The Department of Transportation’s $447 million, I-195 relocation project will soon create unobstructed access to one of Providence’s greatest assets: our waterfront. The highway’s Cold-war era cement walls will soon give way to an extension of green space and waterfront development the likes of which our city has only dreamed of until now. In order for this to happen, however, it is imperative that Narragansett Electric bury the unsightly power lines that would otherwise frame, and therefore diminish, the area.

As Mayor of Providence, I have joined a coalition of residents, advocates, academia and other public officials, who agree that the power lines must go underground, and now is the time to make it happen. While everyone believes that this is the right thing to do, we are faced with the question of affordability, and must decide between saving money today and making an intelligent investment that will reap dividends for years to come.

Burying power lines is inherently more expensive than simply relocating them, as originally proposed by Narragansett Electric. According to figures released by the power distributor, burial would cost $9.4 million – as opposed to $1.8 million for above ground relocation. While this amount is significant, it pales in comparison to the highway project’s overall economic impact on our city and state. The I-195 relocation-related improvements are projected to exceed $35 million, generating an addition $1 billion in waterfront investments.

That is, if unsightly transmission towers and high-tension wires obstructing the view of Providence’s harbor do not dissuade potential developers. The placement of these power lines will greatly impact the long-term success of this endeavor.

In light of this, proponents have identified multiple funding sources to cover the cost of burial, securing just over $4 million dollars for this purpose and offering several viable proposals to cover the remaining $5.4 million. These include tapping into Narragansett Electric’s Settlement Fund and it’s Electric Storm Fund, which was created to cover the expense of rebuilding fallen power lines after major storms. Coincidentally, burying these power lines, located outside of the city’s hurricane barrier, would eliminate the possibility of storm damage entirely.

Ten years ago the state gambled hundreds of millions on moving railroad tracks and redirecting rivers to make way for Waterplace Park and the Memorial Boulevard river walk. Today these projects have transformed downtown Providence and generated billions in economic development, as well as increased local and state revenue.

We are now at a similar crossroads, only the investment that is asked of us is much smaller this time around. Therefore, we must take action now to bury the Point Street power lines to reclaim the splendor of our waterfront, preserve the environment and open a new and exciting portal into America’s most livable city for generations of visitors and residents alike to enjoy and cherish. - DNC