Route 6 Corridor Plan

Land use in the area is dominated by commercial and open space uses.  Commercial shopping plazas are more intensively developed at the western portion of the corridor but extend along the full length of the Route 6 corridor.  The easterly portion of the area includes a mixture of residential, smaller commercial and open spaces areas.  Open space and resource areas associated with the Rummins River, the Parker River and Torrey Creek are a major feature in the easterly section of the Route 6 corridor. 

Wetlands

Information about wetlands and water resources was obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) wetlands data. Wetlands present in the study area include open water such as Rummins River at the western terminus and Palmer River at the eastern terminus, both of which intersect Route 6. There is a hydrologic connection that intersects Route 6 in the vicinity of FedEx at 197 Fall River Avenue which is culverted and generally not visible from the road. Areas of Deep Marsh and Wooded Swamp are dispersed throughout the study area mainly north and south of Route 6. Areas of Salt Marsh can be found adjacent to the Palmer River. Areas of Shallow Marsh Meadow or Fen are located adjacent to the Palmer Rive and Rummins River (south of Route 6). Shrub swamp areas are located along Rummins River and north of Route 6.

The Route 6 corridor falls within the Narragansett Bay watershed.

Flood Hazard

Areas susceptible to flooding are identified by the National Flood Hazard (NHF) data created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Data was obtained from MassGIS. Areas in the floodplain are dispersed throughout the study area. The open water bodies, including Runnins River and Palmer River, fall into the floodplain, both of which are identified to have a 1% annual flood hazard. Flood zones abut the Route 6 corridor at the western terminus surrounding the Runnins River and the eastern segment of Route 6 from Old Fall River Road to the Rehoboth town line, as a result of flooding from the Palmer River.

Rare Species Habitats

The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP), obtained through MassGIS, provides data on the priority habitats of rare species in Massachusetts. These habitats can include wetlands, uplands, or marine habitats. There is one identified rare species habitat located approximately a half mile east of the study area in Rehoboth. The habitat identified is mainly Salt Marsh wetland.

There are a number of potential vernal pools located within a half mile buffer of the study corridor, however none are certified. A vernal pool is a depression that fills with water in the spring and often is dry by late summer. The ephemeral nature of the water supports certain species for part of their life cycle. 

Urbanized areas of the Route 6 corridor have impaired the water quality of surrounding by coastal wetlands and waterbodies through urban stormwater runoff from roads and parking lots and seepage from septic wastewater disposal systems.  The Runnins River is impaired by fecal coliform, which restricts contact recreational use, as well as lead and inadequate dissolved oxygen, which degrades fish and wildlife habitat.  A plan to improve the water quality of Hundred Acre Cove was prepared in 2021 by Save the Bay through a grant provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).  You can explore the plan here:   https://www.savebay.org/wp-content/uploads/HAC-Report_FINAL_8-16-2021_ForWeb.pdf   The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program developed mapping of the Runnins River watershed which identifies stormwater infrastructure (outfalls and catch basins) and parcels of concern with respect to onsite wastewater treatment.  You can explore this mapping here:  https://bit.ly/HAC-Stormwater   and  https://bit.ly/HAC-Septic    

The plan includes a range of recommendations for municipalities to address water quality problems in the watershed.  In addition to programmatic recommendations several targeted stormwater management projects in the Route 6 corridor study area are recommended (summarized from A Comprehensive Plan to Restore Water Quality in Hundred Acre Cove, 2021):

• Design and construct stormwater BMP (Best Management Practice) for Route 6 Stream #2.  Stream #2 was identified as the largest wet weather contributor of fecal coliform to the Runnins River.  Stream #2 drains an area north of the Route 6/Mink Street intersection. BMPs to collect and treat stormwater runoff would help reduce storm-related loading into the river.
• Retrofits to Existing Detention Basins.  Retrofitting existing detention or retention basins to more effectively treat the stormwater they capture would help reduce polluted stormwater from entering the river.  Along the Route 6 corridor there are several detention and retention basins, mostly privately owned, that were constructed decades ago and do not remove pollutants as effectively as more modern stormwater infiltration systems.
• Pavement Removal at 1275 Fall River Avenue (Fun City Trampoline Park).  A parking lot that has been abandoned for several years which consists of at least 10,000 square feet of impervious surface behind Fun City Trampoline Park should be removed. This impervious area contributes to higher levels of stormwater runoff and removal also provides the opportunity to restore wetlands.
• Stormwater Management along State Roadways.  RIDOT is planning to develop a stormwater control plan for state roads in the Runnins River and HAC watersheds.  MassDOT has completed work, including a culvert upgrade, on Route 114A.  Other opportunities to improve streamflow and stormwater treatment should be considered on other MassDOT roadways, including Route 6.

To gain an understanding of traffic conditions within the study area traffic counts were collected at selected intersections and along the corridor.  Two-hour (2-hour) TMCs were collected at five study intersections from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on October 18, 2022.  TMC data from the MassDOT Transportation Data Management System were obtained and ‘grown’ to the study year to provide information on three more intersections.

In addition to intersection counts traffic volumes were collected via 24-hour automatic traffic recorders (ATR) on Tuesday October 18, Wednesday October 19 and Saturday October 22, 2022.  Overall vehicle volumes along Route 6 are highest at the westerly end at 22,790 vehicles per day and are approximately 30% lower at the westerly end averaging 15,300 vehicles per day.

The speed limit along the corridor is 50 mph along the easterly half of the Route 6 corridor and 40 mph in the westerly half of the corridor.  The 85 ^th  percentile speeds are shown on the graphic to the right.  The 85 ^th  percentile speed represents the speed at or below which 85 percent of the drivers travel on a road segment.  As indicated in the graphic to the right the 85 ^th  percentile speeds are significantly above the 50-mph speed limit in the easterly segment of the corridor, particularly in the westbound direction, and generally consistent with the 40- mph speed limit in the westerly portion of the corridor.   

Pedestrian.  Sidewalks have been constructed primarily along the northerly side of Route 6 from the state line to Warren Avenue, but there is a significant gap at the Fall River Avenue (Route 114) intersection.  There are only two pedestrian crossings of Route 6 withing the three-mile corridor: one is at Warren Avenue, and one is at School Street / Anthony Street. Sidewalks and crosswalks are not ADA compliant.  Sidewalks are regularly obstructed by power and signage poles.  Most crosswalks lack detectable warning panels and access ramps are typically in poor condition.  The commercial segment of Route 6 generally between Seekonk Square and the state line is ranked by MassDOT as ‘High’ with respect to its potential for walkable trips. The remainder of the roadway in the plan area is ranked ‘Medium.’

Bicycle. There are no bicycle accommodations along Route 6.  The commercial segment of Route 6 generally between Seekonk Square and the state line is ranked by MassDOT as having ‘High’ potential for everyday biking and the remainder of the roadway in the plan area is ranked as having ‘Medium’ potential.

Transit.  RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) Route 32 provides service between Providence and Seekonk Square.  The buses provide hourly service Monday through Friday between approximately 6 am and 7 pm.

Crashes Involving Pedestrians.  Crash data for the latest available five-year period (2015-2019) available from MassDOT was researched for the full 3-mile roadway area. (crashes are discussed in the following section).  Over this five-year period there were six crashes involving a pedestrian and all of these crashes occurred within the westerly retail segment of Route 6 (Highland Avenue).  Three crashes were in the vicinity of Walmart, another in the vicinity of Dick’s Sporting Goods in the eastbound direction where there is not sidewalk, another in the vicinity of Stop & Shop in the eastbound direction where there is not sidewalk, and another near the Seekonk Plaza entrance.  All of the crashes involving pedestrians resulted in a non-fatal injury.

Pedestrian counts were collected with the 2-hour turning movement counts.  These counts represent only a small portion of the day but help to provide a general sense of pedestrian activity along the Route 6 corridor. The counts indicate that pedestrian activity captured during this snapshot in time is concentrated at the westerly portion of the corridor, generally from Fall River Avenue west.

Bicycle counts were similarly collected with the 2-hour TMCs.  Bicycle activity captured during this two-hour window is concentrated around the retail plazas at the westerly end of the corridor.  Given the lack of bicycle accommodations and the generally hostile environment for bicycling it is somewhat surprising there is any bicycle activity along the corridor.

Today Route 6 is inhospitable for pedestrians and bicyclists.  Currently sidewalks are constructed on the north side of the roadway, the sidewalks have obstructions such as signage or power poles that impede the use of the sidewalks by people walking or using wheelchairs.  There are only two crosswalks across Route 6.  There are no bicycle accommodations. 

A Complete Street design concept, which safely and comfortably accommodates all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation (walking, bicycling, driving or riding transit) will be developed for the Route 6 corridor.  This would include sidewalks that are accessible on both sides of the roadway, bicycle accommodations in both directions of travel that are separated from traffic, such as buffered bike lanes or shared use paths, and crosswalks that allow people walking or bicycling to access destinations on both sides of the roadway. 

Do you have ideas for making Route 6 safer and more attractive for pedestrians and bicyclists?  Send us your comments!

Crash data have been researched for the latest available five-year period (2015-2019) on file with MassDOT via means of the MassDOT Crash Portal.  Within the complete five-year period, approximately 500 crashes were reported along the Route 6 corridor; approximately 333 occurring at corridor intersections and 168 along roadway segments between intersections.

The heat map to the right provides a sense of where crashes occur along the corridor.  The bright yellow areas indicate locations with higher numbers of crashes.  The intersections of Route 6 at Mink Street and Route 6 at Commerce Way have been identified as HSIP (Highway Safety Improvement Program) eligible high crash clusters for the years 2017-2019.

There was one motor vehicle crash which involved a fatality that occurred in 2021 in the vicinity of the Seekonk Professional Center on Route 6 (Fall River Avenue) east of Warren Avenue.

A Market Analysis was prepared for the Route 6 corridor in Seekonk by RKG Associates to understand market supported potential reuse opportunities for parcels along the corridor.  Some of the key findings of the report are summarized as below.  You can read the full market study here.

Population and Demographics:  Seekonk’s population grew by nearly 2,000 residents and more than 500 households between 2010 and 2020 which has crated new customers for businesses and added pressure to the local housing stock. Seekonk’s residents are well-educated and households are high-earning compared to Bristol County overall, though Seekonk’s median age is also high.

Economic Base:  Seekonk’s economy has essentially returned to pre-pandemic levels of employment and economic activity.  The total number of jobs has grown by 6.4% since 2011.

Housing: Seekonk’s housing market continues to be quite strong, with demand and pricing rising over the past several years.  However, as household composition shifts over time, with more 2- and 4- person households, the types of housing that are in demand may also be changing.

Population projects suggest that Seekonk will add between 1,031 and 1,493 new households between 2021 and 2030.  This represents a significant percentage increase over existing figures and will drive demand for new housing.

Adding more housing in the Corridor adds customers for local businesses.  For every 100 households added in the market area, an additional almost 6,000 square feet of retail can be supported.

Retail:  The Route 6 Corridor is already a retail hub for eastern Rhode Island and southern Bristol County, but there are opportunities for additional 52,000 to 157,000 square feet of retail space between 2021 and 2030, depending on how much spending new retailers can capture from existing customers and the potential for new households.  Some of this demand could be met by existing vacant space or reconfiguration of currently occupied space.

Industrial:  Demand for industrial space is comparatively strong and is projected to grow at an annualized rate of 7,396 square feet.  Nearly all of that increase will be driven by demand in the Construction and Transportation & Warehousing sectors.

Office:  Demand for commercial office space is projected to grow modestly, with annualized demand at 647 square feet.  Administrative & Support & Water Management and Health Care & Social Assistance ate the two industries driving most of that growth. 

Mixed Use:  Through Retail has the most direct connection housing, mixed-use development (that includes housing) at strategic locations within the Corridor could enhance the desirability and viability of commercial and even industrial uses.