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The Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail is a unique Vermont resource, especially for the citizens of Franklin County. We can travel its entire 26 1/2-mile length or select a short segment for an afternoon trip. Managed properly, it can be a tremendous asset to our communities and our families. In 1997, a bicycle tour of 427 bikers from Qu~bec used the Rail Trail. They sampled our hospitality and patronized local businesses. These bikers showed us the economic benefits available from the Rail Trail's summer season. Our snow travelers make these benefits available in winter.
In our first edition of Trail Tracks, we wanted to show you how a few trail enthusiasts have found a way to make a difference. We also wanted to tell you about the Rail Trail Council's activities over the past year and our goals for the future. My personal hope is to make the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail the premier all season trail in the north country. The possibilities are endless depending only on how imaginative and creative we wish to be.
-- Raymond Larose
The Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council is a non- profit organization formed to promote the acquisition, development, and operation of recreation paths within Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Vermont. Since 1990, diligent work by its founders and members has contributed to the Council's high regard by the regional community and its designation as advisor to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VAOT) and the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FP&R) on management and use issues for the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. The Council acts as the focal point for both praises and complaints, providing a closeto- home connection to quickly address local issues. Its 20 appointed members meet regularly and represent various user groups, each municipality along the trail, and the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST). Meetings are open to the public.
The Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council, and Northwest Vermont Solid Waste District are sponsoring a Green Up Day clean up on the Rail Trail on Saturday, May 1, beginning at 9 a.m. Boy and Girl Scout troops throughout Franklin County have already volunteered to adopt segments of the Trail for the day. They will pick up litter, smooth winter surface bumps, and keep an eye out for summer maintenance projects. We could use additional help for parts of the Trail that haven't been adopted. Contact NRPC at 524- 5958 for more information. A picnic cookout is planned for all adopters after the clean up.
The Council is sponsoring an informational meeting on the Trail on Saturday, April 24, 1999. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at Brenda's Kitchen on Main Street in Richford. Council members will give an update on current trail activities and talk about plans for the future. Please bring your ideas and questions about the trail. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided. Children are welcome. For more information, contact Raymond Larose, Council Chair, at 933-4182.
Make your business or community more bicycle- friendly! The Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council will share the cost of bicycle racks with businesses, municipalities, and other organizations in communities along the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. Racks are available on a first come, first served basis through a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program. For more information, contact the Council or the Northwest Regional Planning Commission at 524- 5958.
Beginning in June 1999, you can stop by local businesses and ask for a free copy of the "Guide to the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail." This all-season, mile- by- mile guide features written descriptions of trail segments, 14 maps with service symbols, written directions for connecting to the Lake Champlain Bikeways principal route and Quebec's La Route verte, and information on community fairs, festivals, and parades. It's back pocket size makes it handy for taking with you on the Trail. Use it to find a cold drink on a hot day, or to learn about local sites of interest. Copies are also available by calling the Northwest Regional Planning Commission at 524-5958 or through the Lake Champlain Bikeways clearinghouse at http://www.lakeplacid.com/ bikeways. The Guide was funded by the member municipalities of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission with a grant from the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The Northwest Vermont Rail Trail Council provided local assistance. The Guide is distributed free of charge.
In 1998, the Council, NRPC, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation completed a study of options for replacing the missing bridge span in Sheldon Junction. After a train derailment in 1984 damaged the eastern span of the railroad bridge, it was removed. The missing link in the Trail is a safety hazard for all trail travelers and a significant detour for winter users. Two options for replacing the bridge seemed most feasible: constructing a prefabricated multi-use bridge and adapting a historic truss bridge. After careful consideration, the Council recommended the prefabricated bridge as the most cost effective and feasible option. The Council will submit a request for funding for the bridge replacement and Trail connection to the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Program in May. The estimated project cost is $525,000.
Jump on board as a Friend of the Trail and do your part to help the Trail grow as an asset for Franklin County and Vermont! The Council launched its Friend of the Trail program in 1998 as a way for community members and trail users to support improvements and enhancements along the Trail. Last year, picnic areas and landscaping were added to the St. Albans parking area with assistance from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Fencing was also installed to help trail neighbors maintain a sense of privacy. In 1999, the Council plans to enhance parking areas in four locations along the Trail, to sponsor community information meetings, and to host trail work days. Nearly 50 Friends have joined and contributed more than $1,000. Donations are tax deductible. For information on the program or to make a contribution, contact the Council at 524-5958.
Initiated in 1994, Lake Champlain Bikeways is a public/private initiative to create and promote a network of bicycle routes on existing roads and paths around Lake Champlain in New York, Vermont, and Qu~bec. In 1998, the Council voted to link the Rail Trail to the Lake Champlain Bikeways network by accepting designation as an official Bikeways theme route. Becoming an official route means the trail and local communities benefit through the trail's promotion as a bicycle touring destination. Bikeways will include the Rail Trail on its internet web site and distribute the Rail Trail Guide through its publications clearinghouse. In 1991, bicycle tourists in Vermont spent $13.1 million on lodging, food, equipment, supplies, and personal expenses. Lake Champlain Bikeways has been instrumental in helping communities create bicycle- friendly travel experiences by providing technical assistance and small grants.
The Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail is a state owned facility managed cooperatively by the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Vermont Department of Forests. Parks, and Recreation. The Department has implemented a use permit system for large groups as a way to manage their unique impacts on the trail. In general, a permit is needed if your group holds a for- profit or fund- raising event on the trail or charges your members for special walks on the trail. Nonprofit organizations can usually obtain these permits free of charge. Applying for the permit helps measure who is using the trail and why. This information is important for developing an appropriate maintenance budget for the trail, for approaching local organizations for assistance, and for making grant applications for trail enhancements. The permit process also assures adequate safety precautions are in place and alerts other trail users to potential conflicts or trail closures. You can obtain a group use permit by contacting Chuck Vile, Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, 111 West Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452, phone (802) 879-5677. Please allow 2-3 week to receive your permit.
Trail Ambassadors act as vital links in the neighborhood- to- Council connection. They promote trail safety and relay information between the Council and trail users. Ambassadors are regular trail users who volunteer to ~ walk, bike, or snowmobile the trail keeping a lookout for things that aren't, normal and being an information source for other trail users. They are the eyes and ears of the Council. Ambassaaors are easily identified by their yellow "Trail Ambassador " buttons. For information on the Program, contact NRPC at 524- 5958.
The Rail Trail has opened an entire new market potential for some businesses along the Trail! Bicycle tourism is catching on in the region as cyclists from around the country discover the appeal of the Champlain Valley and northwestern Vermont. According to Bruce Burgess of Bicycle Holidays, Franklin County provides and ideal setting for touring bicyclists. In addition to its rural beauty, lively communities, and friendly citizens, the county offers a variety of on- and off- road cycling experiences.
But don't expect hoards of bicycle tourists to ride the Trail next season. As with any market, businesses and service locations along the Trail must first make themselves friendly to these tourists. Even then, bicyclists enter a new region slowly, like a gentle, steady shower rather than a heavy downpour. In November 1998, the Council, in cooperation with Lake Champlain Bikeways, the St. Albans Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Northwest Regional Planning Commission, sponsored a workshop to help businesses and municipalities learn about the Economic Benefits of Bicycling. Thirty people representing lodging, retail, convenience, food establishments, and local government attended the workshop. They went home with solid ideas for making their businesses and communities more bicycle friendly.
Part of the Rail Trail Council's activities includes making trail improvements that will benefit trail users and the regional community. The Council is pleased to announce success with three grant awards for 1998-99:
$2,000 from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to assist businesses, municipalities, and organizations in purchasing bicycle racks; and
$36,000 from the Vermont Agency of Transportation to enhance parking areas in St. Albans, Sheldon, East Berkshire, and Richford; and
While these grants play an important role in making the Trail a regional asset, community involvement is key to its future success. Our success in winning the grants was primarily due to having a terrific trail, the demonstrated efforts of local volunteers, and financial contributions from the Friends of the Trail. Thank you!
ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Regular volunteer work, more than any other activity, increases life expectancy. (Godbey, Trends, Volume 30, 11/4/93). Volunteering has a positive affect on our attitudes and morale. It offers an avenue for exercising our skills, talents, and bodies. It builds a better future for ourselves, our families, and our communities. It teaches teamwork, builds self esteem, and develops leadership skills. Through volunteering, you can meet new people, make new friends, and have fun. Council members and trail volunteers reap the benefits of volunteering every day. We would like to introduce you to a few of our volunteers and offer a salute to all the folks who help out with the trail.
Monitoring Needs -- Dorothy and Roy Baker bicycle or snowmobile the trail nearly every morning. In addition to enjoying scenic views, they monitor sign- in boxes, keep an eye out for washouts and encroachments, and answer questions from other trail users. After severe thunderstorms, you can often find them clearing downed trees to keep the trail passable.
Recording History -- John Gale earned his trail photographer title by keeping his camera in hand. His efforts to document the trail's evolution from rail corridor to trail have provided a valuable photo essay of events, activities, and trail changes. On regular days, John uses his three-wheeled bicycle to collect litter and enjoy the trail.
Sharing Beauty -- Trail neighbors Theda and Raymond Larose welcome trail users to Enosburg Falls with their impressive display of colorful flowers. In addition to their own plantings, they also care for a section of the trail leading up to their home by cutting weeds and planting flowers. They hope to share their collection of flower seeds with other trail neighbors who enjoy beautifying the trail.
Measuring Miles -- Stan Beauregard, Jr. and Scout Troops from Fletcher, Richford, and Berkshire found a way to make a difference by marking the miles along the trail. Stan carved mile marker numbers into posts donated by the Village Home Center in Enosburg. The Scouts installed the posts from Sheldon to Richford.
Spreading Goodwill -- While watching the installation of wood fencing along the trail in Enosburg Falls, Raymond Towle had a bright idea for topping off the Agency of Transportation's work. He built and installed a decorative top for each fence post. His idea was so popular, his neighbors and several trail neighbors in St. Albans invited him to install his creations on posts near their properties.
Polishing Our Image - Pete Perrino of Highgate Springs put some spit and polish into the Council's newsletter with his graphic skills. He designed the newsletter masthead and set the text into a readerfriendly design. Pete also volunteers for projects with the Green Mountain Club.
Smoothing Rides - Snowmobile travel would be a bumpy ride without the trail grooming efforts of the Northwest Groomers and Missisquoi Bearcats. These groomer teams pack the snow to maintain an even cover and protect the trail surface. They help open and close gates, maintain VAST signs, and clear winter debris from the Trail.
Copied from the printed newsletter by Kenyon F. Karl <railtrails@crosswinds.net> using a scanner & OCR software. Unintentional errors are likely!
