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3/26/2025
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Legislators introduce bills to strengthen shoreline access
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STATE HOUSE — Rep. Terri Cortvriend and Sen. Victoria Gu have introduced legislation to protect Rhode Islanders’ access to the shoreline by allowing towns to preserve recreation easements on abandoned roads and protecting parking near these rights of way.
“In order to maintain shoreline access as sea levels rise, we will need to preserve public access, even on roads that become very expensive to maintain,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). “Currently, abandoning a road means relinquishing a public thoroughfare to private ownership, potentially cutting off large areas of the shore from public access. Cities and towns need a middle path so that maintenance responsibilities are more manageable, and keeping the road as a recreational trail would give them that option.”
The first bill (2025-S 0349, 2025-H 5960) would allow towns to preserve access to abandoned roads for walking, biking or other recreational purposes. This option could help towns retain access to the shore at a time when sea level rise and frequent flooding is prompting them to consider abandoning low-lying coastal roads. Under current Rhode Island law the only option for a municipality that does not wish to maintain a road is to abandon it totally to the abutting private property owners.
The second bill (2025-S 0716, 2025-H 6093) would set requirements that municipalities, private agencies and other organizations would have to follow when attempting to alter parking near designated CRMC rights of way. These requirements would include submitting a comprehensive parking plan, analyzing the impact on accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act and conducting a public comment period of at least 30 days. It would also allow the CRMC and DEM to enforce these requirements and impose fines and penalties if they are violated.
“For most beachgoers, the ability to enjoy our shoreline requires somewhere nearby to park,” said Representative Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown). “This is especially true for seniors, the disabled and others with mobility issues, so it is important that any changes made to parking near public rights of way are made through an open, transparent and public process that takes into account the public’s right to access the shore.”
In recent years changes to parking near public rights of way have drawn complaints from members of the public who say that they serve to restrict public access to only those who already live on the waterfront.
“The R.I. General Assembly has made considerable progress by enacting lateral shoreline access legislation in recent years, but enjoying this hard-won access requires that the public can actually get to the beach. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers applauds the introduction of legislation by Representative Cortvriend and Senator Gu focused on protecting and promoting rights of way to the shore and necessary infrastructure like nearby public parking, and we look forward to supporting these efforts through the legislative process,” said Michael Woods, chair of the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
Senator Gu is also the cosponsor of a bill (2025-H 5686, 2025-S 0626) with Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) to require municipalities to maintain and update a list of CRMC designated rights of way to tidal areas. The House Municipal Government and Housing Committee recommended the House version of the bill for passage on March 20.
Senator Gu and Representative Cortvriend also sponsored a law (2024-S 2185A, 2024-H 7376A) signed by the Governor last year designed to educate new buyers of oceanfront property on Rhode Island shoreline access law and avoid surprises that might come up with the sale of the property.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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