On July 20, transportation agencies completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Vermont’s Circ Highway. The planned project would be an expensive new boulevard roadway outside of Burlington, Vermont. The project is a poor public investment and a subsidy for sprawl.
Costing over $60 million dollars, saving only 4 minutes of travel time, limiting public transportation options, destroying irreplaceable farmland and wetlands while providing less congestion relief in Essex compared to improving existing roads is simply a bad idea.
Join CLF in calling for sensible transporation solutions, NOT more crowded roads and more pollution. Submit comments online by August 27, 2010 or attend a public hearing:
Public Hearings will be August 9 & 10:
Monday August 9th 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. @ Williston Central School Auditorium -195 Central School Drive, Williston
Tuesday August 10th 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. @ Champlain Valley Exposition-105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction
See CLF’s website for more information and sample comments.
Tony Redington
Will follow up on a 29 page EIS draft response (Nov. 07). Called for roundabouts on VT 2A all the way (plus entrance to IBM on Park and Maple Streets). This improves capacity and service and safety for VT 2A, the major “problem.” The Essex Five Corners has so little traffic only a one lane roundabout is needed.
OK, key points include: CAR TRAVEL (1) looked like no growth in vehicle travel in Vermont in late 2007–now it is a sure thing, average of annual change and 12-month moving average this year of VAOT Automatic Traffic Recorder Reports (monthly) 2000 to date: 0.0 change in car travel. (My personal estimate for the decade was = – 5% so I am dean on!). Prediction for next two decades about 5% decline Vermont car travel per decade putting us back the 1990 numbers.
(2) NO GROWTH IN PRIME CAR DRIVING AGE POPULATION—no change in under 65 population 2000-2030 (US Census projection) for Vermont, unchanged at this point. Over 65 population will double but they drive about
40% less than the 25-55 prime driving age group. No room for car travel growth! (3) GUESS WHAT VERMONT AND CHITT CTY POPULATION GROWTH STALLED THIS DECADE–Just now we are seeing Vermont and Chit. Cty population (annual Census estimates) seriously lagging growth projections of
US Census at decade beginning. FOR THE FIRST TIME Chit Cty growth is estimated to be trailing the growth (very small to being with) of balance of the State.
There are over 2000 roundabouts in the US now–three more in Vermont since the draft EIS comment deadline in 2007. NY State DOT in 2005, British Columbia last year–both officially–went “roundabouts only”, no more traffic signals and Rhode Island DOT unofficially went no-signals/all roundabouts last year. First need is fix up what we have, roundaboutize the key Circ related intersections, then look and see if there is a need for anything more. Meanwhile put in light density commuter rail with St. Albans to Burlington/Montpelier-Barre to Burlington routes stopping at the IBM parking lot and adding a spur to the airport.