Burlington city councilors on Monday called for the Vermont Agency of Transportation to provide more information about two controversial rail projects planned for the waterfront.
A report released earlier this summer named Burlington’s Union Station as the best place to overnight trains once Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express begins service to the Queen City in 2021 or 2022. VTrans and the for-profit Vermont Rail System also intend to build a second rail line between King and College streets regardless of where the trains are stored, Burlington’s Public Works Department Director Chapin Spencer told the council.
The new track would displace a section of Burlington bike path, which would need to be rebuilt on the west side of the train tracks and on the city’s dime, according to Spencer.
The proposals have drawn ire from residents who say the study was flawed and that a second track will bring noise and pollution to Burlington’s waterfront.
“Once the second track is built … the railroad will do whatever it wants, and we’ll be powerless to stop it,” resident Ritchie Berger said, adding that Burlington’s waterfront could become a second rail yard.
Charlie Sudbay, who lives in Main Street Landing’s Wing building near Union Station, said the second rail line would be just eight feet from his bedroom window.
“Expanding the rail yard north to College Street literally makes my home uninhabitable,” Sudbay said, noting the trains will need to refuel and offload sewage. “Adding a second industrial rail spur next to the ECHO Center for Lake Champlain is a complete oxymoron.”
Union Station, at 1 Main Street, scored highest among five potential storage sites in the commission’s report. It beat out the Northern Urban Reserve, a parkland north of Waterfront Park along the bike path; the Southern Urban Reserve, an area immediately north of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center; Vermont Rail System’s rail yard near Perkins Pier; and Flynn Avenue, adjacent to the South End City Market, Onion River Co-op store.
The second track would allow the Vermont Rail System, a private company that operates 350 miles of track, to deliver freight, store its dinner train and even build trains on the site, all without disrupting Amtrak’s service, Spencer said.
VTrans wants to choose an overnight storage site for the trains before year’s end, he said; construction could begin in spring 2020.
Many city councilors were surprised that the train storage issue only came to their attention now when conversations about it began in 2016. After hearing a half dozen residents complain that the project would destroy their quality of life, Councilor Sharon Bushor (I-Ward 1) said developers typically engage affected residents early on. “I think this is a significant deviation from that,” she said.
Councilor Franklin Paulino (D-North District) agreed, comparing the discussion to being “handed a political football in the last quarter, after a decision’s been made.”
“I understand it’s their property,” Paulino said of the railroad, “but what are our remedies?”
Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) said activity on the tracks near her home causes it to shake. “It’s hard to imagine that happening right in the active area of the waterfront,” she said, adding that none of the train storage choices are ideal.
Mayor Miro Weinberger said the city wants Amtrak service to enhance the waterfront, not detract from it. He called the prospect of restoring passenger rail to Burlington “tremendously exciting.”
“Let’s not lose sight that bringing passenger rail to Burlington after decades of trying will be a great legacy for this council, the city, to have,” Weinberger said. “We’re going to make sure we don’t miss that opportunity.”
VTrans representatives are scheduled to present the agency’s plan at the council’s transportation committee meeting on November 19.
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Just wondering if any of the people who have posted read the story or know anything about this issue?
None of the people who spoke are against the Amtrak train just where it is parked at night.
Ted, it’s easy to make fun of people, isn’t it?
If you go to this place and consider what’s being suggested, you may see what’s being discussed. “Liberal train-huggers”? I am wondering where you live, and what would affect you there. Perhaps you just like to taunt.
Train service to and from Burlington would be good, but a second line, or working on the trains all night (including emptying sewer sludge) right outside someone’s window, would not. Ms. Moulton has not contradicted herself – the railroad has revealed new facts about their intent, and it’s up to us to see that the Waterfront is not taken over by the railroad again. The waterfront is our number one tourist destination.
The lake is beautiful. A second track, and working on trains in the middle of town at night, is a terrible idea for the City. The work should be done in the railyards to the south, or in the area below Lakeview Terrace to the north, or in St. Albans. Check it out – do the research.
Ralph, you’re right about the railroad dominating the waterfront 150 years ago – but the freight comes and goes by truck now.
Why not? It’s not like Amtrak has frequent accidents… And the fact that Miro wants it tells you it’s a bad idea. Did Leahy have a part in this? Maybe we can store some F-35s there, too?
I thought we were supposed to to be like Europe? Trains and bikes everywhere!
We need the train, that area has been home to railroading for 150 years, so too bad for the NIMBYs who moved in. Get it done. And Melinda you didn’t “build” that station, I believe it has been there since 1916?.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Statio…
“The state’s largest city needs rail service.” – Melinda Moulton before she decided otherwise.
https://www.mainstreetlanding.com/about/ne…
Ritch wine and cheese democrats don’t want the train because it will pollute the lake? What about all their Mcmansions and house with septic system s that literally corral the lake?
Guess who was for a train before she was against it…
https://www.mainstreetlanding.com/about/ne…
I’m sure the Chamber of Commerce types are all in on this.
I’m even more sure that flat earth Trumpsters are enthusiastic about this. After all, the only thing that gets them hornier than gun violence , separating immigrant children from their parents and throwing them in cages, or shaking down a foreign leader for political favors, or outright White Supremacy is polluting the environment. Yessiree!!! It makes them want to put on their MAGA hats and jump around in the living room all nekkid and stuff, whoopin’ and a-hollerin’ while they watch Hannity.
Suddenly the liberal train huggers don’t want mass transit because … why?
Oh, the train is too noisy.
Got it.
Knock me over with a feather.