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USGS
Topographic map of Burlington
The front of Burlington Union Station at the lakeside end of Main Street. Digital Picture by Kenyon F. Karl on July 25, 1999.
The bikeway runs along the passenger platform at the rear of Burlington Union Station. The train in the picture is the Champlain Valley Weekender operated on a seasonal basis until the fall of 1999. Digital Picture by Kenyon F. Karl on July 25, 1999.
Burlington Union Station was the city's train station between 1916 and 1953 accommodating all of the passenger trains for both the Rutland Railroad and Central Vermont Railroad. Note that the Main Street Landing Web Site contains a numerous contemporary and historic photographs of Union Station and surrounding buildings, a national model for eco-friendly re-use of historic buildings.
The bikeway crosses the tracks at the College Street Crossing at the north end of the railroad station platform. Digital Picture by Kenyon F. Karl on July 25, 1999.
The dining area for the Hike & Bike Cafe on the bikeway a few feet south of the station. Digital Picture by Kenyon F. Karl on July 25, 1999.
The bikeway crosses the railroad again at the busy King Street Crossing a half-block north of the Station platform. Digital Picture by Kenyon F. Karl on July 25, 1999.
Relocation of the Burlington Bike Path was planned for the fall of 1999 to the west side of the railroad track to avoid conflicts between bike path users and commuter rail passengers. Note that this change will also reduce the accident hazards associated with these two rail crossings!
Trail access is available at:
College Avenue Crossing (just north of Union Station)
Stairs that surround the Hike & Bike Cafe to the south end of Union Station and Main Street
King Street Crossing (one block south of Union Station)
Maple Street Crossing (two blocks south of Union Station)
Union Station offers ATM, toilets, Telephone, Bike racks, and bike
lockers. Showers are available at the CB Fitness Center for a small fee. The Fresco
Studio is apparently located within this building. Note that the trackside platform shelter at Union Station offers some protection from
inclement weather.
Refreshments and limited food is available for outdoor dining at the Hike & Bike Cafe
a few feet north of Union Station passenger platform. Note that this outdoor cafe is presumably open only on a seasonal
basis.
Mona's at the Cornerstone is near the front door of Union Station (adjacent to the top of the
circular stairs that surround the dining area of Hike & Bike Cafe, or up the
sidewalk on Lake Street from the College Street Crossing).
Lake Champlain
Transportation Company ferry operates an
automobile ferry on a frequent basis from the King Street Dock (one block south
of Union Station) to Port Kent NY during the late spring,
summer and early fall months. Note that food, telephone, toilets and water are
available at the ferry dock when the ferry is operating. Also located at King Street Dock are
Breakwaters Cafe and Grill offering food, ATM, toilets, telephone, bike
rack and bike rental; as well as Lake Champlain Cruise and Charter offering
food, ATM, toilets, telephone, and bike rental. Note that Amtrak's
Adirondack stops at Port Kent NY (PRK) near the ferry
dock whenever the
ferry is running, and features a baggage car with bike
racks (available by reservation only).
Perkins Pier offers ATM, toilets, boating, and picnicking
apparently adjacent to the
end of King Street. Waterfront Boat Rentals offers toilets, telephone,
and bike lockers also at Perkins Pier.
Lake Champlain
Basin Science Center adjacent to the College Street Crossing educates the public
with hands-on ecological and cultural exhibits, including a shipwreck and
live aquatic animals. This building provides toilets and bike racks for
trail users.
The Burlington Community Boathouse
at the waterfront from the College
Street Crossing offers food, ATM, toilets and water, telephone, showers,
sailboat rentals, a marina, a community room, and waterfront views. Winds
of Ireland and Whitecaps at the Boathouse also offer food, bike
lockers, toilets, and telephone. Winds
of Ireland Web Site has a nice picture of the boathouse.
Benches and a picnic area is available at the Waterfront Park and Promenade,
along the trail north of the College Street Crossing.
Battery Park along Battery street (accessible from College Street and via
stairs at other locations) offers Food, Scenic views, Historic Attraction,
picnicking, and a Playground.
Isabel's on the Waterfront at 112 Lake
St. offers food, bike repair, and
a historic attraction.
Parking is
supposedly available near the College and King Street crossings, although users
must anticipate payment of parking fees!
A very busy boat ramp is located at the end of Maple Street. A chemical toilet
was noted adjacent to the ramp, although it may be available only on a seasonal
basis.
A wide variety of eating establishments and other shops are available on and
near the Church Street Mall which can be easily reached via the free CCTA
College Street Shuttle (with bike rack) from a bench on Lake
Street just east of the College Street Crossing .
The Lake Chaplain Community Sailing Center located north of the Coast Guard
Station offers instruction, rentals and storage of both bikes and
sailboats, and is equipped to handle the specialized needs of disabled bikers
and sailors. Restrooms are available to trail users.
Vermont
Transportation Authority operates a commuter train from Union
Station to Shelburne and Charlotte on a daily basis. The Unofficial
Web Site for this service may have more current information. Bicycles
are permitted aboard the Champlain Flyer at all times!
The CCTA
College Street Shuttle stops at a bench on Lake street, several feet east
of the College Street Crossing, with another stop at
the front door of Union Station (upstairs). This bus
often resembles an old fashioned trolley car, but it offers free
transportation to the downtown area and the University of Vermont Campus at the top of the
hill. All CCTA busses have bike racks!
Many of
CCTA city bus routes stop at one or more places along the length of Battery street, a
block away from the College street crossing, although it is necessary to check the
transit map very carefully since each route loops through the downtown area in a
different manner. Note that all city bus routes (except the College
Street Shuttle) meet at the Cherry Street Bus Station every half-hour for an easy
transfer between city bus routes. All CCTA busses have bike racks!
Amtrak's
Vermonter stops at Essex Jct. (ESX) on a daily
basis, Note that the Vermonter features a
baggage car with bike racks (available by reservation only). Amtrak
schedules are also available from DVARP in
the traditional format. The CCTA
Essex (E) route operates
a connecting bus service to its Cherry Street terminal in
downtown Burlington that also stops near the corner of College and Battery Streets
about a block away from the College Street Crossing.
Vermont Transit
stops at 345 Pine
Street in Burlington (#1986 & #1987) with
intercity bus service to most parts of Vermont as well as Boston and Albany. Greyhound
Bus Lines offers
connections to a multitude of other points across the Continental
USA. Vermont Transit accepts bikes in boxes as part of
the passenger baggage allowance. Bikers that are used to street traffic should
be able to reach the bus station by traveling east two blocks from the Maple
Street Crossing (two blocks south of Union Station) then south on Pine street
three or four blocks to the bus station. Otherwise the CCTA
Lakeside (L) route
stops near the Vermont Transit Bus Station and also on Battery Street near College
Street (the crossing just north of Union Station then travel one block east) on its way to the
Cherry Street Bus Station.
Mrs.
Farrell's Home Hostel at 27 Arlington Court in Burlington is
listed at the Hostels.com Web Site.
The Vermont
Chamber of Commerce offers visitor information on the Web for the
Burlington Area. Visitor information is also available at:
Listed on the
National Register
of Historic Places:Sign images are from the Manual of Traffic Signs by Richard C. Moeur.
Updated on March 05, 2001 by Kenyon F.
Karl <Webmaster@new-england-rail-trails.org>.
Some facilities information has been copied from the Cycle the City
brochure produced by Burlington Bikeways.
Unintentional errors are likely!
