NEWS RELEASES

Bike Bridge and Circ Draw Residents to Meeting

South Burlington, VT - The Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO) approved measures to enable two transportation projects to move forward at its July Board of Directors meeting Wednesday night. The Circumferential Highway and the Burlington/Colchester Bike/Pedestrian Bridge both drew opponents and supporters to the meeting as the CCMPO considered amendments to its current Transportation Improvement Program. The Board also heard an update from VTrans, the state transportation agency, on shortfalls in federal highway funds.

The bike bridge amendment added $1.5 million in federal funds to pay for new clearance requirements over the Winooski River, a navigable waterway, and for construction of an elevated walkway through Delta Park, necessary because of environmental constraints. The total cost of the project is now $3.3 million. The bridge will connect the Burlington and Colchester bike paths.

Amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program for the Circumferential Highway added $1,786,954 for engineering costs and $2,218,506 in right-of-way costs. Those additions are accompanied by a change in construction costs from this year to the 2006 fiscal year.

The Board received information from the state on a $4.7 million shortfall statewide in federal highway (FHWA) funds for the State Transportation Improvement Program. This includes Chittenden County and is for federal fiscal year 2004 beginning October 1. Transportation Secretary Pat McDonald and VTrans staff are working with the CCMPO on the funding reductions. The state has already reduced its needs by $3 million and is asking the CCMPO to review its transportation program and move $1.7 million in project funding out of this fiscal year into future years.

The Board voted to hold a public hearing on the new Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal years 2004 through 2006 on August 20 at 7 pm at South Burlington City Hall.

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