The George Redman Linear Park on the Washington Bridge’s eastbound side is a hidden gem in Rhode Island, offering stunning views of the surrounding area. However, despite the beauty of this park, recent rankings from U.S. News and World Report have placed Rhode Island at the bottom of the list when it comes to transportation.
The ranking takes into account four key factors: commute times, road quality, bridge quality, and public transportation usage. Rhode Island ranks 28th out of 50 states for commute times, with the average commute time for Rhode Islanders who do not work from home being 25.4 minutes.
When it comes to road quality, Rhode Island fares even worse, ranking 49th out of 50 states. This is based on federal Department of Transportation highway statistics from 2022, which assess the percentage of evaluated road miles considered to be in poor condition.
In terms of bridge quality, Rhode Island ranks 47th, but there is hope for improvement in the coming years. The percentage of bridges considered structurally deficient has decreased from 15.4% to 14.1% since March 2023, and RIDOT is working towards reducing this number further.
On a more positive note, Rhode Island ranks 18th for public transit usage, based on the average number of miles per resident traveled via public transit in a year. This ranking reflects the state’s efforts to provide accessible and efficient public transportation options for its residents.
While Rhode Island may have some work to do in improving its transportation infrastructure, initiatives like the RI Ready Municipal Road Fund Program and the RhodeWorks program are steps in the right direction towards creating a more efficient and reliable transportation system for all Rhode Islanders.