Town Plan

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, August 9, 2014.

These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, August 9, 2014, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge. The new bridge will be 104’ wide and is designed to carry all four lanes of traffic –two northbound and two southbound.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016.

Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Night work on the new bridge will continue at the columns on Route 30. Night work will occur Sunday night, August 3 through Friday night, August 8.

July 25, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE

Paving work on a section of Western Avenue is tentatively scheduled for the third week of August. A contract with The Lane Construction Corp was approved by the Selectboard last Tuesday. The State has agreed to reimburse the Town for work on this class 1 road up to $150,000.

The area we are working on begins near Brattle Street, west to Edward Heights. Only the traveled portion of Western Avenue from white fog line to white fog line is being resurfaced. First a milling machine will remove ¾ inch of existing asphalt along each fog line, tapering to 0 at six feet in. Then this area is resurfaced at an average depth of ¾ inch, raising the center line depth and matching flush at the fog lines.

It has been reported elsewhere that the Selectboard will do prospective skatepark site visits on Monday Aug 4th, from 5:30 to 7. They’ll be going from Elm St to Crowell, then Living Memorial Park.  It was requested that skaters attend to provide input. I am unable to attend, so I’m providing my feedback here. I’ve been thinking about this—again—lately, confounded whether to shut up, or push through to the end, come what may.

It seems to me for a fully informed view, the Selectboard has the opportunity to see three skateparks, all within an hour, that show a working model of each of the current options on the table. Keene, Northampton, Fitchburg. Respectively: a steel and steely downtown park, a new concrete plaza in a green space adjacent to homes, and a varied terrain multi-featured skate facility within the town’s mixed-use recreation center, also set in a residential neighborhood. But I don’t expect these visits to happen. And besides they only provide a snapshot of what goes on in the moment. Skatepark energies and usage vary like New England weather.

Calling all area residents!! Get your creative thinking caps on. The future of Melrose Terrace needs some attention and it is starting with you.

As we all know, Melrose Terrace in West Brattleboro was severely impacted by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011. Right after the Storm, BHA’s Commissioners pledged to repair Melrose so its residents had a place to live while BHA worked on creating new housing so that these residents would no longer be in a floodway. Plans are under way to construct a new 55 unit facility to be ready in January 2016. Plans will also be developed to move the other 25 units, the Brattleboro Housing Authority offices and maintenance building by 2018 at the latest.

A portion of Green Street will be closed on Monday, July 21 through Wednesday, July 23, 2014 for the demolition of a building located at 72 Green Street that was destroyed by fire last winter. The closure is as follows:

• Green Street from the intersections of Church Street to Bullock Street will be closed Monday, July 21 – Wednesday, July 23 from 6:30am – 4:30pm. No through traffic will be allowed.

• Traffic from High Street onto Bullock Street will be permitted to turn right onto Green Street. No left-hand turns will be allowed.

• The sidewalk on the north side of Green Street will remain open for pedestrian use.

A portion of Green Street will be closed on Monday, July 21 through Wednesday, July 23, 2014 for the demolition of a building located at 72 Green Street that was destroyed by fire last winter. The closure is as follows:

• Green Street from the intersections of Church Street to Bullock Street will be closed Monday, July 21 – Wednesday, July 23 from 6:30am – 4:30pm. No through traffic will be allowed.

• Traffic from High Street onto Bullock Street will be permitted to turn right onto Green Street. No left-hand turns will be allowed.

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Night work on the new bridge will continue at the columns on Route 30. Night work will be conducted Monday night, July 13th thru Friday night July 18th.

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, July 12, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016. Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Night work on the new bridge columns will continue Monday night, June 30 through Wednesday night, July 2.

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge in the Fall of 2015.

On Monday night, June 23 and Tuesday night, June 24, the southbound lane of I-91 will be closed to complete necessary shoulder repairs. The specifics of the closure are:

– The closure will be from 9 PM – 6AM and will take place over two nights, Monday 6/23 and Tuesday 6/24

– The closing will be for southbound traffic only between Exits 3 and 2.

– All southbound traffic will be detoured off at Exit 3.

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge in the Fall of 2015.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016.

Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

At the Special Representative Town Meeting on June 2, 2014, Town Meeting Members voted to establish an ad hoc committee for the purpose of bringing forth a proposal for the establishment of a futures commission. An organizational meeting for the Ad Hoc Futures Committee is scheduled on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 5:30pm in the Hanna Cosman meeting room at the Municipal Center.

Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100

Time again for one of our round-ups of observations of changes in the Brattleboro scene. Here are a few things I’ve noticed over the last few days, weeks, and months. What can you add?

• The first bit of new bridge over Rt.30 is visible, showing a light-colored stone-patterned support column rising from the West River.
• The Brattleboro History Center on Main Street has a great display of Island Park materials. Photos and artifacts relating to baseball on the island, political events, the grandstand, the pavilion, and more.
• The candy store across from the Coop is closed.
  

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, June 14, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).

Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, June 14, 2014, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Representative Town Meeting gave almost unanimous (one nay) support to the idea of establishing a body that will study the most difficult issues we face in Brattleboro.  Now people are needed who can set up this body.  Give it specific purpose, rules, and whatever else it needs to get started.  There are a lot of questions about how such an endeavor should be approached.  One of the qualities one should bring is the ability to be affirmative and positive in a culture where helplessness and hopelessness is creeping into its bones.   It is a good place for those ready to fight the good fight.

I’ve submitted my name to prime the pump. 

I-91

Northbound I-91 traffic has been relocated onto the southbound bridge. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane in each direction on I-91 until completion of the new bridge in the Fall of 2015.

Route 30

The speed limit on Route 30 near the work zone has been reduced to 40 mph. This reduction will remain in effect through the Spring of 2016.

Project-related truck activity on Route 30 will continue. Route 30 will be reduced to a single lane intermittently both day and night, with flaggers regulating traffic within the work zone.

Night work on the new bridge will continue at the columns on Route 30.

The Town of Brattleboro will hold a public meeting to gather input for the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 6:00 PM in the Selectboard Meeting Room at the Brattleboro Municipal Center, 230 Main Street.

The HMP identifies potential natural and non-natural hazards that could affect some or all of the town’s residents. It also identifies projects that can reduce the economic and social impact of natural and human disasters to begin reducing risks. By having a current, approved HMP the Town is eligible for VT Emergency Relief Assistance Funds (ERAF) for federally declared disasters covering up to 92.5 percent of project cost. FEMA approval also makes the town eligible for HMP Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Motion: to establish an ad hoc committee of Representative Town Meeting for the purpose of bringing forth a proposal for the establishment of a “futures commission.” The ad hoc committee shall create a statement of goals for the Commission consistent with this resolution and shall propose bylaws in furtherance of its purpose. The committee shall report back to Representative Town meeting with it recommendations at Town Meeting 2015. Members shall apply to and be appointed by the Town Moderator.

The goal of the ultimate “futures commission” would be to study the major issues, past, present and future, and recommend a blueprint for moving Brattleboro towards becoming a sustainable community. Reports and recommendations would focus on achieving economic and environmental stability while maintaining equitable human rights and the best possible standard of living for all residents.