Transit-oriented Development

(TOD)

The Kingston Train Station was renovated in 1996. The station is located off of Route 138, only 13 miles from T.F. Green Airport and 26 miles from Providence. Currently, there is AMTRAK service at the site, and it takes approximately 22 minutes from Kingston Station to Providence. The station is also located about 1.5 miles from the center of University of Rhode Island and a half-mile from American Power Conversion, the second largest employer in South Kingstown after URI. The station is surrounded by an open parcel of land to the north and northwest. However, there is very little commercial development in the area, as there are only two gas station/convenience stores within 2 miles of the station.

The catenary was constructed on overhead girders to allow for layover and passing tracks to be built, as is the flyover for Route 138, so there could be a layover facility built there. There also is an active freight siding at the station for Arnold Lumber, which sits across from the southbound sides of the tracks.

The station currently lacks pedestrian access to the southbound side of the tracks but there is capital investment and a design by Beta Engineering, to have pedestrian access to the far side of the tracks. Currently there is a shuttle that buses one out from the station, onto Route 138 over the tracks, through the gates of Arnold Lumber, and onto a "temporary" circle next to the southbound platform - a total distance of 50 ft. The station also has a parking lot with over 60 parking spaces, which is filled to about 50% capacity on weekdays.

The limited RIPTA bus service in the area, known as the Kingston Connection, is a campus route through URI that has weekday service from 7:55 AM to 6:15 PM, and a weekend service from 9:55 AM to 12:30 AM. While service used to occur regularly between the station and the University, the Kingston Connection currently only includes, the 210 Kingston Flex, a reservation- based service that will go anywhere on campus or to Amtrak's Kingston Station. (RIPTA) Any TOD around the station would probably benefit greatly from an increase in transit options and more frequent shuttle service between the station, URI and American Power Conversion, as well as from a completed pedestrian overpass at the station.