Written by Karl Keminitzer, Hartland, Vermont Sierra Club Tranpsortation Team
This fall our Vermont transportation agency VTrans will be surveying towns and regional planning commissions along Route 5 to find out how interested they are in working on a bicycle corridor from the Massachusetts state line to the Canadian border.
A corridor would have many benefits:
- increased safety for bicyclists and pedestrians
- better road shoulders, or a separated bike path, would make average riders feel more comfortable and make it easier for car drivers to pass
- our core destinations were settled along Route 5, which makes local businesses more accessible for everyday bike trips by residents
- makes transportation more equitable for those who do not have a car
- more efficient use of existing infrastructure
- improve access to existing transit
- connects town centers to outskirts better
- reduces car congestion in our urban downtowns
- improves recreational access to the river
- Route 5 is an official "Scenic Byway" and this would enhance our tourist economy
- makes a connection between Lebanon to St. Johnsbury for the Rails to Trails network
- while Rte 5 is one of our more level roads, the advent of e-bikes increases corridor usefulness
- enables more physical activity for better health
- helps make our transportation system cleaner and less susceptible to natural disasters •helps small towns who don't have the budget or staff to improve their roads
- Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is usually 1/10 to 1/100 the cost of car infrastructure
Route 5 has a town every 5 to 10 miles along its length, often with a matching town across the river in NH. Since traffic uses I-91, it makes sense to connect the local towns making ir more accessible for local users.
Many people would like to ride a bike but do not feel the roads are safe and comfortable. One study found that 56% of people are "interested but concerned" about bike riding. Our roads should be built to serve the average person. If you would like to see our core river valley road improved, this summer and fall is an excellent time to speak with your town officials to let them know
Here is the legislative Bill authorizing this survey:
SUPPORT FOR A ROUTE 5 BICYCLE CORRIDOR; SURVEY REPORT AS PASSED BY VT HOUSE BILL H.479, Section 39 (was 35 or 32 in earlier drafts). Page 54 of 97, VT LEG #369128 v.1 1 May 5, 2023
a) The Agency of Transportation, in partnership with regional planning commissions through the annual Transportation Planning Initiative, shall conduct a survey of municipal support for the creation of a bicycle corridor - consisting of one or more segments of bicycle lanes or bicycle paths, or both - to provide a safe means of travel via bicycle on or along a route that is roughly adjacent to U.S. Route 5 for the approximately 190 miles spanning between the State border with Massachusetts and the State border with Quebec, Canada.
(b) The survey shall address the level of interest of municipalities and regional planning commissions in prioritizing the creation of a bicycle corridor along some or all of U.S. Route 5, including the consideration of the costs of creation and benefits to the tourism industry in Vermont in general and to the municipalities along U.S. Route 5 in particular.
(c) The Agency shall provide a report on outcome of the survey to the House and Senate Committees on Transportation on or before January 15, 2024.