6,000 Parking Spots, 20,000 Cars

That's the ratio on summer weekends downtown in Newport, Rhode Island. A coalition of local businesses, advocates and city officials are brainstorming solutions.

1 minute read

June 30, 2009, 12:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur

The major obstacle to solving the problem is that the colonial-era city is largely built out or historically preserved. A streetcar linking downtown to the beach is under consideration as a possible solution.

"'Getting them from point A to point B quicker than if they took their vehicle or walked is a necessity for them to ride this people mover,' said Paige Bronk, Newport's director of planning, zoning, development and inspection.

Though a modern streetcar system may seem out-of-place with the city's colonial appeal, officials say it could actually be a throwback to the early 20th century, when trolleys operated in the city. Plus, Bronk said, there's nothing quaint about the city's traffic."

FULL STORY: Newport mulls answers to downtown parking shortage

Monday, June 29, 2009 in Associated Press

Transportation United States Parking Newport

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