Transit-oriented Development

(TOD)

Rhode Island commuter rail will likely come to Westerly in the next five to six years. The downtown is a good site for TOD, and it needs to prepare for TOD by developing now in anticipation of rail service. Studies suggest that the TOD synergy between transit and development will not necessarily develop unless there already is a market. By continuing to redevelop and revitalize the downtown, Westerly’s planners are putting the town in a favorable position to receive rail service. When it comes, it will probably spur further owner investment that builds on the present investments of the town.

Westerly has many reasons to advocate commuter rail. As of now, most of its commuters look west, towards Connecticut. With better commuting options, however, the town could begin to attract more people who work along the towns of the rail line. Providence would be more within reach, and Westerly would become more closely tied to Rhode Island. Though the initial ridership estimate is 268, a very low number for commuter rail, there is great potential for shifting the pattern of who chooses to live in Westerly.

There is also an opportunity to change the commuting patterns of tourists who visit in the summer. The town can advocate for weekend rail schedules in the summer and RIPTA service between the station and beaches. This would help alleviate summer congestion.

Westerly is now preparing updates to its comprehensive plan, and it should take advantage of all these opportunities to prepare for commuter rail and TOD. It can continue encouraging density and improving the area near the station; some of the area along the river is zoned to a height of 50 feet. Westerly can reduce the amount of downtown space that is wasted as surface parking, a common impediment to TOD. Finally, the town can integrate TOD plans with its Affordable Housing Action Plan, which is now being developed.

A note of caution – some areas around the train station may need environmental remediation because the area used to house a train yard. Generally, environmentally remediation is expensive. A similar site in New London, CT, roughly the same size as the large, abandoned parcel adjacent to the Westerly station, cost Pfizer $6 million to remediate because of soil contaminants.

Outside of this concern, Westerly is a prime location for TOD. It has adequate infrastructure, mixed-use development, and a walkable downtown.