2018 -- S 2086

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LC003362

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

     

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, Satchell, Goldin, Felag, and Quezada

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-13 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Transportation"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-13-2.1. Duties of the department - Rhode Works project.

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     (a) It shall be the responsibility of the department to identify the businesses affected and

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the specific impact of Rhode Works projects on small businesses and to deliver and communicate

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this information to the department of commerce. The department shall identify the traffic flow to

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Rhode Island small business commercial areas as it relates to road and bridge closings due to

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Rhode Works projects, and the realignment of the Newport Bridge ramps, identify road and

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bridge closings, parking restrictions and alterations in traffic patterns to accommodate road and

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bridge repairs, including proposed dates of work, road closures and re-routing of any traffic and

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parking patterns.

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     (b) During construction season (April through October), the department shall share the

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information collected in subsection (a) of this section with the commerce corporation to allow at

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least two (2) months for the commerce corporation to assist small businesses affected by Rhode

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Works projects in the affected communities and neighborhoods as set forth in subsection

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(c) of this section. During emergencies, the department will contact the commerce corporation in

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order to coordinate a plan of action in the affected area. The department will meet with the

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commerce corporation on a regular basis in order to review upcoming projects and coordinate a

 

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plan of action for the affected businesses.

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     (c) The commerce corporation shall provide those affected businesses in the construction

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areas with a list of available resources, programs and/or services that if utilized might minimize

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the economic and financial impact upon those businesses during road and bridge construction,

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including, but not limited to, contact by the commerce corporation to affected businesses and if

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desired, meeting with affected businesses during construction.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

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     This act would require the department of transportation to identify the impact of Rhode

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Works projects, and the realignment of the Newport Bridge ramps on Rhode Island small

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business commercial areas, particularly during construction season (April through October) and

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provide the commerce corporation with that information to allow the commerce corporation

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sufficient time to provide the affected businesses with information on available resources,

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programs and services that if utilized might minimize the economic and financial impact.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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