No effect on Charlestown since we have no sidewalks
After a request of Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi
and Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty, the Department of Transportation is accepting
applications from restaurants to allow them to use sidewalks on state roads
outside their establishments for outdoor dining space so they can better serve
customers while complying with new social distance requirements.
“Our goal is to allow this for a short term to provide
our business community the opportunity to catch up on some of the lost
opportunities they have suffered over these last seven weeks, and calm some
fears over the uncertainty of the future,” said Representative Tanzi (D-Dist.
34, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
“While we realize this will not make any of our entrepreneurs whole, we do know that every creative opportunity we can provide offers hope for them to stay afloat.”
“While we realize this will not make any of our entrepreneurs whole, we do know that every creative opportunity we can provide offers hope for them to stay afloat.”
Restaurants that wish to submit an application can find
it on the front page of DOT’s website, dot.ri.gov. Approved applicants must also get local approval and comply with
certain conditions, which include maintaining pedestrian rights of way that
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The approval will expire when
the new limits on indoor restaurant dining put in place to prevent the spread
of COVID-19 are lifted.
The legislators had made the request for specific roads in their district on behalf of the businesses there, and urged the DOT to adopt a statewide policy on all low-speed, two-lane roads.
The original request also sought to allow the use of
on-street parking spaces as well, for retail establishments as well as
restaurants. While DOT’s application allows only restaurants to use sidewalk
space, it does also allow restaurants to apply for extra on-street parking in
areas where it is not normally allowed, if they are already using their own
parking lots for outdoor dining.
The representatives hope the application could be expanded to retail establishments if possible later in the reopening plan to help those businesses recoup some of their losses as well.
The representatives hope the application could be expanded to retail establishments if possible later in the reopening plan to help those businesses recoup some of their losses as well.
“We recognize that this is an extraordinary
request, but this is an extraordinary time. We are very grateful to the DOT’s
willingness to respond with flexibility, because helping local businesses
comply with new space requirements will help them stay afloat during a very
challenging time. Virtually every local business needs help right now. Efforts
like this will make a difference to what our Main Streets look like on the
other side of this,” said Representative Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown).