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RIDOT's Customer Service Office will help.
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Telephone 401-222-2450
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The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Board of Directors recently voted to elect RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis to serve as the association's president. Read more here.
RIDOT is seeking proposals from community-based organizations for seat belt education campaigns. The Department is making $1 million available over a four-year period for programs that increase seat belt usage, including proper usage of child seats. Click here to learn more.
Governor Lincoln D. Chafee on October 1 signed Rhode Island's 2012 Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The plan is a blueprint for moving Toward Zero Deaths, a national effort to cut traffic fatalities and serious injuries in half by 2030. Watch a video on TZD that premiered at the SHSP signing event.
RIDOT and the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office have teamed up to bring AT&T's "Txtng & Drivng ... It Can Wait" awareness campaign to high schools throughout Rhode Island this year. Click here to watch the compelling 10-minute video being shown as part of this program.
RIDOT is now accepting applications from vendors to help the Department with plowing and sanding operations.
RIDOT is installing murals on bridge abutments and retaining walls that are prone to graffiti, beginning with this mural on I-195 West in East Providence. Click on the photo to enlarge the image or click here to learn more about the latest installation along I-95 in Pawtucket.
RIDOT is proud to introduce Resonate, a series of new initiatives that marks the Department's commitment to the community and the men and women who dedicate themselves to provide the best transportation system possible for Rhode Islanders.
401-222-1362
Public Affairs’ primary responsibility is to effectively keep the public informed about the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
As the Department’s spokesperson, the Communications Office responds accurately and rapidly to requests for information from the general public, legislature and the media, as well as generating a constant information flow via the media. The Office issued 160 press releases in 2011.
The Office coordinates special events that often include the Governor and the Congressional Delegation, prepares speeches, and handles the Department’s general and legislative correspondence.
This section designs and manages the Department’s Web site at www.dot.ri.gov, offering easy connections to traffic-related construction updates, links to local public transportation services, descriptions of current and future construction projects, the Department’s organization, news, and weather updates, as well as information on statewide programs and special events. Through the web site, visitors can also access live highway video images.
The Office also produces Interchange, a quarterly newsletter that highlights Department news and events and the accomplishments of its employees. The Department’s Annual Report is also published by this office.
Bernard Frezza, Jr.
401-222-2481, ext. 4004
The Legislative Liaison works with members of Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation, General Office holders, members of the General Assembly and City and Town Mayors, Administrators, Council members, School Committees, Fire and Police Chiefs to address their DOT requests, including field visits and meeting with constituents to address issues. The Liaison also works in conjunction with any and all departments within DOT to solve these problems. The Liaison attends every Legislative Session to lobby the Rhode Island General Assembly to promote/object to legislation on behalf of the Department of Transportation, testifies at Legislative Committee Hearings, and works to educate/promote/object to any Federal legislation or program which would affect the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
Represents DOT at work sessions with national transportation organizations, including the Coalition of Northeast Governors, Transportation Policy Committee (CONEG), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO), and the Standing Committee on Rail Transportation (SCORT). Also represent the Director of Transportation as his designee to the State Traffic Commission, Chairman of the Vehicle Value Commission, the East Providence Waterfront Special Development District Commission, and the Special House Commission to Study the Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas.
The Customer Service Office acts as a liaison for the Department of Transportation on both internal and external issues. The office assists in coordinating informational meetings on design, construction, and maintenance issues with city and town officials and council members, with senators and representatives through legislative affairs, and with local business organizations, community advocacy groups, and the general public.
The office publishes public notices, project mailings and updates. In addition, the office works with police departments, fire departments, residents, motorists, businesses, chambers of commerce and other associations, to lessen construction inconveniences and economic impacts. City and town officials as well as key individuals are updated as to a project's progress during construction through informational meetings, mailings, and web postings on both the city or town’s site and DOT’s web site.
Administrator
401-222-3260, ext. 4411
The Office of Policy and Community Affairs is responsible for the development and implementation of the department’s legislative and policy agenda. Timely and knowledgeable input from all the divisions of RIDOT ensures successful outcomes for the State’s transportation goals, projects and policies. Effective communication of the direction and vision for the department is integral to the development and maintenance of a safe and efficient statewide transportation system.
The Office serves as the liaison between the Department and all transportation partners including the state and local congressional delegations, city and town leaders, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), other state departments of transportation and the Governor’s Policy Office.
The Office of Policy and Community Affairs also oversees the legislative initiatives and activities affecting statewide transportation operations. The Office coordinates all required testimony on transportation-related matters and continues to advocate for appropriate funding levels to enhance the integrity and safety of our transportation infrastructure.
Lisa M. Martinelli, Esq.
Executive Counsel
401-222-2481
The Executive Counsel advises the Director on legal issues affecting the Department, oversees the Office of Legal Services, and manages outside legal counsel as appropriate. The Office of Legal Services represents the Department in litigation pertaining to state condemnation and land acquisition, construction claims, contract disputes, demands under the Public Works Arbitration, miscellaneous claims, employment actions, and tort litigation in conjunction with the Department of Attorney General. Attorneys work with all Department Divisions in developing, drafting, and reviewing contracts and agreements. The Office works with each Division in drafting legislation affecting the Department. Further, the Office of Legal Services is responsible for drafting Department regulations, reviewing federal regulations and other agency regulations as it pertains to the Department. Additionally, the Office coordinates the release of information under the Public Access to Records Act and is responsible for responding to subpoenas. All labor grievances, arbitrations and litigation are handled by Department attorneys, including participation in statewide negotiations of collective bargaining agreements.
Paul E. Pysz
Administrator
401-222-2572
The Office of Human Resources has overall responsibility for administering a comprehensive human resource management program.
The Office’s responsibilities are as follows:
The Office seeks to provide and support a quality internal work place environment for all employees.
Staff development needs are continuously assessed in order to maximize the utilization of available federal highway training funds, with a special emphasis being placed on professional enrichment, and workplace safety needs.
Thomas Lewandowski
401-222-6935
RIDOT's Management and Information Systems staff was consolidated into the Department of Administration's Division of Information Technology in 2004 in an effort to better manage the state's information technology resources. The staff assigned to RIDOT headed by the Administrator, is responsible for oversight, coordination and development of all IT staff and resources. The DoIT staff assigned to RIDOT assist the department in meeting its goals effectively and efficiently by providing leadership in the application of information technology; and delivering secure, innovative, and reliable technology solutions in the most responsive and effective manner.
This section is responsible for all computer needs. This includes ordering and maintaining an inventory for everything related to computer hardware, software and related supplies for the entire Department. The unit also maintains the financial management system (FMS), and develops custom systems to meet the Department's needs. In addition, the unit maintains the Local Area Network (LAN), as well as the Wide Area Network (WAN) and the World Wide Web (WWW) servers. The Geographical Information System (GIS) is also managed by MIS, which is a computer based tool for mapping and integrating common database operations which produce a-unique-visualization-and-geographic-analysis-offered-by-maps.