North Main Street Task Force | Regular Meeting | February 11th, 2026 | 5:30pm

February 11, 2026

Call to Order and Roll Call

13:32 - 16:58

Chair Sue Edouard called the North Main Street Task Force meeting to order and conducted a roll call of members. Task force members and staff introduced themselves and their affiliations for the benefit of online viewers.

Resignation of Rachel Peterson

16:58 - 18:28

The task force discussed and voted to accept the resignation of member Rachel Peterson, who recently relocated. This formal vote was required before a new neighborhood representative, Arjuna, could be officially added to the committee.

Lighting and Progress Updates

18:28 - 26:02

Kyle provided an update on the completed lighting project along the North Burial Ground and University Marketplace, noting that punch list items will be finished in the spring. Chair Edouard also shared updates regarding potential economic development discussions, public art at the Rochambeau Gate, and development interest in a vacant lot.

Road Safety Audit (RSA) Updates

26:02 - 45:29

Sean Raymond from RIDOT presented updates on outstanding RSA items, including upcoming striping improvements, signal timing modifications, and potential mid-block crossings. The task force also discussed parking utilization, ADA compliance, and challenges related to winter snow removal on sidewalks and bus stops.

Longer-Term Planning Processes

45:29 - 47:07

Chair Edouard provided a brief update on the longer-term State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funding process, noting that bids have been received and are currently under review. The task force expressed optimism about moving forward with these plans by the next meeting.

State Legislative Updates

47:07 - 50:08

The task force discussed ongoing efforts to recommend state legislative changes regarding red light cameras and traffic enforcement. Chair Edouard highlighted collaboration with the municipal court and noted that further updates would be shared at the next meeting.

Discussion Regarding Branch Avenue

50:08 - 01:11:04

Councilmen Peterson and Royas joined the meeting to discuss pedestrian safety concerns and recent traffic fatalities on Branch Avenue. The task force explored using their successful model to implement safety improvements, conduct a road safety audit, and address lighting issues on Branch Avenue.

Public Comment

01:11:04 - 01:38:26

Members of the public, including representatives from the Providence Streets Coalition and Blue RI, shared feedback on traffic calming, snow removal, and tree canopy ordinances. Speakers advocated for municipal sidewalk snow clearance, additional tree plantings, and community-led traffic calming grants.

Speaker 0

13:32 - 13:37

Whenever you're ready. You're with lunch. Oh, good. Okay. Awesome.

Speaker 0

13:37 - 13:51

I'm gonna do the same. Awesome. So yes. We're working both for you. So so I'm Sue Edouard, chair of the North Main Street Task Force.

Speaker 0

13:51 - 14:01

I'm bringing a regular meeting to order for February 11. It is now five three. Would you mind me calling the role? Chair Anuwa. I'm present.

Speaker 0

14:01 - 14:02

Vice chair McGeegan.

Speaker 1

14:02 - 14:03

Present.

Speaker 0

14:03 - 14:08

Lieutenant Brown. Present. Marisa Lopes is absent. Peter Farinha. Camaro.

Speaker 2

14:08 - 14:08

I'm here.

Speaker 0

14:11 - 14:19

Thomas Badway is not here. Sarah Ingle is absent. Jessica Lance. Here. Nate Urso.

Speaker 3

14:19 - 14:20

Here.

Speaker 0

14:20 - 14:21

Sean Raymond.

Speaker 4

14:21 - 14:22

Here.

Speaker 0

14:22 - 14:27

Rosie Jaswell? Here. We have eight present and three absent. We have four. Awesome.

Speaker 0

14:28 - 14:50

One thing that I like to do for these meetings, which you might remember, is for us to go around and say our names because a few people have flagged that they do watch these online, which is great. Thank you for watching these online, they can't read our name tags from afar. So if we could just say our names around the circle and our affiliation, that would be awesome. So I'm Sue Andrew. I'm the board three council member and chair of this task force.

Speaker 0

14:50 - 14:52

I'll be down a little to the left.

Speaker 4

14:52 - 14:55

Bill Brown, on speed. Sean Raymond, rider, officer safety.

Speaker 0

14:56 - 14:58

Jess Lance, planning and development.

Speaker 5

14:58 - 15:02

This is Archnai Ramanicham. I'm a resident of the neighborhood.

Speaker 6

15:02 - 15:04

Leonela Fila, single council.

Speaker 2

15:04 - 15:08

Peter Fairer from Sandwichad. Kyle, the battle city council.

Speaker 0

15:09 - 15:13

Chris Ecklapaldi, assistant clerk. Adrian Costa, clerk liaison.

Speaker 7

15:14 - 15:17

Neder Soh, province DPW traffic engineering.

Speaker 0

15:18 - 15:22

Hi. I'm Leslie Jaswell. I'm the Green and Complete Streets Advisory Council representative.

Speaker 8

15:23 - 15:27

Jenny Pagan. I'm the vice chair of the task force and representing the Portland Streets Coefficient.

Speaker 9

15:27 - 15:30

Awesome. Thank you. I also wanna acknowledge

Speaker 0

15:31 - 15:43

and everyone just introduce themselves, but welcome to the committee. Yay. We're so legendary here. And also acknowledge Claire, our lovely clerk who's been with us the whole time, has retired. And I really miss her so much.

Speaker 0

15:43 - 15:55

And also, I'm so excited for the new folks joining us. So just wanted to acknowledge Claire and her many years of service with the city. And she retired the calendar year. So we already miss her. Hello.

Speaker 0

15:56 - 16:01

When you come back. Let me know if I'm just the time or No. Whenever you come is the perfect time.

Speaker 9

16:01 - 16:01

Okay.

Speaker 0

16:01 - 16:06

I have a guest appearance by Councilman Sam. I know. Just Catherine Boys and Councilman Peterson. Perfect. Okay.

Speaker 0

16:06 - 16:15

Whenever you guys are ready, just make sure. Sounds good. Yeah. So quick rundown on the agenda. We're gonna discuss new task force member.

Speaker 0

16:15 - 16:42

Yay. We're gonna talk about some updates, some progress updates, particularly around lighting and close out of that, and the RSA updates from mister Raymond. And then just a quick update on some longer term planning processes for your review, state legislative updates, and then a discussion about Branch Avenue. That is what councilman Peterson and councilman Royce will join us for, so we might end up taking the agenda a little bit out of order. So I'll just ask for that.

Speaker 0

16:42 - 16:57

There's another committee happening at the exact same time right now, but they have both gone. So when they have some time to pop out, they're gonna come in. That was unintentional double scheduling, but it is there's always gonna be nice in the week. So here we are. Can we please read item number one into the agenda?

Speaker 0

16:58 - 17:19

Any items in the record? Discussion in full accepting the resignation of task force member Rachel Peterson. Awesome. So Rachel had to resign from the task force because she's moved, and she didn't submit a letter of resignation, which normally would we could just accept. But we talked with Claire, talked with legal, so I'm looking at Leo just in case.

Speaker 0

17:21 - 17:31

Yes. We can still accept her resignation, but we have to do a via a vote of this committee before we can add a new member. So can I please have a motion to accept the resignation of Rachel Peterson?

Speaker 8

17:31 - 17:33

Motion to accept the resignation of Rachel Peterson.

Speaker 0

17:33 - 17:36

Do I have a second? Second. Next question. All in favor? Aye.

Speaker 0

17:36 - 17:57

Aye. Opposed? I think we're at six. Yep. If you can come at any time, we'll move

Speaker 10

17:57 - 17:59

you around. We're about to start. If you text me

Speaker 0

17:59 - 18:11

when you're at five Yes. Is up. Perfect. You're okay. Arjuna will be joining us as our neighborhood representative on the task force, so thank you for being willing to do so.

Speaker 0

18:11 - 18:28

And I'd invite her join today even though she can't she's not voting that very yet, but we'll add her via an update from the to the council, which the one that we have to go through. Cool. Can you please read item two of the agenda or into the record? Sorry. Agree.

Speaker 0

18:28 - 18:33

Lighting and other progress updates. Awesome. Kyle, do you wanna give the update on lighting?

Speaker 2

18:34 - 19:04

Yes. Chairwoman and members of the North Main Street task force. As you guys know, last year, we undertook a project that started off the path from a recommendation from the RSA as a short term media actionable plan. Councilwoman, Amber Blind, I worked internally to help secure a good investment, and we worked in great partnership with Rida. We worked around energy, our contractor, Pure Zone, other property.

Speaker 2

19:04 - 19:58

Again, I I wanna thank all of our partners who really help streamline that process. As of February 2026, that project is complete based on the budget that we were able to work with. So we executed, again, the along the the North Burial Ground, the southbound side of it, north that's towards the Patagon line with various overhead replacements, and then the university marketplace item with the decorative lights, which have I think they have in the transformational path over there and really brightens up the area and added a nice aesthetic over there. But for all intents and purposes for that specific project with that budget, we are closed out. We have some punch list items to do in the the spring when the snow clears and the spoil kind of softens.

Speaker 2

19:58 - 20:24

Some of the the, you know, machines, that one we was a a bit impactful to the green space there. So we wanna work with the parts department, forestry to help restore any potential impacts that had on the trees over there or whatnot. So we will work internally with that. And Prism has some slight punch list items to do. Besides that, once those punch list items happen, will be fully invoiced and removed before project pulled up.

Speaker 0

20:25 - 20:50

You for all of that, Kyle. That was amazing. And if you guys haven't seen the new pedestrian level life by the area, I

Speaker 2

20:58 - 21:18

gave I gave a lot of credit to our departments. I think they really made things helpful and easy. The communication was pretty streamlined for, like, the complex corners of the area. And again, I I'm keeping my eyes on any available funding that we can help scoop for, but I feel like there's an edge feature besides streets. I've been very open about wanting to do that as a next phase.

Speaker 2

21:19 - 21:31

Right now, we don't have the resources to do it, but I'm keeping my eyes open. And we can come up on any grant funding for anything of the lightest friendly. I would be happy to jump on that and make that the next phase.

Speaker 0

21:32 - 21:41

So that is all. Do you folks have any questions for Kyle about the closeout in the meeting or anything to add?

Speaker 4

21:42 - 22:11

Not just you know, I I assume, you know, this product, it doesn't account for everything, like, you know, the other areas that that you wanna address or we'd want to address. So I think, yeah, maybe we can meet offline and kinda discuss areas that you need to get addressed in or, you know, maybe potential funding opportunities. Oh, yeah. That'd be great. Oh, if the state level can help with because I I I mean, I think the lighting is such a huge improvement.

Speaker 4

22:11 - 22:18

I think it's very impactful, making a big difference. You know? You won't know, but I'm sure it is. And, yeah, I appreciate your work on that.

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