The North Avenue Corridor Study group has hosted a series of public forums to hear about our vision for the future of transportation along The Avenue. Our Representatives to the Advisory Committee are Jim Holway (Ward 4) Barry Trutor (W7), and Alternates are RJ Lalumiere (Ward 7), and Kelli Brooks (Ward 4).
First Vermont trolley (it was drawn by horses) was in Burlington 1872. The first trolley line serving North Avenue went north from North Street intersection (apparently the line went east west on North Street) to Lakeview Cemetery in 1880. It was horse drawn and the line was electrified three years later, 1883. "Back before 1930, the trolley line from Burlington ended at the roller skating rink ... Down the road at a short distance to the north was the S.W. Thayer School." Source
The main north line from downtown was on North Winooski Ave with 20 minute headways, a single track line down the middle of the street which probably continued on as the main connection to Winooski and the mills there.
Trolley passengers in Burlington peaked about 1910 when 3 million were carried. Am sure there are historical maps which show all the Burlington trolley lines and more details.
Come hear firsthand about what the study group is doing, and give them feedback. They will be accompanied by someone who has been advocating for roundabouts in Vermont for decades, Tony Redington. He's an expert, and it's our good fortune that when he retired from VAOT, he moved to Burlington.Roundabouts: The question of round-a-bouts handling peds and bikes comes up a lot. The answer for me was uncertain UNTIL we observed Keck circle last Friday.Our purpose in selecting Keck at the time we did was precisely to observe higher ped & bike traffic. As school was let out just up the street, we got our answer.We observed congestion coming from the circle to the school. There was no slowing of flow as cars went to the school to pickup. On the other hand as cars came to the circle after picking up, the flow in the circle hardly slowed.Children, bikers and buses all traversed the circle in relatively short span, yet it all flowed very well. The peds and bikers went through the round-a-bout with surprisingly little concern for doing so. In other words it was the opposite as I would have though.In contrast, watching the signaled intersections. Peds and bikers had to queue up waiting their turn AND the frequency of jay-walking near signaled intersections was frequent by my observation. People between parked cars jutting out and running across. Where at the round-a-bout no jay-walking and every mode of traveler could easily see everyone else. Jim Holway, Ward 4 Rep to North Ave Corridor Study.
Nov 20th, 2013Miller Center 130 Gosse CourtFacilitator, Jason L’EcuyerAGENDA6:45 Sign in, GREET NEIGHBORS and CITY OFFICIALS7:00 WELCOME. INTRODUCTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA, GROUND RULES.7:05 BUSINESS -7:10 Speak Up/Speak Out7:20 Reports from Appointed and Elected Officials – Open forum discussion
8:45 Gun safety in our community - Mike McGarghan8:00 PROGRAM: North Avenue Corridor study update, discussion of roundabouts, cycle tracks, and light rail opportunities - Jim Holway, RJ LaLumiere, Kelli Brooks.7:45 Update on P4P and the Land Acquisition Conservation fund - Tim Jarvis
9:00 Adjourn
