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Planner urges board to apply for state bike-ped scoping grant to connect Shaftesbury and North Bennington
Summary
A regional planner presented a VTrans bike-ped scoping grant (~$60,000) that would study alternatives to connect South Shaftesbury to North Bennington; the grant would require a 20% town match (~$12,000) if awarded, and the board expressed fiscal caution and interest in saving for a match if scoping shows a viable project.
A regional bike-ped planner urged the select board to sign onto an application for a VTrans bike-ped scoping grant to explore pedestrian and bicycle connections between South Shaftesbury and North Bennington.
Nick Ziak (speaker 9) explained the grant request is for roughly a $60,000 scoping study — about 80% state funding with a 20% town match of about $12,000 if awarded. The study would evaluate up to a dozen routing alternatives, including options through rail right‑of‑way, boardwalks across wetlands and alignments that avoid Route 67A’s right‑of‑way where possible. Ziak said the scoping work would identify viable corridors and cost estimates that would position the town to pursue larger construction grants in later rounds.
Board members sought clarity on when the town would become financially liable. Ziak said signing the application acknowledges the town would be responsible for the match if the grant is awarded, but the town could decline the grant later if necessary; the application stage is an authorization to apply, not a final grant agreement.
Several board members praised the project concept but expressed concern about the town’s current fiscal position and the prospect of future capital-match obligations. Some suggested waiting a year to build match reserves; others noted missing the current cycle would delay application by a year. The board did not take a vote on the application at the meeting.
Ziak urged timely action because the grant cycle is annual and missing the deadline would push the project to the next year. He advised the board that scoping studies often create a durable project definition that helps secure construction funding later.
