CHAMPLAIN INTERNATIONAL BIKE ROUTE

Phase TWO Development Proposal

2000-2001

 

 

 

1.      Vision

 

Burlington Bikeways, Inc. proposes to develop and operate two small ferries across two water gaps in the historic 100-year-old Rutland Railroad railbed, linking Burlington, Colchester and South Hero creating an alternative transportation corridor

and public recreation destination.  This corridor includes the 3½ mile long “Marble Causeway” - possibly the longest water crossing of any recreation path in the world, arcing across the broad expanse of Lake Champlain from Colchester Point to South Hero Island.

 

      These two ferries will link the Burlington Bikeway, Delta Park, Airport Park, the Colchester Bog, Causeway Park, Law Island Natural Area and the South Hero Recreation Path in a valuable off-road addition to the Lake Champlain Bikeways network.  Looking at the larger picture, we are linking Chittenden County with Grand Isle County’s internationally famous biking opportunities, bypassing miles of busy State highways.  It has even been suggested that part of this corridor could be developed as a spectacular State Park.  With the completion of the route 2 resurfacing project in 2000, there will be a safe shoulder of at least 1.2 meters through Grand Isle County to the Canadian Border. From there a developed bike route leads to the historic Chambly Canal Tow Path in the Richelieu River Valley (“The Valley of the Forts”), passing by Fort Lennox (1759) and Fort Chambly (1709), national historic sites of Parks Canada.  Heading south from Burlington, or across the lake on Lake Champlain Transportation Company’s ferries, the Lake Champlain Bikeways network leads to Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga.

 

      Also in the larger picture, is a “pocket park” at the northern terminus of the Burlington Bikeway, creating a recreation destination of over 300’ of natural river and wetlands frontage, and over an acre of open and wooded land where currently the only public space is a 10’ by 10’ bridge abutment.  The Mayes property is currently for sale on the open market.  This would be a great enhancement to the CIBR public transportation corridor and in keeping with Governor Hoff’s vision for this scenic railbed.  (The 1963 proposal “A String of Pearls” recommended that the entire abandoned Rutland Railroad from Burlington to Canada become a State-owned recreation corridor with pocket parks; unfortunately, it was an opportunity not seized when presented.)  Further, the Auer family has expressed their willingness to continue to develop public/private uses for their keystone property at the confluence of Lake Champlain, the Winooski River and the Burlington Bikeway with eventual public ownership possible.

 

      This route will be more than a scenic byway, it will be an international historic interpretive corridor with signage, maps and stories; it will be a centerpiece of the National Park Service’s initiative – The Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project, championed by Senator Jeffords and enthusiastically supported by the Mayors of Burlington, Plattsburg and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

 

      The development of this project will be an open process involving local citizens, Cities and Towns, Chambers of Commerce, the NWRPC, CCRPC, CCMPO, AOT, ANR, NPS, National Heritage Corridor Commission, Parks Canada, Lake Champlain Bikeways, and Lake Champlain Byways.