The Vermont Transportation Board at 6:30 p.m. on November 14th will hold a public forum in Burlington on transportation policy associated with trains, both passenger and freight. The Board wants to discuss railroad related issues with the public including passenger expansion to not only New York and Montreal but also commuter rail to St. Albans and Montpelier, rail-side economic development, and living with railroads as neighbors.

The forum, which will be held at the Gallery Room on the second floor of Main Street Landing’s Lake and College Building at 60 Lake Street, is one of seven such public conversations the Board is holding around the state. Topics the Board plans to discuss include:
•Living with railroads as neighbors, and the issues they present.
•Passenger rail expansion along Vermont’s western corridor between Rutland and Burlington.
•Passenger rail expansion from various points in Vermont to Montreal.
•Truck traffic through villages and town centers, and the effect of rail expansion.
•Adjacent rail-side economic development and planning for increased rail activity.
•Starting commuter rail service linking Burlington to St. Albans and Montpelier.
•Rail Safety, including crossings, trespassing and response to potential emergency incidents.
“Vermont is poised to significantly expand passenger rail in the very near future, while at the same time the state also is seeking growth opportunities for both the movement and off-loading of freight,” said David Coen, Acting Chair of the Transportation Board. “As a result, we want to have a conversation with Vermonters to both hear their suggestions as well as understand their concerns regarding these new services and how the state uses its rail lines.”

People who cannot attend a forum can submit written comment by visiting the Board’s website at http://tboard.vermont.gov/. For more information, contact John Zicconi at john.zicconi@vermont.gov or by calling 802-828-2942.

Jan 15, 2025, 6 to 8 PM

Jan 15, 2025, 7 to 8 PM

Jan 18, 2025, 6 to 7:30 PM