Transportation For America -- a coalition of regional and national groups fighting for more funding for walking, biking, transit and other alternatives.  Get involved today!

Rails To Trails Conservancy -- a non-profit organization promoting active transportation and the redevelopment of abandoned rail corridors into multi-use trails.

League of American Bicyclists -- a non-profit organization promoting bicycling, and bicycle-friendly accommodations, across the country.

What do you want Colchester Avenue look like in the future?

Spurred by a City Council resolution, a visioning and planning process for Colchester Avenue is about to begin.  Please share your thoughts at the upcoming public forums.

Balancing the needs of neighbors, drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians will be challenging.  There are many existing problems along this road -- including three high-crash locations.

Local Motion will be an active participant on the project's technical committee.  If you want to get more involved, let us know!

The planning effort is lead by the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Campus Area Transportation Management Association.  The lead consultant is Resource Systems Group.

To offer input or learn more, contact Eleni Churchill ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Start small and think big.

After 11 years of work, the Town of Swanton, area residents, businesses, Fit & Healthy Swanton and VTrans opened a scenic 1-mile trail on July 30, 2009.  It links the town's restored railroad depot (now a museum), ballfields and elementary school.

While this village pathway is an important community resource -- it is also the first section of the 96-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail to be open for walking and bicycling.  The rail trail will ultimately connect Swanton to St. Johnsbury for snowmobiling in the winter and walking and bicycling in the summer.

THE DETAILS:

Name: Swanton Fit & Healthy Recreation Path

Current Length: 1 mile (Part of future Lamoille Valley Rail Trail)

Surface: Gravel (If biking, mountain bikes recommended)

Features: Swanton History Museum (rehabilitated RR station), 453' three-span bridge, historic signs

Map: Trail Map

Directions: Take I-89 to Exit 21.  Follow Route 78W one mile through Swanton village.  Immediately after crossing the bridge, take a left on to South River Street.  Park at the restored train station on your right.

Recent Media Coverage

WCAX Story

St. Albans Messenger Story

Many Partners:

As with most trail projects, this project came to fruition because of the hard work of many partners.  See the picture of the trail sign (on right) for a complete list.  Swanton Zoning Administrator Ron Kilburn, who helped coordinate the bridge component of the project, was out relaxing on the bridge at sunset when Local Motion staff walked by last week (picture below).  Well done Swanton!