Rhode Island residents deserve special treatment to ensure they don't get turned away from state beaches, as some did Sunday afternoon when the state closed beaches to newcomers because of overcrowding.

That’s one repeat sentiment in projo.com’s survey asking what the state can do to keep the beaches open.

Here's a sampling of suggestions:

-- Some beaches reserved only for Rhode Islanders.

-- Cheaper entry fees for Rhode Island residents.

-- Distant parking lots with shuttle service set up for nonresidents, so Rhode Islanders have access to the parking lots at the state’s beaches.

“I do agree with the previous comments about out of state vehicles,” one respondent said. “I think raising the price for out-of-staters is fair. Massachusetts has beaches. Connecticut has beaches. If you live there, use your own state's beaches. Maybe we need to go one step further and make some of our beaches accessible to only Rhode Island residents and designate one or two to be used by both Rhode Islanders as well as tourists.”

Some have expressed general anger after they were turned away from beaches on Sunday, the first time the state has ever used its Amber Alert message boards on the highways to issue messages that all Rhode Island state beaches were closed.

However, many respondents have offered constructive advice, much of it centering on a need for more shuttle services and better coordination among beach-goers. Some suggest the beach-goers could carpool more often so cars with just one and two people aren’t clogging beach lots.

Despite requests for more shuttle services, the spokeswoman for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Karen Mensel, said yesterday that RIPTA “does not have the resources to add” routes. But what if beach parking fees were raised – and maybe just on particularly busy beach days -- specifically to help pay for more shuttles, one respondent asked?

Someone suggested short-term and long-term parking at the beaches, like in Galilee, which the person says has a two-hour lot and a four-hour lot, which is free, that allows for consistent turnover. Enforcement of short-term lots – with tickets charging triple the daily rate – would help keep people moving.

Perhaps season-pass holders should get priority in the lots or the beaches could offer incentives for folks to leave early and allow new sunbathers in.

“On days that are super busy like this, perhaps you can refund parking fee or give one-day pass for future to early departers to make room for late comers,” someone wrote.

People also suggested the state could use additional ways to alert potential beach-goers about closures – like radio reports in addition to the highway signs.

And then, aren’t there always the more outlandish suggestions in surveys like this? How’s this one?

“Buy Connecticut so we will have more coastline.”