramps are located at the
West Davisville interchange (WD-C and WD-D) and one ramp at the US- 1/Post Road interchange
(Ramp C). As a result of the deferment, Park traffic between West Davisville and points east (US-
1, the Gateway retail district, the Port of Davisville, and the eastern parts of the Business Park)
must travel on Devil's Foot Road. This is the only remaining portion of the former local main road
carrying truck traffic to Quonset.
4III. Project Parties
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is the applicant and primary party
responsible for this project. RIDOT has extensive experience with federal grant processes and has
successfully leveraged federal assistance across range of major transportation infrastructure
projects, including 10 large discretionary grant awards in the past 5 years. RIDOT will be
responsible for administering the grant funds and managing the project, and contact information
is provided on both the Standard Form 424 application and the cover page of this project narrative.
QDC is co-applicant, providing both matching funds and supporting staff resources. QDC will
coordinate with RIDOT to monitor progress, review upcoming tasks and meet with RIDOT as
required to review progress, updates on milestones, and review planning outcomes.
IV. Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of All Project Funding
Project Budget
I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and Quonset Ramps Construction has an estimated future eligible cost of
$100 Million, including the cost of design, construction, soft costs, and contingencies. A portion
of the design cost will be supported by the $4 million BUILD Planning Grant RIDOT received to
support the planning and development of this project in 2020. This section provides a breakdown
of the project budget by funding category, phase, and component in Figures 4 and 5.
Previously Incurred Expenses
RIDOT has committed internal resources to this project since 2019. The professional consulting
firm Commonwealth Engineering has been engaged to support scoping and preliminary
engineering. To date, approximately $463,000 has been spent to support the project, with the
majority spent on scoping, preliminary design, and NEPA.
Future Eligible Costs
This project has an estimated future eligible cost of $100 million, including scoping, design,
construction, staff time, project closeout, and contingencies. The existing Rhode Island State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) shows $5.5 million to support the development of
this project in federal fiscal years (FFY) 2020 and 2021, including the $4 million BUILD Planning
grant awarded in September 2020, and the $0.1 million commitment from QDC. That funding is
for preliminary engineering, NEPA, and other expenses not included in the $100 million estimate
above. A rewrite of the STIP to cover the FFY 2022 to 2031 period is currently under development.
RIDOT expects to program $40 million in fiscal years 2022 to 2027, which would support the non-
INFRA funded portion of this project through design, construction, and closeout.
Sources and Amount of Funds for Future Eligible Costs
This project will be supported by a combination of INFRA ($60 million; 60%), other federal ($20
million; 20%), and non-federal funding ($20 million; 20%). Other federal funds will be derived
from annual formula funding. State funds will come from a combination of state funds and a $2
million contribution from QDC. As stated in Section X, this project will not be completed as
described in this application without INFRA grant support.
5Figure 4 -- Project Budget by Funding Source and Expenditure Type
Non-Federal INFRA Other Federal
Expenditure Type Total
Funding* Funding Funding^
Design $ 1.25 1.25% $ - 0.00% $ 5.00 5.00% $ 6.25 6.25%
Construction $ 15.75 15.75% $ 60.00 60.00% $ 3.00 3.00% $ 78.75 78.75%
Contingencies $ 2.50 2.50% $ - 0.00% $ 10.00 10.00% $ 12.50 12.50%
Closeout $ 0.50 0.50% $ - 0.00% $ 2.00 2.00% $ 2.50 2.50%
Total $ 20.00 20.00% $ 60.00 60.00% $ 20.00 20.00% $ 100.00 100%
* Includes $2.0 million from QDC to support construction
Budget for Each Source of Funds
Figure 4 shows a breakdown of anticipated project costs by funding and expenditure type, and
Figure 5 details the estimated project costs by phase and component. This project will be executed
under a design-build contract, so RIDOT will coordinate with the design-build team to identify the
most efficient way to deliver the project. Pursuant to the cost sharing requirements described in
Section C.2 of the NOFO, 60 percent ($60 million) of the project will be supported by INFRA
grant funding. The total federal share for the project will be 80 percent ($80 million).
Figure 5 -- Project Budget by Phase and Component
COMPONENT 1:
Design Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Closeout Total
The Missing Move
RI-2 Improvements $ 0.60 $ 6.47 $ 3.56 $ 1.21 $ 0.30 $ 12.14
Ramp: RI-4 N to I-95 S $ 3.00 $ 22.93 $ 11.45 $ 3.83 $ 0.60 $ 41.81
Ramp: I-95 N to RI-4 S $ 0.50 $ 5.93 $ 3.20 $ 1.03 $ 0.45 $ 11.11
Shifting I-95 S $ 1.00 $ 7.25 $ 4.50 $ 2.00 $ 0.60 $ 15.35
Subtotal $ 5.10 $ 42.58 $ 22.71 $ 8.07 $ 1.95 $ 80.41
COMPONENT 2:
Design Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Closeout Total
The Quonset Ramps
Ramp C (Post Rd) $ 0.30 $ 3.90 $ 1.80 $ 1.02 $ 0.10 $ 7.12
Ramp WD-C $ 0.25 $ 2.35 $ 1.35 $ 0.49 $ 0.15 $ 4.59
Ramp WD-D $ 0.30 $ 2.12 $ 1.35 $ 0.44 $ 0.15 $ 4.36
Roundabout $ 0.30 $ 1.92 $ 0.96 $ 0.19 $ 0.15 $ 3.52
Subtotal $ 1.15 $ 10.29 $ 5.46 $ 2.14 $ 0.55 $ 19.59
Total by Phase $ 6.25 $ 52.87 $ 28.17 $ 10.21 $ 2.50 $100.00
Contingency
As Figure 5 shows, the project budget includes $12.5 million for contingencies.
Limit on Freight Rail, Port, and Intermodal Infrastructure
No portion of this project is subject to the limit on freight rail port, and intermodal infrastructure
described in the INFRA program statute.
6V. Merit Criteria
Criterion #1: Support for National or Regional Economic Vitality
The biggest stakeholder in this grant
application is Quonset Development
Corporation (QDC), which operates the
Quonset Business Park. QBP is host to
more than 200 companies and more than
12,200 employees. QBP has seen steady
expansion over time, adding new
capabilities and state of the art facilities for
businesses to operate. This includes the
construction of new Flex Industrial spaces,
new offices, food industry operations, and
new manufacturing. These investments in
new construction and technologies have
supported the creation of thousands of new
jobs at QBP, which account for 4.5% of all
employment in Rhode Island, and 1/6th of Figure 6 -- Economic Impact of Quonset Development Corporation
all manufacturing jobs.
The Port of Davisville is located within the Park and was recently ranked in the top 10 in North
America for imports of finished automobiles for the 11th time in 12 years. There are nearly 150
acres of available development land in the Park as well as upland port terminal space, creating
unique opportunities for industrial growth, global shipping, and job creation.
Industrial users rely on the surface transportation network for their raw materials and finished
product as well as employee commuting. Cargo shipped in and out of the Port and Business Park
include submarine hull cylinders, finished automobiles, propane, lumber, food products, product
packaging, 3D printed objects, wind turbine components, and much more. Annually, 20 percent of
RIDOT’s permits for oversize/overweight vehicles are issued to trucks coming in and out of QBP.
Currently, QBP generates more than $4.27 billion in economic output annually, creating $1.28
billion in household income for Rhode Island families and over $128.8 million in tax revenue. It
is expected that the Park will continue to expand, bringing employment at the Park to 16,695
workers by 2030. QBP is a viable asset to the economic vitality of the State of Rhode Island,
contributing significantly to the state economy through direct employment and income creation.
In addition, the nearby area in the towns of North Kingstown and East Greenwich have
dramatically grown in the decades since RI-4 was built. In North Kingstown alone, commercial
development in that corridor has grown exponentially, adding nearly one million square feet of
new commercial real estate to local tax rolls since 1990. As the Park and the surrounding area
continue to grow, so do the potential benefits of this project.
The I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and Quonset Ramps Construction Project is among the “Projects of
Regional Significance” listed in the Rhode Island Long-Range Transportation Plan.
7Job Creation
Since 2005, Quonset Business Park (QBP) has created more than
4,000 jobs, and has supported 22,300 jobs in 2018, which
represents 4.5 percent of total employment based in Rhode Island.
The average wage at the Park is 19 percent higher than the average
wage statewide. QBP created $1.28 billion in income for Rhode
Island households in 2018, and workers employed by businesses
at the Quonset Business Park received $688.7 million in direct
earnings.
QBP still has about 300 acres of land and potential to expand its
activities and further contribute to the Rhode Island Economy by
creating jobs and stimulating the statewide economy via the
multiplier effect.
Support for American Industry Figure 7 -- Jobs Created by QDC
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 17.8 percent (81,000) of Rhode Island private
and public sector workers were union members in 2020. Among the 50 states, Rhode Island
reported the third highest union membership rate. Union members and workers whose jobs are
covered by a union or employee association contract 19.1 percent of Rhode Island’s wage and
salary workers, 7 percent higher than the national average.
Within QDC, more than 67 Ironworkers (Local 37) are employed in various vertical construction
projects at the park, and more will be added as part of work associated with this $100 million
project. Teamsters members at the Park include car haulers at NORAD Inc., and truck drivers
impacted by the roads in the area, include those employed by UPS, JF Moran and others. RIDOT
and its vendors have partnered with the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA)
to not just provide jobs, but help create long-lasting, good-paying careers in the construction field.
Highway contractors need a highly-skilled workforce to complete
RIDOT projects on time and budget. Journeyworkers at local
unions must be available for dispatch to accomplish these
important projects. On-the-job training of registered apprentices is
often the only way to produce new journeyworkers in these high-
demand occupations, and to do so, qualified registered apprentice
candidates are required. Under a program named RhodeWorks+,
RIDOT is currently seeking to expand its Highway Construction
Workforce Partnership (HCWP) pilot to proactively address
workforce development challenges under its partnership with the
community-based nonprofit Building Futures, which operates a
nationally recognized quality pre-apprenticeship program(s) for
underrepresented populations. RIDOT’s State Transportation
Employment Program (STEP), provides well-prepared diverse
candidates for Registered Apprenticeship employment in the Figure 8 -- Building Futures Program
OJT/SS program. RIDOT’s primary contractors are signatory to
8collective-bargaining agreements with the member unions of the Rhode Island Building &
Construction Trades Council (RIBCTC).
Criterion #2: Climate Change and Environmental Justice Impacts
Climate change is very apparent in the Ocean State. Annual average temperatures in Rhode Island
have gone up 3 degrees since 1900, and the state’s 21 coastal communities are now faced with the
ever-present risk of flooding, infrastructure and land loss as a result of rising seas. In addition,
climate change is threatening the state with stronger, more frequent storms including high-wind
and water events such as hurricanes. The corridor in this projects is an important hurricane
evacuation route for tens of thousands of people.
RIDOT has made great strides in the last few years developing an environmental resiliency tool
that will offer decision support and guidance for transportation asset managers, municipalities, and
targeted stakeholders who are working to effectively plan for a sustainable and resilient
transportation system in the face of rising seas and more frequent, and powerful storms. This now
statewide effort, dubbed RI TIDES (Transportation Infrastructure Decision and Evaluation
System), seeks to integrate products developed through three separate State agencies: the Division
of Statewide Planning (RIDSP), RIDOT, and Coastal Resources Management Council
(RICRMC).
RI TIDES builds upon ongoing resiliency
planning efforts at the state and municipal
levels, building on the University of Rhode
Island STORMTOOLS modeling system
and employed it into a GIS interface with
transportation asset management. The
modeling for this project area shows no
immediate climate risk in the project area at
the 50-year, 7 ft. sea-level rise. The state
continues to work through other
environmental challenges, including the
problem of greenhouse gas emissions,
where the transportation sector is
responsible for approximately 40% of the Figure 9 -- Sea Level Rise Projection by 2050 (7 feet SLR)
state’s pollutants.
In 2009, Rhode Island joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, along with 9 other states,
that has since matured into other programs. There is now a statewide mobility strategy that will
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and simultaneously promote accessible and affordable
transportation options for all Rhode Islanders, especially those in overburdened and underserved
communities, a roadmap known as the January, 2021 Clean Mobility and Transportation
Innovation Report.
In December 2020, the governors of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the mayor
of the District of Columbia, were the first in the country to launch the Transportation and Climate
Initiative Program (TCI-P), to cut greenhouse gas pollution from motor vehicles by an estimated
926% from 2022 to 2032. It includes a commitment to dedicate a minimum of 35% of each
jurisdiction’s proceeds — nearly $100 million each year — to ensure that communities
underserved by the transportation system and overburdened by pollution will benefit equitably
from clean transportation projects and programs.
Another RIDOT sustainability program Figure 10 -- EV Charging Locations Near the Project Area
under way is an electric vehicle charging-
station pilot, which has begun for free in
three locations in the state. National Grid
and RIDOT are testing the concept of
battery storage to supplant power from the
grid during peak hours with a charging
station plus battery-storage systems at
park-and-ride lots in Warwick and
Hopkinton. With funding, the effort is
likely to expand to a five-year program,
reaching facilities all around the state. The
plan works in conjunction with existing
private and public EV charging
infrastructure in the project area.
Criterion #3: Racial Equity and Barriers to Opportunity
Currently, commuters and freight traffic Figure 11 -- EJ Area Near the Project Limits
use Devil’s Foot Road to travel between the
west and east side of QBP. This project will
eliminate the thru traffic on Devil’s Foot
Road and provide direct access to the
freeway for the freight and commuter
traffic from the businesses and residents
near the project area. The new roundabout
at West Davisville Road and Compass
Circle will allow businesses in that area to
expand, bringing more jobs to North
Kingstown.
Identifying Minority and Low-Income Populations Within the Project Area
The project area is located within an Figure 12 -- Key EJ Demographics Near the Project Area
Environmental Justice (EJ) Zone according
to the RIDEM Environmental Resource Demographic %ile %ile
Project State USA
(0.5 mile buffer in in
Map, with an EJ Status of low income. The Area Avg Avg
from Project) State USA
project area has been identified in the People of Color 16% 27% 52% 39% 31%
EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Low Income 36% 28% 69% 33% 62%
and Mapping Tool. Figure 12 summarizes Linguistically
4% 6% 64% 4% 67%
the comparison of demographic indicators Isolated
between the project area, the state, and the
10country. The area of concern is Devil’s Foot Road, which is a residential road that houses
subsidized, low-income residents, many of whom have children who walk to school.
Potential Impacts on Minority and Low-Income Populations in the Project Area
The removal of additional commuter and freight traffic from the surrounding businesses will have
a long-term positive impact for the residents of Devil’s Foot Road, the last section of local roadway
to be used by truck traffic to-and-from Quonset, for both safety and quality of life.
The new roundabout will provide additional safety for the commuter traffic and large vehicles
going to and from this area. Although the roundabout will not have a direct impact on the residents
of Devil’s Foot Road, it will allow the businesses around West Davisville Road to expand and
provide additional job opportunities for the residents in the area. QBP has been steadily expanding,
and is expected to continue to grow, which will result in more traffic. If these ramps are not built,
there will be more traffic on local roads, magnifying the negative impacts to low-income residents.
Impacts during construction have been minimized to the extent possible. Notifications about the
project and changes in travel patterns will be available through different media for greater public
awareness and will be available in different translations.
Criterion #4: Leveraging of Federal Funding
The non-federal contributions to this project total 20 percent of the project budget. This project is
unique in that QDC funding, which is derived primarily from land leases and utility and Port user
fees, will offset a portion of the required state match, freeing up increasingly scarce state funds for
use on other projects and initiatives. QDC has pledged to contribute $2 million to this project.
Criterion #5: Potential for Innovation
Area #1: Deployment of Innovative Technology
There are opportunities for ITS improvements within the scope of the project. The I-95 and RI-4
interchange presents a great opportunity for new ITS equipment, laying the groundwork for
expanding fiberoptic communication.
• Two new CCTV Cameras located
in the median areas of I-95 to
monitor the ramps and vicinity
• Rehabilitation of Existing CCTV on
I-95 just north of the project limits
• Fiberoptic Infrastructure (conduits
and manholes) on the new ramps
• Multiple Hybrid Travel Time
(HTT) and Ground Mounted
Dynamic Messaging Signs (DMS)
to report current travel time to other
destinations to the public
Component 2 also has opportunities to
Figure 13 -- ITS Improvements, Primary Project Area
expand ITS, among them:
11• New CCTV Camera located
northwest of the Davisville Road
Exit to facilitate incident
management operations in the area.
• New DMS to allow road users
coming from the Quonset Business
Park to be notified
• Westbound Dynamic Messaging
Signs (DMS) southeast of
Davisville Road Exit to notify
drivers of any major traffic delays
in the area or on RI-4 ahead.
• Fiber Optic Infrastructure installed Figure 14 -- ITS Improvements, Secondary Project Area
using existing conduits and
Manholes along RI-403.
The proposed new ramps represent a
unique opportunity to connect these two
major roadways in a network and lay the
groundwork for future expansion of the
communication network in all directions.
All of these improvements will greatly
increase safety in the towns of North
Kingstown and East Greenwich, which
have dramatically grown in the decades
since RI-4 was built. In North Kingstown
alone, commercial development in that
corridor has grown exponentially, adding
nearly one million square feet of new
commercial real estate to local tax rolls Figure 15 -- Commercial Real Estate Growth Near RI-4
since 1990.
Area #2: Project Delivery
Innovative and efficient project delivery is possible because RIDOT will be utilizing a “design-
build” procurement process, using a single contract to support both design and construction work.
One entity, one contract, one unified flow of work from initial concept through completion has
been a tried-and-true method for successfully delivering transportation projects with superior
results for the past six years. RIDOT will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) encouraging
potential applicants to be as creative and innovative as possible in their proposals.
The proposed project stormwater management design will be in accordance with the current
Stormwater Management Design and Installation Rules (SMDIR), RIDOT Linear Stormwater
Manual (LSM) requirements, and The RIDOT/USDOJ/USEPA Consent Decree agreement.
In addition, in accordance with the SMDIR, a draft Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan
(SESCP) will be prepared to address soil disturbance and stormwater runoff during construction.
12The RI-403 Connector Freeway was constructed in 2008, prior to the implementation of the current
SMDIR and the RIDOT LSM. It included extended detention basins sized to provide stormwater
treatment for both the corridor proper as well as the future Post Road and West Davisville Road
ramps. The existing basins will be evaluated to determine if the current (as-built) basin conditions
meet the 2008 project treatment capacities, and also to assess their compliance with current
RIDEM/RIDOT stormwater management treatment requirements. Any basin capacity or treatment
type deficiencies relative to current standards shall be identified, and prospective modifications
necessary to achieve compliance will be included in the proposed project.
This project would also add a High Friction Surface Treatment to the new ramps to help save lives.
If this project is supported by INFRA grant funds, RIDOT will utilize concurrent permitting and
environmental review to accelerate project delivery. The design-build team will advance
concurrent review and approvals with the required regulatory agencies to ensure that permitting
milestones are met.
Area #3: Innovative Financing
This project is a Public Private Partnership (P3), financed with a combination of state, federal and
private funding sources. The commitment of funding from QDC will reduce reliance on state and
federal funding sources, freeing up state match funds for use on other projects in the STIP.
QDC is a quasi-state agency created by the RI General Assembly to develop and manage QBP and
the Port of Davisville. QDC’s operations are self-funded from land leases, utilities, and port
revenues. The funding contribution of QDC is not derived from tax revenue or highway revenue,
but from the lease of land owned by the State and from user fees. As stated in Section IV, QDC
has agreed to contribute $2 million to support the project.
Criterion #6: Performance and Accountability
Performance accountability is led by RIDOT’s Division of Project Management. Charged with
oversight and management of all projects from initial design through final completion, project
managers at RIDOT closely monitor schedules, coordinate permits and regulatory requirements,
and ensure that projects are completed on time, on budget and at the highest quality.
RIDOT issues a quarterly report to fulfill statutory requirements and to build the public's trust in
the Department by ensuring that it is accountable to the taxpayers of the State of Rhode Island.
RIDOT’s INFRA-funded project will be delivered on agreed-upon schedules, that will generate
clear, quantifiable results, and that will advance both USDOT and RhodeWorks goals. Once the
project has been advertised, its progress will be tracked in the Quarterly Report.
The lifecycle costs of this project are estimated and accounted for in the attached Benefit-Cost
Analysis (BCA.) This project will construct a mixture of new bridges, pavement, and signal
improvements. Each of these asset classes are regularly inspected, maintained, and preserved by
RIDOT’s Division of Highway and Bridge Maintenance. As described in RIDOT’s Transportation
Asset Management Plan (TAMP), regular inspections and preservation work will be used to
maximize all asset lifecycles.
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