Governor-elect Foulkes outlines housing, transit and energy plans

Governor-elect Foulkes outlines 100-day roadmap for Rhode Island

Rhode Island Governor-elect Helena Foulkes is wasting little time setting the stage for her administration, signaling a pivot toward immediate executive action on housing, infrastructure, and public transit. Speaking the morning after her election victory, Foulkes detailed a transition strategy focused on importing “top talent” to address long-standing operational failures within state government, most notably at the Department of Transportation.

The urgency of her agenda is highlighted by the state’s recent history, particularly the chaotic aftermath of the December 2023 Washington Bridge closure, which left the state’s transportation network in a state of paralysis. As reported by The Boston Globe, Foulkes has vowed to launch a national search for a new director for the Department of Transportation, aiming to restore confidence in an agency that has become a flashpoint for public frustration.

Utility costs, housing are top priorities for RI’s newly elected governor Helena Foulkes

The housing and transit push

Foulkes is framing her initial months in office around tangible, results-oriented projects. Her housing strategy relies on a mix of supply-side intervention and tenant protection. She intends to invite modular home manufacturers to the state, with the goal of having affordable units available for purchase by next summer. The target, she noted, is to make homeownership accessible for families earning around $100,000, aiming for a price point between $250,000 and $300,000.

Beyond new construction, she is prioritizing immediate tenant rights, citing the looming winter as a deadline for action. According to the Providence Journal, Foulkes expressed concern over a “small but powerful number of landlords” who have engaged in questionable eviction practices, a situation she intends to address through swift legislative advocacy.

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Despite the state spending roughly $1 billion annually on roads and bridges, Foulkes argues that the $15 million needed to restore service cuts—the largest in the agency’s 60-year history—is a manageable investment. She envisions a future where public transit, including buses, trains, and bicycles, serves as a primary pillar of the state’s mobility infrastructure over the next two decades.

Foulkes addresses state energy costs and grid management

Energy policy remains a complex hurdle for the incoming administration. While Foulkes stopped short of endorsing the campaign proposals of her opponents—which centered on tax cuts and slowing the transition to renewable energy—she maintained that “everything’s on the table.” Her focus is currently trained on Rhode Island Energy, the Pennsylvania-based monopoly that currently manages the state’s power grid.

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By leaning into wind and solar energy, Foulkes believes the state can drive down costs locally. Her specific proposal to install solar arrays on 100 public buildings within her first year reflects a strategy of decentralized energy production. Whether this can effectively counteract the upward pressure on rates is uncertain, particularly as she manages the state’s existing regulatory framework and the influence of the Attorney General’s office, which has previously challenged rate hike requests.

A shift in State House transparency

The tone of the new administration will be on display as early as January 2027. During his 2025 State of the State address, Governor Daniel J. McKee faced significant backlash after restricting public access to the State House rotunda. That decision sparked a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, which resulted in a settlement ensuring the space remained open for protest.

When asked if she would follow that precedent of cordoning off the area during her own first State of the State address, Foulkes offered a one-word answer: “No.” This move signals a deliberate attempt to distance her administration from the perceived secrecy of her predecessor, a point she emphasized when discussing the record $6.77 million her campaign raised. She defended that spending as a necessary measure to overcome the structural advantages of an incumbent, noting that the financial support she received was a direct reflection of the public’s desire for a change in leadership.

As she prepares to submit her first budget proposal to the General Assembly in January, the reality of the state's finances will test these promises. With state spending up 40% over the last five years, Foulkes faces the difficult task of balancing the demand for restored public services against the taxpayer’s growing frustration with government efficiency. For now, the focus remains on the transition, the search for new agency heads, and the promise of a more open, accessible executive office.

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