RIDOT introduces new "STARS" program

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (WPRI) – The Rhode Island Department of Transportation introduced a new program that addresses safety and congestion concerns on local roadways.

RIDOT’s Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadways Solutions, otherwise known as “STARS” is a low cost and high benefit improvement program.

The goal of the program is to stretch the dollar, while being more efficient and effective.

The program kicked off on Aquidneck Island. Crews are scheduled to do about $345 thousand dollars worth of small improvements at thirteen different locations on Aquidneck Island.

"Such as signs, striping, pavement markings, signal timing adjustments you get a lot of benefit from that and we can implement them pretty quickly while we study more costly improvements that take years to implement," said Robert Rocchio of the RIDOT.

Aquidneck Island was chosen for the pilot “STARS” program, because less money was needed for research.

"They were in the middle of an Aquidneck Island transportation study, an island wide transportation study, so they already had a lot of data collected and we were able to use, leverage that data,” said Rocchio.

The RIDOT plans to invest about $500 thousand dollars a year on “STARS” projects. The kickoff program received special funding.