The plan is meant to improve the city’s streets for drivers, pedestrians and bikers.

PROVIDENCE — The Providence Department of Planning and Development on Wednesday unveiled a draft plan of its “Providence Great Streets Initiative,” meant to improve the city’s streets for drivers, pedestrians and bikers.

“Primarily we’re talking about making streets safe for people of all ages and all abilities,” said Martina Haggerty, director of special projects for the Planning Department. “We want to make sure that everyone in the city can get to the places that they need to go, safely.”

The plan includes a range of proposals, from major projects such as the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project to smaller improvements that can be folded into regular road maintenance, such as the creation of protected bike lanes.

One of the goals of the initiative is to create “urban trails” that connect every neighborhood and are easily accessible to people traveling on foot, or via bike or scooter.

“We want to create a cohesive network that blankets the city,” Haggerty said.

The plan, which was developed with community input, is meant to guide city staff over the course of several years on how to maintain and improve aspects of Providence’s streets. It also contains policy recommendations, such as updating laws to improve traffic and make travel easier for people using alternative modes of transportation, as well as program proposals, such as bicycle-safety education for youth.

Haggerty said the department did not yet have a ballpark figure for how much the full plan would cost, but some aspects of it are underway. Construction on parts of City Walk, a $2-million initiative to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessibility throughout the city, is scheduled to begin this fall.

The plan is also designed to make getting around the city easier for Providence residents who don’t have a car, and help save families money on transportation expenses.

Citywide, 19 percent of households have no access to a car, according to the planning department. Of those households with no car, 40 percent are in Upper South Providence and 42 percent are in Olneyville.

— mlist@providencejournal.com

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