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Present: Richard Archambault, Dorothy Baker, Roy Baker, Mark Bombardier, Marie Brouillette, Richard Brouillette, Bill Brunelle, Kathleen Brunelle, Scott Christiansen, Raymond Larose, Ferdinand Lauffer, Richard Roberge, Cindy Rutkowski, Cynthia Scott, Jim Smith, Dave Stanley, Phyllis Tiffany, Bonnie Waninger.
Chair Raymond Larose called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
D. Stanley made a motion that Council meetings be held on an every-other-month basis unless urgent matters require otherwise. Seconded by Richard Archambault. Motion carried. Next Council meeting will be October 10.
VT Forests, Parks & Recreation Grant — C. Scott reported that we have now received the signed contract and may start work on the project (picnic tables/benches/bike racks placed along Trail). B. Waninger discussed the need for Council to hire a grant administrator and project manager. M. Bmuillette made the motion that Council hire C. Scott to perform these services. Seconded by P. Tiffany. Motion carried.
Gilbert H. Newbury, P.E.
District Transportation Administrator
Vermont Agency of Transportation
Lower Newton Street, P.O. Box 317
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 524-5926
September 4, 2001
Mr. Raymond Larose, Chair
Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council
Northwest Regional Planning Commission
7 Lake Street, Suite 201
St. Albans, VT 05478
Dear Raymond:
Thank you for drawing our attention to the maintenance items mentioned in your August 15, 2001 letter. I always appreciate having other eyes and ears out on the trail alerting us when things are not up to standard. I’ll try to answer your questions one by one as numbered in your letter.
1. Inspections. We strive for a weekly inspections, but no less than once every two weeks. Normally we have one of our supervisors drive the trail when they come in to St. Albans each week to drop off paperwork. We hired a new supervisor at Enosburg and I failed to talk with him about the weekly rail trail inspections (sorry). We are straightened out now and hopefully you will see the difference.
2. Mowing width and frequency. Mowing, believe it or not is one of the more controversial activities that AOT does. We log many comments and complaints statewide regarding mowing — and the majority of them say stop mowing so much! As a result, the Agency is moving toward a pattern of reduced roadside mowing. The ideals to reduce pollution, use of fossil fuels, encourage native plants and flowers, encourage a ‘natural’ landscape rather than a ~manufactured’ (mowed) one, etc., etc.
The proposed mowing schedule for the rail trail is to mow twice a year, 1 or 2 swaths each time. On the third year we would try to push back to the right-of-way fence where we can to keep brush and trees under control. The bottom line on mowing is that the Agency of Transportation does not have the mission, the staff or the budget to keep the Rail Trail mowed like a lawn or a park. The Rail Trail is being mowed for the second time as I write. We are open to your suggestions on when (timing) the two mowings should be accomplished to get the best bang for the buck from each mowing.
3. Poison Ivy. We have scheduled the Agency Horticulturist to begin spraying for Poison Ivy on the Rail Trail. Hopefully it will be accomplished this week. On a side note, last year I patrolled the trail with our Horticulturist looking at areas where we had reports of poison ivy. In many of the areas what was reported to be poison ivy turned out to be some other non-poisonous plant (can’t remember the name) that resembles poison ivy. Or so the horticulturist said — I didn’t volunteer to do a skin reaction test!
4. Encroaching growth. I will attend your next meeting to discuss this as you ask. Let me know the location and time. This is a tough issue as there are no good solutions other than spraying with chemicals. However, with the proximity of the river, wetlands, the general reluctance of the Agency of Natural Resources regarding spraying, I don’t know if we will be allowed to use chemicals. Unfortunately, foot and bicycle traffic does not have the volume to beat back the growth. But, it is still worth brainstorming and looking at other options.
5. Overhanging branches. We sent crews out twice in August to trim trees and brush and I hope their efforts have resolved the situation. If not, please give me good locations and we will return.
6. Cedars. I am reluctant to offer our services to trim hedges. Our staff is pretty good at construction work and operating heavy equipment. We are not trained in landscaping and/or beautification. Because everyone has their own idea of beauty — especially with plants — I would prefer that the Council and their volunteers handle this issue.
7. Town Boundary Signs. Although this letter will reach you after your work day, I support this effort as it is nice — and sometimes essential — for folks moving under their own power to know how far they have to go to get back! The District will supply the auger, posts and hardware. Good luck on this project.
OK, I think that answers all the issues raised for better or worse. We’ve been doing a fair amount of cycling this summer but not much on the Trail. Guess I’ll have to catch up at the next meeting.
Respectfully,
Gilbert H. Newbury, P.E.
District Transportation Administrator
August 20, 2001
Barry Driscoll
VTrans, Div. of Policy and Planning
National Life Building, Drawer 33
Montpelier, VT 05633-5001
Re: Transportation Enhancement Program Letter of Intent
Dear Mr. Driscoll:
The Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council intends to make an application to the 2002 Transportation Enhancement Program. The Council’s project involves completing an engineering assessment to catalogue deficiencies in bridges and culverts along the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail; to develop a capitol improvement plan for the structures; and to implement a high priority project identified in the plan.
The Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail is a 26.4-mile rail-banked corridor through Franidin County. This four-season trail, stretching from St. Albans City to the village of Richford and the Canadian border, is the longest continuous rail trail in the State of Vermont. It is a functional component of intermodal transportation system for the Northwest Region. The proposed project is eligible for transportation enhancement funds because it will continue the provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles and continue public use development of an abandoned railway corridor.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation has primary management responsibilities for the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. Maintenance of the trail and its facilities is shared by VAOT, the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, the Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council, and countless volunteers.
Sincerely,
Raymond Larose
Chair
cc: Gilbert Newbury/Jim Smith, VAOT District 8
Copied using scanner & OCR software on November 4
2001 by Kenyon F. Karl <Webmaster@new-england-rail-trails.org>
from materials supplied by the NVRTC.
Unintentional errors are likely!
