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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.
Kazem Farhoumand, P.E.
401-222-2492, ext. 4100
The Chief Engineer administers the Project Management Division, which consists of the Design Section, including Road, Bridge and Traffic Units, the Construction Management Section, Materials, Environmental and Landscaping, and Research & Technology.
Robert Smith, P.E.
Deputy Chief Engineer
401-222-2023, ext. 4023
The Design Section is responsible for the preparation of engineering plans, specifications and estimates for the construction and reconstruction of Rhode Island’s state-owned and maintained highways, bridges, traffic signal systems and bicycle and pedestrian paths. This work also involves coordination with Rhode Island's 39 cites and towns, and various citizen advocacy groups.
The Design Section coordinates with various Federal agencies, notably the Federal Highway Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This section is also responsible for the review of Utility Permits, Land Sale Requests and Physical Alteration Permit Applications (PAPA).
Environmental Resources & Road Design
Peter A. Healey, P.E.
Chief Civil Engineer
401 222-2023 Ext. 4039
Landscape Architecture
Susan J. Votta, RLA, ASLA
Supervising Landscape Architect
401-222-2023 ext. 4468
Office on Highway Safety
Francisco Lovera, P.E.
(401) 401- 222-2694 Ext. 4205
The mission of the Office of Highway Safety, through funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is to develop programs and activities that reduce the incidence of death and injury on Rhode Island roadways. Through public education, partnerships with public health officials, civic organizations, municipalities, law enforcement agencies and legislative leaders, the OHS advocates and promotes responsible motorist and pedestrian behavior. The use of statistical analysis and surveys assists the OHS in determining specific areas of consideration for highway safety funding. Additionally, the OHS participates in nationally organized campaigns for seatbelt use and impaired driving. For these events, the OHS uses national themes, while tailoring them to Rhode Island’s specific environment. The degree of success of highway safety projects is found in the reduction of deaths, severity of injuries, and reduction in the societal costs attributable to such deaths and injuries.
For more information on:
Colin A. Franco, P.E.
Associate Chief Engineer
401-222-3030
RIDOT Materials & Research
Mark Felag, P.E.
Managing Engineer
401-222-2524
The objective of RIDOT's Materials and Research Section is to assure quality materials are designed properly and that the materials provided meet specifications upon incorporation into all highway and bridge construction and maintenance projects, to administer the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s Research and Pavement Preservation efforts and perform forensic testing when needed, to provide information on current and emerging technologies related to the transportation field in the areas of research and testing, products and processes, pavement preservation and geotechnical engineering and to advance the state of knowledge in these areas within the guidelines set forth by the department and the Federal Highway Administration.
Frank Corrao III, P.E.
Deputy Chief Engineer
401-222-2468, ext. 4202
RIDOT Construction Management
Construction contract administration is the responsibility of this section. Most contracts are for the construction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges. The projects are quite diverse ranging from the simple, such as pavement crack sealing, to the complex, such as the relocation of a major Interstate with the Iway project.
Construction Management operates with a team of individuals assigned to each project; the number based on the complexity of the contract. RIDOT typically assigns a resident engineer to each contract, along with a group of inspectors. This team oversees the entire life of the construction contract from day one to final inspection. The constant contact keeps RIDOT on top of projects, enables it to immediately address and resolve unexpected problems, and to ensure compliance with all design and materials specifications.
Chief Civil Engineers (401) 222-2468
Richard G. Fondi, Administrator
401-222-6510, ext. 4637
In December 2008, RIDOT created the Office of Quality Compliance & Review (QC&R) by merging the Office of the Inspector General with the Finals Section. The new office, QC&R, assumed the responsibilities granted RIDOT under the Oversight Agreement for Federal–Aid Projects entered into by the two agencies, RIDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), dated August 30, 2006.
The new Unit (QC&R) is responsible to review and verify all financial payment documentation as well as other specified contractual submissions on ongoing construction projects. Closeouts, final inspections and project finalization also fall under the jurisdiction of the Unit. Additionally, where project oversight has been delegated to RIDOT, this Unit assesses accountability, performs reviews and interim field inspections of ongoing construction projects, and accompanies FHWA on field reviews of construction operations when appropriate and agreeable. Also, non-federal oversight construction change orders require review and signature approval from this Unit. Furthermore, this group performs internal audits of expenditures Department-wide as necessary and/or as requested or directed by RIDOT. Reports of Change (ROCS) are also reviewed within this Unit for compliance with state purchasing regulations and process reviews are conducted on those procedures established within various Departmental offices.