Assembly approves naming bike path in Woonsocket for local housing developer Albert P. Valliere
STATE HOUSE – Woonsocket’s section of the Blackstone River Bike Path will soon be known as the Albert P. Valliere Bike Path under legislation sponsored by Sen. Melissa A. Murray and Rep. Stephen M. Casey and approved by the General Assembly today.
Valliere, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 74, was a North Smithfield resident who was born in Woonsocket and was the CEO of Nation Wide Construction. He was a dedicated leader and contributor to the Woonsocket community and served on the Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative, lending his professional expertise to help leaders respond to the city’s affordable housing efforts. In 2017, he was honored by Grow Smart Rhode Island as an
for his dedication to revitalizing the area and creating affordable housing in Rhode Island.“Albert Valliere dedicated much of his life to making Woonsocket a better community for all of us, and particularly understood how important it is that every family has a home that is safe and welcoming. He was a shining example of a business leader who genuinely cared about the community where he worked. It’s very appropriate that our bike path, which is a beautiful recreational resource that makes Woonsocket a better place, will bear his name,” said Senator Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield).
Valliere was also an avid triathlete who once biked 200 miles in a day and was always the first out of the water in his age group.
Said Representative Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), “Naming the bike path for Albert Valliere is such a fitting tribute to a man who loved to ride and loved Woonsocket. We are fortunate for all he did for our city.”
The legislation (2024-S 2483, 2024-H 8319) now goes to the governor. The Woonsocket City Council voted in February to support the bill.
The Senate has again rejected a measure that would end the government shutdown. It comes after Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley spoke on the floor for over 22 hours. Senate Democrats refuse to vote for a House funding resolution unless it extends health insurance subsidies used by over 20-million people. 
