ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) - Gov. Phil Scott is advocating for the completion of the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail between St. Johnsbury and Swanton.
Scott, a Republican, mentioned the all-season multi-use trail in his annual budget address last month. It’s the second time he used an annual budget presentation to commit to completing the trail, which extends from St. Johnsbury to Swanton, the Caledonian Record reported.
“Our transportation bill includes record funding for our paving program, covering 360 miles, and in our bike and pedestrian program, which will finally complete the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, spurring economic activity for some of the most rural parts of the state,” he told lawmakers this year.
Last year, Scott called for applying $2.8 million in Capitol Bill expenditures to the work.
The completed eastern end of the trail in St. Johnsbury west to West Danville plus other finished sections comprise about 36 miles, but the rest of the trail needs work. The $2.8 million combined with $11.3 million in federal funds is expected to pay the remaining construction costs, the newspaper reported.
The remaining roughly 50 miles of trail segments need to go through environmental permitting. Additional projects, including replacement/major rehabilitation of seven bridges, are all scheduled to be advertised for construction this spring, the newspaper reported, with the project slated to be completed in the summer of 2022.
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