PROVIDENCE – A bill with bi-partisan support would make the Department of Transportation responsible for maintenance of all sidewalks and curbs on state roadways, explicitly removing the burden from Rhode Island’s cities and towns.
Senate bill 2042 was introduced this month by Republican Sens. Jessica de la Cruz and Thomas Paolino, among other legislators from across the state. de la Cruz, the Senate minority leader, represents District 23 in Burrillville, North Smithfield and Glocester; and Paolino, the deputy minority leader, represents District 17 in Lincoln, North Providence and North Smithfield.
The bill also has support from Republican Sens. Gordon Rogers, and Democrats David Tikoian, Leonidas Raptakis, John Burke, Mark McKenney and Majority Leader Frank Ciccone.
Considered something of a gray area as it is not specifically addressed in state law, the question of who is responsible for sidewalk maintenance has been an issue for some municipal governments. Similar legislation was also introduced in 2025 but did not make it out of committee.
According to the bill, “all maintenance of sidewalks along state highways, shall be the responsibility of the state, with the exception of snow and ice removal on those sidewalks.”
Similar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives.
The legislation was introduced on Friday, Jan. 9 and referred to the Committee on Housing and Municipal Government.
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