The Town of Shelburne has received a grant to work with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) on a feasibility study to address bicycling and walking facilities on Bay Road in Shelburne. The study area encompasses the 1.7 mile stretch of Bay Road from Harbor Road to Shelburne Road (US Route 7).  Increasing the use of alternatives to single person automobiles for personal travel, including bicycle and walking, is a priority objective in the Shelburne Comprehensive Plan. Walking and bicycling have taken place along town highways since the nineteenth century. This study is a pre-requisite for budgeting and grants to implement an ideal pedestrian/bicycle solution.

Timeline

• August 10, 2016:  A project steering/advisory committee met with members of the CCRPC and the Toole Design Group to kick-off the study of the Bay Road Corridor.  
• October 25, 2016:  Toole Design Group developed an existing conditions summary memo (including archeological findings) and a Local Concerns presentation (see related documents on the right).
•  March 28, 2017:  A presentation of alternative  designs is scheduled for March 28.
•  May 9, 2017: A presentation of new/revised alternative designs is scheduled for May 9, 2017, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Town Center, Meeting Room 1. Consultant Beth Isler, P.E., of Toole Design Group will be presenting a new “conceptual alternative” for improvements to the Bay Road corridor to the Selectboard on May 9. The new plan—which is being described as a hybrid—is a departure from earlier alternatives. Rather than proposing a single type of improvement throughout the corridor, the hybrid plan proposes several different segments and updated phasing. In recommending different types of facilities within each segment, an effort was made to address the purpose and need for the project while also considering environmental and other constraints, as well as public comments heard at previous meetings. Should the Selectboard endorse the new alternative—as is or with minor modifications—the consultant will complete her work by preparing a final report for the Board’s review and acceptance.