All tagged Local

Car Convenience over Pedestrian Safety: VTrans Values Traffic Speed over Safety of School Children

Car Convenience over Pedestrian Safety: VTrans Values Traffic Speed over Safety of School Children

Cate Phypers
infrastructure, Community, planning & design

The difference between 25 and 30 miles per hour to a driver is nothing. To a biker, this could be the difference between life and death, according to AAA. However, this doesn’t seem to be a concern to the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

A recent speed limit update has been added to the entirety of Route 116 (Hinesburg Road), reducing the posted speed limit from 35 to 30 miles per hour after years of studies and requests from the city of South Burlington, according to the city’s website. While this is a win, South Burlington’s goal was a reduction down to 25 miles per hour. This may not seem like a large difference, but according to a 2011 study by AAA, the risk of severe injury by impact for a pedestrian is 25% below 25 miles per hour and doubles to 50% at just 31 miles per hour.

Developer opposition grows to Taft Corners zoning changes

Developer opposition grows to Taft Corners zoning changes

Karson Petty
planning & design, Community

Developers pushed back on proposed rule changes to turn Taft Corners into a walkable downtown area at the latest Williston Planning Commission meeting.

The Feb. 15 meeting was the second one held by the planning commission where Williston residents and developers could weigh in on changes to a working draft of new zoning rules. The rules are called form-based code, which was formally introduced in a Feb. 1 planning commission meeting, but has been in discussion for about a year.

New Amtrak Train to Bring Easy NYC Travel to Queen City Residents

New Amtrak Train to Bring Easy NYC Travel to Queen City Residents

Hanna Hartman
infrastructure, transit

This summer, Burlington is set to have a convenient new way to get to New York City. The Ethan Allen Express railway will extend from Rutland, its current northernmost destination, through Middlebury and Vergennes, onto Burlington.

The train is on schedule to roll into Burlington’s Union Station in July 2022. A date can’t be set yet due to unpredictable weather patterns and spring thawing. “We can’t control Mother Nature,” said Dan Delabruere, Bureau Director of Rail and Aviation at the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

It takes 5 ½ hours to get from Rutland to New York City. The train ride from Burlington to New York is likely to take 8 hours, according to Delabruere.

Completing the Puzzle: The Future of South Burlington’s Walk/Bike Paths

Completing the Puzzle: The Future of South Burlington’s Walk/Bike Paths

Cate Phypers
planning & design, infrastructure, Community

Connectedness. That is the theme for the next several years in terms of South Burlington’s bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

As it is, South Burlington’s bike paths stretch and wind for a whopping 24 miles throughout the city. These paths, which began construction in 1990, link neighborhoods, parks, and schools all around South Burlington. Much of this is thanks to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee (BPC) whose mission is to oversee and maintain the recreational paths in the city. However, there are missing pieces that need filling. I sat down with two of the committee members to discuss the future of South Burlington’s pedestrian-centered infrastructure.

Main Street Construction Set to Begin Soon. Will Local Businesses Survive?

Main Street Construction Set to Begin Soon. Will Local Businesses Survive?

Anthony LaSalle
planning & design, Community

The Great Streets BTV initiative has been underway for years now. A public vote in March 2015 set the project in motion and the city has produced notable results. The initiative is comprised of 3 interrelated plans, which include implementing street standards for all Downtown Burlington streets, reconstructing City Hall Park, and an overhaul of St. Paul and Main Street.

Developers push back on proposed Taft Corners zoning rules

Developers push back on proposed Taft Corners zoning rules

Karson Petty
Community, infrastructure, planning & design

Proposed rule changes that aim to make Taft Corners more walkable and people-friendly were met with pushback by local developers at a Williston Planning Commission meeting held on Feb. 1.

The new rules, known as form-based code, do away with the notion of residential and commercial districts. The rules would put more priority on the town’s goal of creating more pedestrian-focused developments that are pleasing to the eye.