In 1968, the line was proposed for use as a public school rail line, taking children to and from schools along the route, but this "visionary concept" failed to gain the requisite support.[2] In 1981, Anthony Guariello—a local mill owner and town councilman—purchased the line with the possibility of conversion into a bike path for school children.[3]
Conversion to a bicycle path was studied in 1991; in 1995, the Friends of the South County Bike Path was started to create the path.[3] The first phase of the trail, running 4.2 miles (6.8 km) from Kingston station to Rodman Street, was completed in 2000. The 2.9-mile (4.7 km) Phase II was opened to Route 108 in 2003. Phase III, started in 2009, and opened in 2011, extended the trail a further 0.8 miles (1.3 km) (including a short section on a residential street) to the intersection of Mumford Road and Riverside Drive in Narragansett.[4][5] According to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, at 7.8 miles, the South County Bike Path is the fourth longest bike path in the state.[4]
The last section of railroad right-of-way through Narragansett is not as well-preserved as the rest of the route; several parts are used for roads or residential developments. Instead, Phase IV will be routed through the Canonchet Farm, a local park, and reach the waterfront north of where the railroad did.[6] Although more expensive than on-road alternatives, it will provide the safest route. The approximately-1-mile long extension was entered into funding proposals in early 2016.[7]
A bond approved by RI voters in 2016 provided $10 million in funding to various bike path projects throughout the state. Included in the bond was funding for two new sections of the path: a 2.1-mile (3.4 km) connection from the University of Rhode Island to the path, and the first 0.26 miles (0.42 km) of Phase IV, connecting the existing path to the Narragansett Community Center.[8]
The trail passes under the Route 1 freeway in a tunnel
The trail's northern terminus, near the Kingstown Amtrak station
Street crossings
The William C. O'Neill Bike Path crosses the following streets:[9]
The northern terminus will be at the back end of the parking lot on the north side of Flagg Rd
References
^ abLewis, Edward A. (1975). American Short Line Railway Guide. The Baggage Car. p. 87.
^"A Brief History of the William C. O'Neill Bike Path". southcountybikepath.org. Friends of the William C. O'Neill Bike Path. 2009. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
^ ab"South County Bike Path". southcountybikepath.org. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
^ ab"South County Bike Path – Rhode Island". Rhode Island Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
^"William C. O'Neill Bike Path". www.traillink.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
^ abRhode Island Department of Transportation (6 January 2016). "Completion of the South County Bike Path via Canonchet Farm, Narragansett, R.I." (PDF). Friends of the William C. O'Neill South County Bike Path.
^"Raimondo, Moffit, DEM Announce First Wave of Investments Under Green Economy Bond" (PDF). William C. O'Neill Bike Path. March 13, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
^ abcSpliner, Steve. "Map of the Willam C. O'Neill Bike Path" (PDF). Willam C. O'Neill Bike Path. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
^ ab"South County Bike Path - Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation". www.dot.ri.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
^"William C. O'Neill Bike Path | West Kingston Rhode Island Rails-To-Trails | Trails.com". www.trails.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to South County Bike Path.
William C. O'Neill Bike Path
February 07, 2023
william, neill, bike, path, also, called, south, county, bike, trail, paved, rail, trail, extending, from, kingston, station, parking, west, kingston, rhode, island, mumford, road, narragansett, rhode, island, whole, path, washington, county, rhode, island, tr. The William C O Neill Bike Path also called the South County Bike Trail is a paved rail trail extending from Kingston station parking lot in West Kingston Rhode Island to Mumford Road in Narragansett Rhode Island The whole path is in Washington County Rhode Island The trail is 6 8 miles 11 km long largely on the former right of way of the Narragansett Pier Railroad An extension opened up to the University of Rhode Island in 2019 A future extension will bring it to Boston Neck Road RI 1A William C O Neill Bike PathThe William C O Neill Bike Path in Peace Dale in 2013William C O Neill Bike PathLength6 8 miles 11 km LocationSouth Kingstown and Narragansett Rhode Island United StatesEstablished2000 first section TrailheadsKingston station West KingstonMumford Road NarragansettSurfacePavedRight of wayFormer Narragansett Pier RailroadWebsitesouthcountybikepath org Contents 1 History 2 Street crossings 2 1 Phase IV junctions as of 2016 2 2 URI Connector 3 References 4 External linksHistory Edit An early 20th century postcard of Peace Dale station The Narragansett Pier Railroad opened in 1876 to connect mills in Wakefield and Peace Dale to the New York Providence and Boston Railroad at West Kingston 1 Passenger service ended in 1952 though freight service continued until the 1970s and the line was not fully abandoned until 1981 1 In 1968 the line was proposed for use as a public school rail line taking children to and from schools along the route but this visionary concept failed to gain the requisite support 2 In 1981 Anthony Guariello a local mill owner and town councilman purchased the line with the possibility of conversion into a bike path for school children 3 Conversion to a bicycle path was studied in 1991 in 1995 the Friends of the South County Bike Path was started to create the path 3 The first phase of the trail running 4 2 miles 6 8 km from Kingston station to Rodman Street was completed in 2000 The 2 9 mile 4 7 km Phase II was opened to Route 108 in 2003 Phase III started in 2009 and opened in 2011 extended the trail a further 0 8 miles 1 3 km including a short section on a residential street to the intersection of Mumford Road and Riverside Drive in Narragansett 4 5 According to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation at 7 8 miles the South County Bike Path is the fourth longest bike path in the state 4 The last section of railroad right of way through Narragansett is not as well preserved as the rest of the route several parts are used for roads or residential developments Instead Phase IV will be routed through the Canonchet Farm a local park and reach the waterfront north of where the railroad did 6 Although more expensive than on road alternatives it will provide the safest route The approximately 1 mile long extension was entered into funding proposals in early 2016 7 A bond approved by RI voters in 2016 provided 10 million in funding to various bike path projects throughout the state Included in the bond was funding for two new sections of the path a 2 1 mile 3 4 km connection from the University of Rhode Island to the path and the first 0 26 miles 0 42 km of Phase IV connecting the existing path to the Narragansett Community Center 8 The trail passes under the Route 1 freeway in a tunnel The trail s northern terminus near the Kingstown Amtrak stationStreet crossings EditThe William C O Neill Bike Path crosses the following streets 9 Town Road NotesWest Kingston Railroad Avenue Kingston station Western terminus of path Parking lot located off Route 138 9 Liberty Lane Route 110 Ministerial RoadLarkin Pond Road NorthSouth Kingstown South RoadCurtis Corner Rd Unnamed driveway Dirt roadAsa Pond RoadRodman Street Route 108 Kingstown Road The trail crosses Route 108 twice in short successionRailroad Street Concurrent with streetChurch StreetCemetery Lane Route 1A Main StreetWoodruff Avenue Overhead bridge no connection to trailProspect StreetRobinson Street Route 108 Kingstown RoadMcArthur Street Concurrent with streetNarragansett US 1 Tower Hill Road Overhead bridge no connection to trailMumford Road 9 Riverside DriveNarragansett Community Center Current eastern terminus in the parking lot 10 Phase IV junctions as of 2016 Edit The proposed fourth phase of the bike path is planned to cross the following streets 6 11 Town Road NotesNarragansett Riverside Drive Overlap Route 1A Boston Neck Road Future eastern terminus of path Short walk to town beach URI Connector Edit The URI connector opened in 2019 crosses these following streets 10 Town Road NotesSouth Kingstown William C O Neill Bike Path Southern terminus Route 138 Kingstown RoadKeaney RoadFraternity CircleW Alumni AvenueFlagg Road The northern terminus will be at the back end of the parking lot on the north side of Flagg RdReferences Edit a b Lewis Edward A 1975 American Short Line Railway Guide The Baggage Car p 87 A Brief History of the William C O Neill Bike Path southcountybikepath org Friends of the William C O Neill Bike Path 2009 Retrieved 2016 09 01 a b South County Bike Path southcountybikepath org Retrieved 2016 06 21 a b South County Bike Path Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation Retrieved 2016 06 21 William C O Neill Bike Path www traillink com Retrieved 2016 08 17 a b Rhode Island Department of Transportation 6 January 2016 Completion of the South County Bike Path via Canonchet Farm Narragansett R I PDF Friends of the William C O Neill South County Bike Path Bike Path Narrow River Retrieved 2016 08 17 Raimondo Moffit DEM Announce First Wave of Investments Under Green Economy Bond PDF William C O Neill Bike Path March 13 2017 Retrieved April 5 2017 a b c Spliner Steve Map of the Willam C O Neill Bike Path PDF Willam C O Neill Bike Path Retrieved July 27 2016 a b South County Bike Path Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation www dot ri gov Retrieved 2022 04 13 William C O Neill Bike Path West Kingston Rhode Island Rails To Trails Trails com www trails com Retrieved 2016 08 17 External links EditRoute map KML file edit help Template Attached KML William C O Neill Bike PathKML is from Wikidata Wikimedia Commons has media related to South County Bike Path William C O Neill Bike Path Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William C O 27Neill Bike Path amp oldid 1135638281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
