Grow Smart Rhode Island leader reflects on decades of change in Rhode Island development – The Boston Globe

Q: When Grow Smart Rhode Island launched in 1997, the state’s political conversation was very different. What has changed most about the way Rhode Island’s elected leaders, the business community, and residents think about growth and development since then?

Wolf: There’s been growing acceptance by our elected and civic leaders of the benefits of prioritizing development and redevelopment in our Main Streets, downtowns, and other areas with infrastructure and access to key services. There’s also increased recognition that Rhode Island can and should aim high when it comes to community and economic development – that we have significant assets to safeguard and capitalize upon, ranging from our vast collection of historic buildings in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, to our transit and public health-friendly compact development patterns, along with our deep water ports, exceptional urban/rural balance, and strategic location along the northeast corridor.

Q: You’ve spent decades trying to shape public policy in Rhode Island. What’s something that happened over the last quarter-century that surprised you — either because progress came faster than expected or because it took much longer than you thought it would?

Wolf: My biggest surprise has been how challenging it has been to persuade a critical mass of Rhode Island’s leaders that making significant investments in a more robust and integrated public transportation system is a sound move, with major short and long-term dividends. Our failure so far to fund RIPTA enough for it to be a viable transportation choice for a lot more Rhode Islanders is a substantial missed opportunity. Fortunately as a state I think we’re getting closer to recognizing this and doing the necessary course correction.

Q: Every long career leaves behind a few projects that never quite got across the finish line. What issue or opportunity do you most wish Rhode Island had tackled more aggressively during your time at Grow Smart?

Wolf: Several within the transportation sector, most notably implementing aggressively the thorough, sound, and bold State Transit Master Plan, an excellent blueprint both for doubling the daily frequency and duration of RIPTA service, and establishing an 18-mile light rail or dedicated bus line through the most populous part of Rhode Island.

Compared to most of our New England neighbors, our state has also under invested in our bike and pedestrian network. This has negative implications for our collective public health, tourism marketability, and talent recruitment/retention.

And finally, I believe we could’ve further expanded economic opportunity and smart economic growth by seeking to execute detailed and well-vetted plans to improve dramatically commuter rail service between Providence and Boston.

Q: You’ve spent nearly three decades helping Rhode Islanders think about housing, transportation, downtowns, and economic opportunity. As you look ahead, what challenge — or opportunity — do you believe will define Rhode Island’s next 20 years, and where do you hope to contribute?

Wolf: I think a key to strengthening Rhode Island’s economy and quality of life over the next 20 years will be further integrating our state strategically with the nearby economic powerhouses of metro Boston and metro New York, and doing so in a way that avoids exacerbating our housing crisis or losing our own beauty, magic, and soul. There are several ways I think I can contribute to this important needle threading exercise, including:

• Continuing to be a sharer of smart growth best practices from within and outside Rhode Island;
• Being an advocate and thought leader for better regional transportation and employment connectivity, as well as for housing and transit-friendly investments land use reforms that accelerate the revitalization of our downtowns and Main Streets and defy the predictions of population decline;
• Mentoring a new generation of creative economic and community development change agents.

This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.

Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.