South Dorset Street Shared Use Path
The Dorset Street 'Gap' Project includes the design and construction of 0.7 miles of shared use path to close the gap between existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along Dorset Street. The project is located from Old Cross Road to Sadie Lane on the northern side of Dorset Street.Project History
The Dorset Street Shared Use Path has been an identified project in the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for over a decade, and now is found on a specific bike/ped improvements CIP. This project has also been noted in the City's Impact Fee Ordinance and is identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan from 2016.
In 2017, the project was included in a scoping study that was conducted in partnership with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission to assess the feasibility of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along this stretch of Dorset Street. Alternative concepts were evaluated for this stretch of roadway, and input was gathered via workshops, presentations, and meetings. A preferred alternative for this project area was identified through this process, and it was supported by the City's Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee and the Planning Commission. The design for the current project stems from this preferred alternative concept.
In 2019, the City received a grant from VTrans to support the design and construction of the preferred alternative concept. The City is receiving $661,000 in federal funding through VTrans, and will match that with $165,400. The City is able to match more than the required amount due to the availability of both P4P funding and Recreation Impact Fees for this project. In fact, the public's large support for the P4P initiative and availability of funding was an important reason the City was able to secure a grant for this priority project.
Project Overview
South Burlington has 24 miles of shared use path that are used year-round. With the exception of the 0.7 mile gap this project is focused on, the Dorset Street Shared Use Path runs for approximately 4 miles from its northern terminus at Williston Road to its southern terminus at Midland Avenue. Along this path are the Middle and High Schools, Veterans Memorial and Wheeler Nature Parks and Wheeler, and an increasing number of neighborhoods.
This project will close the 0.7-mile gap by creating a 10-foot-wide paved shared use path along a section of Dorset Street that does not have bike lanes or a shoulder that is safely accessible to non-motorized users. Currently, the Dorset Street shared use path is connected to almost all other branches of the City's path network, and it is South Burlington's main connector path for bikers and pedestrians. Once completed, the new shared use path will give residents and commuters the ability to reach businesses and restaurants off Shelburne Road, medical facilities off Hinesburg Road at Tilley Drive, City Center, the businesses and restaurants off Williston Road, as well as City schools and parks, entirely on separated shared use facilities.
Project Status
Timeline Update - March 2023
The Capital Improvement Program passed on Town Meeting Day approved a funding timeline of with design and construction completion in FY24 (ends June 30, 2025).
Public Forum - February 10, 2021
The project team sought public input on a conceptual design at a public meeting hosted by the City's Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee.
Project History/Background Presentation
Project Design Review Presentation
Project Layout Slide
Project Design Begins - April 2020
City staff kicked this project off with other project team members (including Stantec and VTrans) in April of 2020. A project survey that was necessary to gather 'on-the-ground' information about the project site that will be incorporated into the overall design was completed in the summer of 2020. The consultant has completed 30% design plans, and the City's Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee first reviewed those plans in October 2020. The plans have begun the permitting process and a Phase 1B Archeology Study has been completed.
Request for Qualifications - January 2020
In January of 2020, the City released a Request for Qualifications for this project, and submissions were due January 27, 2020. City staff received five Statements of Qualifications and formed a Selection Committee to rank them. Stantec was the firm that received the most total points by the Selection Committee, and the Selection Committee then recommended that the City Council authorize the negotiation and signature of a contract with Stantec for this project. The City Council then approved the authorization of the City Manager to negotiate and sign an agreement with Stantec in February of 2020.
Project Funding
In November of 2019, the City accepted a grant for federal funding of $661,000 to design and construct the project. The City will be providing a match of $165,400. The match will be comprised of funds from both the City's Penny for Paths fund and available Recreation Impact Fees.
Questions and Comments
All project questions can be sent to Erica Quallen, Deputy Director of Capital Projects at equallen@southburlingtonvt.gov