January 4, 2023
Strategic Investments in City Infrastructure, Buildings, and Climate Resiliency
Today the Providence City Council approved Mayor Brett P. Smiley’s proposed FY24 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), outlining $132 million of infrastructure investments over the next two fiscal years that will improve the local quality-of-life of residents and help make Providence the best-run city in America.
“Each of these investments are a strong step forward in making Providence the best-run city,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “I want to thank the Providence City Council for their collaboration and support. Together, we have built a strategic plan to improve our city’s infrastructure and the quality of life we offer our residents.”
The newly approved FY24 Capital Improvement Plan outlines investments in key areas that were identified by residents and businesses in the Community Satisfaction Survey launched earlier this year. This CIP responds to those concerns by proposing $26 million in sidewalk repairs and improving ADA accessibility; over $61 million for road maintenance, street repair, and street resurfacing over the next five years; and $35 million per year for sewers and storm water management over the next five years. In total, this plan has $51,250,000 in proposed public works investments that add on to existing investments in sidewalks through the FY24 operating budget and $3 million in ARPA funding used to make repairs to the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier.
“The council is investing in quality of life measures for city residents,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “This year, improvements to parks, playgrounds, roadways, and sidewalks will immediately impact Providence neighborhoods. In the longer term, we’ve prioritized making much-needed upgrades and new investments for city buildings.”
Mayor Smiley believes that our public buildings must be welcoming and accessible to provide the best city services to our many residents and businesses. Through this CIP, $47,635,000 will go towards improvements to public safety structures, recreation centers, and publicly owned buildings. That includes $25.8 million in added funding for a new Public Works Complex to provide better services for our neighborhoods. These investments are further supplemented by infrastructure repairs included in this year’s operating budget.
Mayor Smiley also understands the incredible impact our public parks and greenspaces have on our neighborhoods. These spaces are used for learning, offer free summer meals, and support the physical and mental health of our residents. The proposed FY24 CIP would invest $15,380,000 in public parks, which would include repairs to all of our waterparks widely used by Providence families in summer months. These investments build on the $13 million the City has invested across 39 city parks and greenspaces over the last year and further investments allotted in the FY24 operating budget for Downtown Parks.
Through this Capital Improvement Plan, Mayor Smiley is also investing in street safety, accessibility and citywide climate resiliency. In the proposed FY24 CIP, there is $11,110,000 that would go towards matching federal funding initiatives like the Safe Streets for All Grant ($27.2 million grant; $6.8 million CIP match) and Woonasquatucket River Greenway enhancement ($6.1 million through various funding; $3.95 million City match).
The Capital Improvement Plan is a city document that outlines planned improvements to Providence’s public infrastructure over the course of five years. Mayor Smiley’s comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan identifies and prioritizes city projects to address the City’s long-term infrastructure needs. Many of the investments outlined in this proposed CIP are supported by investments in the City’s FY24 budget and those made using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding.