Rhode Island Department of Transportation

What Rhode Island Department of Transportation does

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is the state government agency of Rhode Island, headquartered at Two Capitol Hill, Providence, RI, responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining the state's surface transportation system. The agency was founded in 1970 and operates with a workforce of 501–1,000 employees. RIDOT manages approximately 1,200 bridges, 60+ miles of off-road bike paths through the BikeRI program, and coordinates transit partnerships with RIPTA and seasonal ferry operators including a Providence-to-Newport service scheduled for June 12 – October 12, 2026. Its service population spans Rhode Island residents and commuters, commercial freight carriers, and out-of-state visitors. Winter storm operations deploy a combined fleet of 178 RIDOT plow trucks plus 150 vendor trucks from 20 stockpile locations, with an annual operating budget of approximately $20M for salt, sand, brine, and equipment.

RIDOT's core technical and program portfolio includes the RhodeWorks statewide infrastructure investment program, the $427.88M Washington Bridge Rebuild featuring a 100-year design life and integrated Structural Health Monitoring, the $196M Route 146 Reconstruction Project, the $309.6M Route 37 Improvements across three phases, and the $102.4M Warwick Corridor. The agency deploys GPS-enabled Closed Loop Salt Metering Systems for precise winter operations, fiber-optic Structural Health Monitoring and Weigh-in-Motion systems on the Washington Bridge for real-time overload and stress detection, statewide live traffic cameras, Accessible Pedestrian Signals, and more than 40 Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons. Public information is delivered through the dot.ri.gov website, dedicated project microsites, weekly email newsletters, and active social channels on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

As a government entity, RIDOT does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded through state transportation budgets, federal competitive grants (INFRA, BUILD, TIGER, RAISE, Mega), and GARVEE bond proceeds. Documented recent federal awards include a $220.9M USDOT Mega Grant for the Washington Bridge, a $65M INFRA grant for Route 146, and a combined $66M across TIGER/BUILD/RAISE for Route 37. The agency also pursues regulatory compliance through its Office of Compliance and Regulation (ADA, Title VI, DBE), CCPRA traffic stop statistics reporting in coordination with 40+ police departments, and procurement via an online bidding portal.

Name

Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Legal name

Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Website

https://dot.ri.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is the state government agency responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining Rhode Island's surface transportation system, managing 1,200 bridges, highways, 60+ miles of bike paths, winter operations, and ferry services for residents, commercial carriers, and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Transportation Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (23731)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Roadway Structures & Geotechnical Asset Maintenance (Retaining Walls, Slopes, Rockfall) (TLAJAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Winter Operations & Seasonal Maintenance (Snow/Ice, De-icing, Flood Response) (TLAJAAAF), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Emergency Traffic Control & Scene Management (Lane Closures, Detours, TTC) (TLAJAJAG)

Keywords

• Highway infrastructure management
• Bridge maintenance services
• State transportation planning
• Road construction services
• Traffic safety management

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RIDOT designs, constructs, and maintains Rhode Island's surface transportation system, including state-owned roads, 1,200 bridges, 60+ miles of off-road bike paths, and multi-modal services. The agency delivers statewide Winter Storm Operations, real-time travel advisories and traffic camera feeds, the seasonal Providence to Newport Ferry, accessibility infrastructure (APS, RRFBs), and executes major capital projects under the RhodeWorks investment program, including the Washington Bridge Rebuild, Route 146 Reconstruction, and Route 37 Improvements.

Product overview

Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) operates as the state agency responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining Rhode Island's surface transportation system. The department's portfolio includes major infrastructure projects such as the Washington Bridge Rebuild and the RhodeWorks program, combined with operational services spanning live traffic monitoring via cameras and travel advisories, winter storm operations with a fleet of 178 plow trucks, and safety infrastructure including Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs). RIDOT also manages transit initiatives including the seasonal Providence to Newport Ferry, Shore Line East rail extension planning, and BikeRI's 60+ miles of off-road paths. The department maintains compliance and regulatory oversight through its Office of Compliance and Regulation and provides public transparency via the CCPRA Traffic Stop Statistics reporting system and an online bidding portal for contractors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Washington Bridge Rebuild
• RhodeWorks

Quantifiable outcome

• 80,000 vehicles served daily on Washington Bridge
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhode Island Office of Energy ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative for $24 million EV infrastructure expansion installing 102 new charging stations with 200+ ports across 18 municipalities, combining state and federal funding for Rhode Island's largest EV infrastructure investment.
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal oversight agency providing traffic engineering expertise, structural analysis review, and certification for Washington Bridge load capacity. FHWA experts collaborated on three-lane traffic configuration assessment.
• McNary Bergeron & JohannesencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThird-party bridge engineering firm hired by the Governor to conduct independent peer review of WJE's structural analysis investigation of Washington Bridge failure, providing additional oversight and accountability.
• Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState regulatory agency with jurisdiction over Rhode Island coastal waters overseeing Washington Bridge demolition in-water work, ensuring compliance with environmental guidelines for debris removal and turbidity management.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing Title VI program oversight and civil rights guidance for transit programs, ensuring nondiscriminatory administration of highway and transportation programs.
• Rhode Island Department of Environmental ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState environmental agency partnered on 2012 consent agreement addressing road salt runoff contamination from RIDOT facility affecting Foster and Clayville residents' wells, including annual well sampling and water treatment requirements.
• Amtrak/CTrail Shore Line EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPotential rail service expansion partner for extending Shore Line East commuter rail service to Westerly, with platform upgrade project added to Rhode Island's transportation improvement program for federal funding eligibility.
• Rhode Island State PolicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnhanced traffic enforcement presence on Washington Bridge following westbound closure, promoting safe travel practices and addressing increased accident rates during temporary traffic pattern changes.
• Rhode Island Police Chiefs AssociationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw enforcement partnership supporting Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act (CCPRA) traffic stop data collection program, coordinating across 40+ police departments statewide for standardized reporting.
• Ferry Service Providers (SeaStreak, Rhode Island Fast Ferry, Block Island Ferry)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmergency ferry service providers during Washington Bridge westbound closure, operating Bristol to Providence route from December 2023 through January 2024, serving 2,814+ riders during the temporary service period.
• RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState transit authority partnered for bus service coordination, including snow removal at bus stops, Kennedy Plaza management in Providence, and transit service alert integration with RIDOT travel information systems.
• Ride the Bay RIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeasonal ferry operator for Providence to Newport service running June 12 - October 12, 2026, providing alternative transportation option for tourism and commuters.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RIDOTnews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RIDOTwebmaster/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/RIDOTNews
• Instagraminstagram.com/ridotnews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-of-rhode-island

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Department of Transportation