Author Archives: Tom

Burlington Waterfront Park Power Lines Coming Down

Power lines coming down from Burlington Waterfront Park

The view at Burlington’s Waterfront Park will soon be improved!

After 56 years of service on the waterfroint, power lines and utility poles are being removed offering an unobstructed view of New York’s Adirondack Mountains across Lake Champlain.

Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell says the lines are being removed from Waterfront Park due to upgrades to the transmission system throughout Chittenden County. These upgrades have made it possible to reliably operate without the lines marring the scenic waterfront.

City of Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger says the work will enhance the beauty of Waterfront Park and the northern waterfront for the enjoyment of the community and visitors.

EPA Head in VT to Discuss Lake Champlain Clean-up Plans

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in Vermont

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy is in Vermont today to talk about plans for cleaning up Lake Champlain.

McCarthy, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is meeting Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and other officials to begin a ‘Call To Action’ meeting with representatives of other federal agencies. The group will develop action plans to reduce pollution and harmful algae blooms in Lake Champlain.

EPA Assistance for Lake Champlain Clean-up

McCarthy is expected to offer technical assistance from the EPA to help the city of Burlington take a more “integrated approach to stormwater and wastewater” projects.

“EPA is committed to helping communities meet their requirements and goals for water projects that benefit public health, the environment, and the local economy, Integrated planning provides the important flexibility that cities and towns need to address water challenges in an efficient and effective manner.” ~ Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator

Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator

Integrated planning lets communities sequence projects so they can begin the highest priority ones first. EPA technical assistance will help recipients meet Clean Water Act requirements for water management in a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial way. In the past, EPA, states and municipalities focused on meeting each Clean Water Act requirement separately, an approach that might have kept communities from addressing the most serious water issues first.

Burlington, Vermont Selected for EPA Program

Burlington was one of five communities selected from around the country to participate in the project. The award to Burlington was based on its proposal to evaluate the financial capability to fund an integrated stormwater and wastewater program; to develop criteria for prioritizing community wastewater and stormwater needs based on social, economic and environmental factors; to develop a list of example projects that rank highly based on these criteria; and to evaluate innovative methods for pollutant reduction.

After a meeting at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington, McCarthy is going to visit St. Albans Bay, which was particularly hard-struck by blue-green algae this past summer.

Read more info about the EPA technical assistance program.

Burlington Bike Path Upgrades Begin

Burlington Bike Path Expansion & Enhancements Break Ground

Governor Peter Shumlin, other State and City of Burlington officials, and bike path stakeholders broke ground in Waterfront Park on the first phase of a multi-year effort to completely rebuild, expand, and Burlington’s eight mile Bike Path. State tax increment financing (TIF) funds are funding the first phase of Burlington’s recreational crown jewel’s rebuilding project: improving user safety, and continuing the annual economic impact benefit for the city.

“The Burlington Bike Path is a jewel in this great City and a treasure for our whole state. The State of Vermont was glad to make TIF funding – a true economic generator – available for the Burlington Bike Path expansion and enhancements to make sure it continues to be a top destination for recreation and a community resource for years to come.” ~ Governor Peter Shumlin

Burlington Bike Path

Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith praised Mayor Miro Weinberger and other municipal leaders for making smart investments in Burlington’s future, calling the project “… an excellent example of what municipalities can accomplish when working in partnership with the State. I look forward to engaging with our partners to find more opportunities to improve our downtown destinations.”

“Creation of the bike path nearly 30 years ago was an act of leadership, foresight, struggle, and innovation, and a big step towards making Burlington a great City. It’s now our responsibility to ensure proper, long-term stewardship of this remarkable public resource by improving it to meet the 21st century infrastructure expectations of the people of Burlington and the thousands of visitors who use the path every year.” ~ Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger

The newly-widened path will consist of asphalt (11 feet wide) and two-foot gravel shoulders on either side, will be built to much higher engineering standards than the original bike path, and will yield higher capacity and more varied user types. Jesse Bridges, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Director said that he is “excited by these ambitious plans. User surveys we have conducted have told us that lake views, the bike path, and beaches are the most important assets we manage. To meet growing demand for these healthy pursuits, we must enhance the quality of our design and continue to increase opportunities.”

Waterfront Park

Improvements to The Burlington Bike Path

Wider path: The current path cross-section varies from 8-10 feet, with and without non-formalized shoulders. After rehabilitation, the path will have the 2-11-2 cross section mentioned above, with full-depth reconstruction, wherever conditions permit.
Higher engineering standards: Improved longevity, security, and appearance due to consistent sub-base, uniform top coat, proper slope to better accommodate stormwater flow, formal aggregate shoulders, centerline striping, and delineation paint.
Safety enhancements: Intersection improvements and new path alignments,.
Improved connections: Between the bike path and city parks, the lake, and cultural resources.
Improved Signage: New signage and visual demarcations to enhance the user experience.
Pause places: Special places along the path to create more opportunities for enjoyment. These will include rest stops, information stops, and pocket parks; they will offer varied amenities such as information kiosks, seating, drinking fountains, and artwork.

Burlington Bike Path Phase 1 Plans

Phase 1a construction will start now in Waterfront Park, and crews will work their way south to Perkins Pier, meeting substantial completion next spring. The cost of this work is $644,975.

During 2015, Parks and Recreation expects to complete any remaining Phase 1a construction items and begin/complete Phase 1b construction from the south end of the Urban Reserve (adjacent to the Waterfront Access North site) to North Beach. Phase 1b is anticipated to cost more than Phase 1a because there will be more full-depth reconstruction involved.

Total TIF allocation for path rehabilitation from Perkins Pier through the Urban Reserve is $2.84 million for design and construction.

Future Phases of Rehabilitation

The overall cost of the full bike path rehabilitation is estimated between $12-16 million.
Funding of future phases will require more action. The Administration will be coming forward soon with a plan to fund the next phase of rehabilitation to begin in spring 2016.

Burlington Bike Path Timeline

Burlington Bike Path – repairs 2012-13

1985-1986: The original bike path was constructed .
2004: Burlington and Colchester Trail Bridge over the Winooski River was built and opened.
2010: Bike Path Task Force recommended a $12-16 million expansion and enhancement plan to bring the bike path up to modern standards.
April 2011: Lake Champlain flooding severely damaged five sections of the bike path.
2012: Burlington voters approved up to $2.84 million of TIF investment in the bike path expansion and enhancement from Perkins Pier to the northern boundary of the Urban Reserve. Voters also approved an annual allocation of approximately $173,000 for maintenance and improvement of the bike path.
2012-2013: major bike path and slope stabilization repairs completed, mostly funded through FEMA.
2012-2014: conceptual design for the entire bike path completed; design development and permitting per construction phase remains ongoing.

Lake Champlain Sunset-Moonset from Alburgh, Vermont

Lake Champlain Sunset-Moonset, Sept. 26, 2014

Lake Champlain Sunset-Moonset from Alburgh, Vermont (with Adirondack Mountains in background). Photo taken September 26, 2014 in alburgh,VT.

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Anglers, Hunters & Boaters Reminded of Cold Water Safety by VT Fish & Wildlife

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Advice on Cold Water Safety

Autumn has arrived and with the resulting cold air and water temperatures, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding anglers, hunters and boaters to take caution and exercise cold water safety practices while on the water this fall.

“The fall season can be a very enjoyable time of year to be on the water,” said Sgt. Keith Gallant, warden with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. “With migrating waterfowl and great fishing opportunities, Vermont’s waterways are at their peak in the fall.”

Fall also brings lower water temperatures, which increase the risk of hypothermia in the case of an on-the-water accident.

Cold Water Safety Begins With PFD

“The use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is absolutely critical this time of year, given that it can significantly increase chances of survival in cold-water scenarios,” said Gallant.

Vermont boating law requires that all vessels carry one U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III or V PFD for each person on board. Vessels 16 feet in length or longer must also have one U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type IV PFD on board. Additionally, children under 12 years of age must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II or III PFD at all times while any vessel is underway.

New York State boating laws, which apply to the waters on the New York side of Lake Champlain, require that all persons aboard motorboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats and sailboats less than 21 feet in length wear a PFD while on New York waters from November 1 to May 1.

Anglers, Hunters & Boaters Reminded of Cold Water Safety by VT Fish & Wildlife ( PFD's )

Types of PFD’s

Sudden immersion in cold water, can lead to loss of swimming ability and strength, gasping and the inhalation of water, hypothermia, and rapid unconsciousness.

“Cold water removes body heat much faster than cold air, so wearing a life jacket is critical any time cold water is present,” said Gallant. “A life jacket won’t keep you warm in cold water, but it will keep you afloat in the event that you go overboard, which could mean the difference between life and death.”

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department advises sportsmen and women to properly plan for a fall outing on the water by ensuring that they have all required safety equipment such as visual and audible distress signaling devices, plenty of warm clothing, and an updated weather forecast. Strong winds are common in the fall and can sometimes make for dangerous situations on larger bodies of water such as Lake Champlain.

To learn more about boating safety and Vermont’s boating laws, visit http://www.boat-ed.com/vermont/handbook/.

Lake Champlain Life

Exploring Life on and Around Lake Champlain