About the FLVRT
Photographs of Recent Hikes and Bikes
What's been happening at the eastern end of the LVRT?
St. Johnsbury Bike Path-The East End of the LVRT
Member Contributions
The LVRT From Hyde Park to Morrisville
The LVRT and the "Bump" in the Road
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Alan Robertson presents--“Where’s the Trail?”
A Progress Report on the LVRT by John Roman, Member
Three presentations sponsored by the Friends were held in St Johnsbury,
Morrisville and Bakersfield Vermont in April and May featuring Alan Robertson’s
power point presentation on the status of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
Alan is Project Engineer for the LVRT working on volunteer basis with
VAST and has recently completed a document entitled “Lamoille Valley
Rail Trail Engineering Assessment and Proposed Alternative Description”
in April of 2008. Alan’s work on this assessment began over two
years ago with the preparation and planning of the field assessment of
the 94-mile railway corridor.
These assemblies were well received with over 40 attendees at each venue
and all who came surely took home with them a better sense of the immenseness
of the assessment completed, and the challenging work for the development
of the trail that lay ahead. Yet, after having attended all three presentations
and having read the assessment I personally feel a relief of optimism,
as I now realize what all the challenges are and that a timeline of progress
is definitely in motion.
Each presentation opened with a brief history of the St. Johnsbury and
Lamoille County Railroad from it’s inception in 1867 to its completion
in 1877, and continuing through present day closure in the mid 1990s,
and final track and tie removal in 2005. In good presentation sequence,
Mr. Robertson followed with a timeline to explain more recent processes
of Legislation leading to the current VTrans lease agreement with VAST
for the development and operation and maintenance of the trail. This timeline
was again referenced later in the presentation as it detailed the proposed
sequencing of final assessment, permitting, ongoing preventative maintenance
and future construction measures necessary to bring the trail to completion.
Featured were the findings of the assessment that detailed the varying
conditions of the current day ballast that is primarily impacted by deficient
or non existent side ditch drainage, and also described various drainage
and crossing structures on this corridor, that along with the ballast,
are challenged by many years of weather, erosion and nature’s persistent
succession. For contrast, and to provide example of what practices might
be employed to revitalize the trail, the improved 0.6 mile section in
East Hardwick was pictured and described. Comparisons to other recent
projects on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail and New Hampshire’s
Northern Rail Trail were also made. The audience was also enlightened
to the many historic features and natural scenic beauty of our Vermont
94-mile corridor.
The subject matters of encroachments and renegade crossings were also
reviewed. As railroad use ceased and the corridor lacked the necessary
maintenance over so many years, some abutters apparently considered the
R.O.W. a convenient dumping ground or nice extension to their property.
The issue of encroachment was deemed one of the most difficult to overcome,
but that this challenge was already being addressed in many instances.
The efforts of the Vermont ANR with their Flood Plain Restoration (FPR)
projects along numerous sections of the corridor were described. Finally,
and perhaps most important, the presentations closed with commentary on
what tasks citizens and their townships can be performing to evaluate
locations and prepare plans for trailheads, and other parts they may play
to aid in expediting the trails completion.
If you attended one of these presentations you’ll realize this article
only touches lightly upon the some of the important issues discussed,
but if you were not in attendance I hope I have tickled your curiosity.
Though I am sure Alan will be repeating this performance, I am not certain
when or where that might be, and so, readers are encouraged to view Mr.
Robertson’s report available at:
www.friendslvrt.org/EngineerRpt/LVRTEngAssessandAlt.pdf
Images taken during the assessment of structures in Hardwick and Walden.
Bikers enjoying the neighboring Missiquoi Valley Rail Trail.
Nearby businesses like this beer brewery will surely benefit from a completed LVRT recreational trail.
Friends
of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, Inc.
P.O. Box 995 Morrisville, VT 05661
Copyright 2007 by the Friends of the Lamoille Rail Trail, Inc.
Photographs on this site by Contributing Members.
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