Editor’s note: This post is by Seven Days contributor Kevin J. Kelley.
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger unveiled a proposal Thursday to link Pine and Battery streets through what’s now a privately-owned rail yard — a plan that appears as sketchy as it is bold.
The loosely formulated plan to build a network of car, truck, pedestrian, bicyle and transit connections through property partly owned by Vermont Rail System is intended, in part, to address some local residents’ objections concerning the King/Maple streets terminus of the long-stalled Champlain Parkway.
At a press conference held in the busy and noisy rail yard, Weinberger had literally lined up many of the political players essential to moving the project forward. On hand to voice support were Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles; Democratic city council President Joan Shannon (who noted she has long been an opponent of the Champlain Parkway); Progressive councilor Rachel Siegel; and real-estate developer Ernie Pomerleau, a regular contributor to Republican candidates.
The distribution of costs for the plan seems to be firmly in place as well. The Federal Highway Administration has agreed to pay 80 percent of the price, Weinberger said, while VTrans, the state’s transportation agency, is pledging to push the legislature to approve a 10-percent share.
Not lined up, however, is a specific way for the city to cover its 10-percent share of a project for which there is no cost estimate.
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This is a great idea. I have always felt Battery Street should continue further south than Maple Street.
If Vermont was Egypt, the Pyramids would still be waiting for an Act 250 permit.
If Vermont was New Jersey, it would look like New Jersey.
Yes but at least they wouldn’t have been built with slave labor.