Join us to begin the long-term organizing work that will be required to transform Allens Avenue into a road that is safe for all people to travel. This traffic safety and public realm investments effort will complement and engage with other environmental justice activism surrounding the Port of Providence. 

Allens Avenue is the most toxic and polluted stretch of roadway in Rhode Island. It's also a straight, flat, direct route connecting South Providence, Washington Park, and the Pawtuxet Village area in Cranston to downtown, so it's highly used by all kinds of travelers.

For years now, South Providence environmental justice and neighborhood groups like the People's Port Authority and Washington Park Association (join them! follow them!) have been working to stop new fossil fuel and dump developments at the Port of Providence, to quantify the health impacts – particularly astronomical childhood asthma rates –  from the industry and heavy truck traffic in the area, and put forth legislation aimed to give the community more control over what gets built there. All of this is covered in the City of Providence's Climate Justice Plan, which the Providence Streets Coalition endorses and supports.

Allens Ave / Narragansett Blvd is also included in the City's Great Streets Plan, where it is recommended that the existing painted bike lanes are upgraded to a protected, two-way urban trail with ADA-compliant sidewalks and crosswalks, as well as safety improvements regarding the in-ground train tracks. Because Allens Ave is a state-owned road, all of that will require RIDOT's support and funding.

The last road safety assessment of Allens Ave was conducted by RIDOT in 2017 and has ample recommendations that have not yet been funded or implemented. It's time for the health and safety of South Providence residents to be prioritized.  Building a cleaner Allens Ave and Port of Providence that responds to the needs of the communities it neighbors is crucial for the future of Providence.