Railroad plan hearings next week

State railway inventory

Two meetings have been scheduled to discuss the Vermont state rail plan currently under revision by the Vermont Agency of Transportation, according to an announcement by Christopher Parker, executive director of the Vermont Rail Action Network. The first will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 24, at the Fox Room of Rutland Free Library, 10 Court Street. The second is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, in Brattleboro.

Plan objectives and existing rail inventory portions of the plan have been completed and will be presented at the meeting. The draft objectives for Vermont rail include:

• Support for Vermont’s economy 
• Upgrading the rail system to stay connected and competitive 
• The ability to maintain safe and efficient operations 
• Confirming adequate and stable funding 
• Balancing the needs of railroads with human and natural environments 
• Preserving rail corridors for future transportation use 

The plan is being written by consultant teams overseen by Agency of Transportation Planner Costa Pappis.

The Vermont Rail Action Network noted last week that the governor's 2015 rail budget request includes continued investment in state rail priorities, including upgrading bridges for 286,000 lb. freight and upgrading the route to Montreal. The largest amount of the requested funds is earmarked for the "Western Corridor" joining Bennington, Rutland, Middlebury and Burlington.

The largest single project in the request is a federally matched $11 million replacement of two road bridges in downtown Middlebury. More than $8 million is called for to install welded rail between Rutland and Burlington, replacing the 1940s-era jointed rail that cannot support competitive passenger train speeds.