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House Transportation hears AOT briefing on railbanking, BB Spur trail management and winter-use limits
Summary
Agency of Transportation officials told the House Transportation Committee that railbanked corridors remain part of the national rail network and that federal funding constrains some trail uses; AOT described management plans, local engagement and a snowmobile-season exception that has prompted local complaints on the BB Spur.
The Vermont House Transportation Committee on March 17 heard the Agency of Transportation explain how federal railbanking, federal grant terms and state management plans shape use of the state's rail-trail corridors, including the four federally banked trails and the BB Spur in northern Vermont.
AOT manager Jackie Casino told the committee that "AOT is a trail sponsor for 145 miles" of rail-based corridors and that the agency oversees maintenance, operations, marketing and engagement with trail towns. Former AOT counsel John Dunlevy summarized the legal framework, saying the Rails-to-Trails process preserves corridors "as part of the federal rail network" to allow possible future reactivation of rail service.
Why it matters: railbanked corridors are treated as interim trail use but remain legally part of the national rail system; federal Highway Administration grant conditions tied to trail improvements also impose limits on allowable uses and on how AOT manages the corridor.
Dunlevy and AOT staff explained that FHWA-funded pedestrian and bicycle facilities generally prohibit motorized vehicles, "except there is an exception for snowmobiles during snow conditions," and noted the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal rules influence permitted uses and design. Casino described the agency's management approach: formalized rail-trail councils for each trail, 461 property-management agreements statewide (more than 50 on the BB Spur), and required corridor management plans that record stakeholder input and set goals and action steps.
The BB Spur was a recurring focus. Dunlevy recounted the corridor's history: the state purchased the right-of-way after its prior owner proposed abandonment in the 1990s and the federal board authorized interim trail use. Casino said the BB Spur's management plan was developed with public outreach tools — online maps, surveys and stakeholder interviews — and that "we had over 400 people" participate in outreach on multiple trails.
Committee members pressed AOT about snowmobile access on narrow sections of the BB Spur and about reported concerns from abutting property owners and local Nordic ski teams. Casino said the corridor has historically been open to snow machines, local grooming organizations coordinate with clubs such as VAST and local ski groups, and "the agency has not received any calls or complaints" during the current season, though some property owners raised concerns before grooming began. A committee member noted a petition submitted by Representative Woody Page with "over 100 signatures" opposing machine use near private land.
What happens next: AOT staff said management plans will continue to guide trail-level decisions and coordination with local clubs, rail-trail councils and regional planning commissions. The committee concluded the briefing and invited further follow-up on outstanding questions about seasonal use, enforcement options (speed limits for machines in some village areas are possible), and the statute-based exceptions that allow snowmobile access in winter.
Ending: The committee thanked the witnesses and moved on to other agenda items; AOT agreed to follow up where members asked for additional data about specific conflicts and seasonal patterns.
