Colleen Cronin

Rhode Island

Covering environmental issues in RI for @ecoRInews via @Report4America. Past: @bostonglobe. Forever: @the_herald. she/her. Email me: [email protected]

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Articles

Transit Night at Statehouse: Plenty of Talk, Not Much Action

1 month ago | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

PROVIDENCE — Armed with buttons, stickers, T-shirts, and lists of bill numbers and sponsors, dozens of transit advocates split into two groups to tackle the Senate and House chambers Tuesday afternoon. It was 3:30 p.m., and the group was ready for a long night. Providence Streets Coalition operations manager Dylan Giles, while handing out transit-themed merch, told advocates pizza would be ordered.
New Poll Finds Ocean State Voters Concerned About Affordable Housing

2 months ago | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

PROVIDENCE — Most Rhode Island voters say there isn’t enough affordable housing in their community, and they would support some land-use policies to change that, according to a new poll from Neighbors Welcome! Rhode Island.
Hot Topic: Wildfires in the Ocean State

2 months ago | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Joanna Detz |Rob Smith |Bonnie Phillips

Skip to content By Colleen Cronin, Joanna Detz, and Rob Smith / ecoRI News staff March 20, 2025 In recent years, Rhode Island has experienced, on average, about 70 wildfires per year. Ecosystem disruption fueled by climate change is only going to make the state more susceptible to such fires.
Burrillville Town Council Seeks to Repeal Local Land Trust's Nonprofit Status

2 months ago | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. — A Town Council resolution asking the General Assembly to repeal a private land trust’s tax-exempt status failed at a Wednesday night meeting following vigorous and at times contentious public comment and debate. The resolution read into the record by Town Council President Donald Fox requested the repeal of the public laws which exempt the Burrillville Land Trust from paying taxes on properties it owns worth up to $2 million.
RIPTA's Next Stop: Fiscal Cliff or Full Funding?

2 months ago | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

PROVIDENCE — As another legislative session winds on, so too does a campaign to save the state’s public transit agency from a major deficit. For the second year in a row, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is facing a funding shortfall in Gov. Daniel McKee’s budget proposal, to the tune of $32.6 million for fiscal 2026. At a recent meeting at the Statehouse, RIPTA CEO Chris Durand laid out the financial situation in stark terms.
Proposed 43-Unit Housing Complex in East Greenwich Concerns Nearby Property Owners

Mar 10, 2025 | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

EAST GREENWICH — In between a horse farm and a municipal land trust property, a developer is proposing a 43-unit housing complex which, if approved, will include 11 affordable condominiums. The debate over the proposed complex off Division Road has stretched over several Planning Board meetings, where local interests are asking whether the property is the right place for such a project.
Why Did Field of Stumps Appear Near Roger Williams Park?

Mar 10, 2025 | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

Skip to content Transportation RIDOT cleared area near routes 1 and 10 in preparation for bridge and road work By Colleen Cronin / ecoRI News staff March 10, 2025 RIDOT will replant trees in the area after completing the road and bridge work.
RIPTA Board Talks Federal Funding, Bus Hub, ‘Fluids Procurement’ at February Meeting

Mar 3, 2025 | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has avoided federal funding woes for now, according to CEO Chris Durand. Durand updated RIPTA’s board of directors on the state of the authority’s federal funding, as well as the current condition of its bus hub, among other business at the board’s Feb. 27 meeting. Durand said RIPTA hasn’t seen the funding pauses and cancellations that have hit a range of agencies around the country since the start of the second Trump administration.
RIPTA Board Approves 5-Year, $178K Contract for New CEO

Mar 3, 2025 | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

Skip to content By Colleen Cronin / ecoRI News staff March 3, 2025 PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s board approved a five-year contract for newly appointed CEO Chris Durand at its Feb. 27 meeting. The contract will give Durand an annual salary of $178,000, plus benefits.
Could Commuter Rail Service Come to Westerly?

Feb 24, 2025 | ecori.org | Colleen Cronin |Bonnie Phillips

WESTERLY, R.I. — When a train rumbles into Westerly’s historic train station, it’s always Amtrak en route to or coming from Providence or New York. But a group of residents would like to see more service roll into town, and they are working on ways to make it happen. “People have been trying to get commuter rail back into this part of the world for a long time,” Doug Brockway, a member of the Westerly’s Commuter Rail Advocacy Group, told ecoRI News.