City Considering Back-In Parking on Broadway

Newport drivers may need to put it in reverse.

The Newport City Council passed a resolution 5-2 to reconsider back-in parking in the Broadway Streetscape project during Wednesday night's meeting. Councilors Jeanne Napolitano and Stephen Coyne were opposed.

During a recent charette examining ideas to improve and enhance the Washington Square area, back-in diagonal parking on Broadway was suggested as an alternative to the parking arrangement planned in the Broadway Streetscape project.

The design for the project has already been completed, and creating a redesign would come with a cost, City Manager Jane Howington said.

City Councilor Jeanne Napolitano said she was wary of making changes so late in the design process and that she would be opposed to the idea if it resulted in extra costs or delays.

The redesign would make for a safer Broadway for both cars and bikers, Councilor Charles Duncan pointed out. Back-in parking would allow for better visibility, but the drawback would be reeducating drivers, especially tourists, he said.

“I would rather drive out than back out."

Mayor Winthrop also agreed that the alternative parking arrangement would be worth taking a second look at.

The City administration will re-examine back-in parking and report back to the council by Dec. 12 on the pros and cons, as well as the feasibility of incorporating it into the streetscape project.

City Councilor Naomi Neville said she would support the idea if the City were able to make it work within the project.

“I do think it’s a correct way to go, but this has been looked at for a while. I don’t want to delay Broadway and we need to know the cost,” she said. “I would have liked to see it two years ago.”