VTrans

The Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Burlington Department of Public Works are improving roadway conditions for all users along US Route 7 (Shelburne Street) in Burlington, VT. This joint initiative includes street reconstruction and the construction of a new single-lane roundabout at the intersection of US Route 7 (South Willard Street), US ALT Route 7 (Shelburne Street), Ledge Road and Locust Street.

The project also includes the addition of a designated left turn lane onto Ledge Road and the installation of new pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The project will improve signage, street lighting, drainage, stormwater runoff treatment, and relocate and consolidate utility transmissions underground.

Watch the Navigating the Shelburne Street Roundabout video to learn more about driving, biking and walking the new roundabout: cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/navigating-shelburne-street-roundabout.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Burlington Department of Public Works (DPW) invites you to join the Shelburne Street Roundabout Project Information Meeting for a presentation including a project overview, the anticipated schedule, and construction impacts. Following the presentation, there is an opportunity to ask questions of the project team including the contractor, S.D. Ireland Brothers.

VTrans is conducting a legislative study of the feasibility of a Montpelier - St. Albans Commuter Rail service. The study is evaluating the financial and operational feasibility of a commuter rail service in the corridor between St. Albans, Essex Junction, and Montpelier, with connecting services to Burlington and focusing on peak commutes.

The approach to the study is to evaluate commuter service to understand associated capital and operating costs, and the demand for the service, and operational issues so that the feasibility of service in the future can be better understood. The focus of the study is not to develop a plan to implement a commuter rail service but rather to understand the scale and scope of such a program.

More information on this study is available at vtrans.vermont.gov/planning/projects-programs/commuter-rail

Two conceptual schedules for the service were developed and based on different levels of peak service with a daily transit demands of 940-1,835 in the corridor region. Additionally, estimated capital and operating costs were developed to understand the implications of service costs. Initial costs included: Capital Costs of $301-363 Million, including stations, right-of-way improvement, and equipment. Capital cost variations are primarily influenced by federal technology requirements and are based on the number of trains operated daily. Operating Costs: $4.9-8.9 Million annually, including labor costs, administration, and equipment maintenance and operations. Operating costs would depend on the number of trains operated daily.

Since the Governor's May 20, 2011 announcement that the Circumferential Highway - as originally conceived - would not be built, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) staff has been coordinating with VTrans, the "CIRC Communities" (Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, and Williston), and other stakeholders to examine alternatives. The Governor asked the MPO to coordinate a process to identify projects and planning activities to address mobility, congestion, transportation demand, safety, livability, and economic development in the region.