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Policy committee narrows Vergennes PEL alternatives, asks VTrans to begin NEPA for select alignments
Summary
The Addison County RPC policy committee recommended moving two downstream crossing alternatives for the Vergennes Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study forward and asked VTrans to bring a Route 17 option back; the committee also recommended entering the NEPA process for the selected alternatives.
Brent, speaking for the RPC, updated the technical committee on the Vergennes PEL study, reporting that the design team presented five route alternatives plus a no‑build option and that the policy committee voted to advance two downstream crossing alternatives and to request that VTrans also return with a Route 17 option.
According to Brent, one alternative was discounted for not meeting the purpose‑and‑need and two others were deemed not feasible; the two advanced alternatives are north and west of Vergennes and would involve a new downstream crossing of Otter Creek. The policy committee also recommended that VTrans move the study into the NEPA process.
A committee member asked about the life expectancy of the existing bridge over Otter Creek and whether the bridge would need replacement before project completion. Brent said, "That bridge will be replaced before this comes together." Committee members discussed possible temporary diversions and whether a temporary bridge option would be used during replacements, but VTrans had not yet made a formal recommendation on temporary versus full detour work.
The update underscored tradeoffs among alternatives, the need for further study under NEPA and the potential for near‑term bridge work that could affect traffic routing during construction. The PEL committee’s recommendation will guide the next phase of environmental review and project definition.
