DOT Wants to Sell Route 102 and 2 Commuter Lot, Again

The state Department of Transportation is once again hoping to sell land it owns and is now a commuter parking lot at Routes 2 and 102 in North Kingstown.

The lot, close to Wickford and used by people who catch rides with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, is valued at $1.9 million by the DOT and officials want to move its operations to Wickford Junction, which has been plagued with low usage since it was built.

The effort is a revival of previous efforts that were met with stiff opposition from commuters, residents and others. Many complained that moving the lot to Wickford Junction would create a new parking garage fee as the Routes 2 and 102 lot is currently free.

Other concerns hinged on the fact that the parking garage at Wickford Junction is not open every day or through the overnight hours.

Plans to build a new CVS pharmacy at the site were dropped in October after the potential buyer rejected a request to build a new lot to replace the existing on on Quaker Lane.

That new lot requirement is a stipulation from when the State Properties Committee in 2011 approved the DOT’s request to sell the lot.

The committee rejected the

On Monday, Paul Carcieri, the DOT’s real estate specialist, told committee members that the DOT also wants the old stipulations be rescinded before another sale attempt is made.

The DOT is hoping to sell the land at auction.

The committee did not make a decision at its meeting this week and the matter was continued to a future meeting.

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