Description
is this really necessary? I have been walking to work for five years using this path. It saves me a couple minutes each day and I enjoy the feeling of walking down old railroad tracks. I know that I have seen motorcycles use this path, and if the problem is motorized vehicles, there's got to be some sort of a solution that would at least allow foot traffic and or bicycle traffic. It's probably outside of the city's jurisdiction, but if you can do anything to fix this I think it definitely adds to the aesthetic of the town and helps to make us a more walkable and bikeable City.
17 Comments
VTara (Registered User)
Michael (Registered User)
Jim (Registered User)
IT Department (Verified Official)
Stängt Tmiles (Verified Official)
Reopened OldVtr (Registered User)
I'm loathe to disagree with our verified official, but the Vermont Agency of Transportation (that's we the people) own the right of way--(Vermont Rail System):"the nation’s first privately owned railroad operating on publically-owned right of way" (from their website: http://www.vermontrailway.com/our_story.html).
Also, Vermont statutes say that "...when railroad operations cease on railroad rights-of-way owned by the state or municipality, the title or interest held by the state or municipality in such rights-of-way shall be retained by the state or municipality for future transportation purposes and such other purposes as are not inconsistent with future transportation purposes; except that such rights-of-way shall not be used by members of the general public without permission of the state or municipality.... (from http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/05/060/03431).
That this is blocked off shows that "railroad operations" have ceased (and in fact have not had rail traffic for over a decade) and the state or municipality could grant use by members of the general public. I vote to have our verified official please toss this up to our Director of the Department of Public Works for a policy review. This is a heavily-used route from the Pine St. pedestrian catchment area to and from the waterfront area and surrounding businesses.
Godkänd Tmiles (Verified Official)
Tmiles (Verified Official)
Russ Elek (Registered User)
Russ Elek (Registered User)
btvigilante (Registered User)
Russ Elek (Registered User)
That Guy (Registered User)
That Guy (Registered User)
Russ Elek (Registered User)
That Guy (Registered User)
Stängt MPerry (Verified Official)