Pearl St / Prospect St / Colchester Ave Intersection Scoping

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The intersection of Pearl Street / Prospect Street / Colchester Avenue is a skewed, busy intersection that accommodates high volumes of car, bus, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic. It has been designated by the Vermont Agency of a Transportation as a high crash location, indicating an above average number of crashes compared to other intersections across the state. The major goal of the Pearl Street / Prospect Street / Colchester Avenue Scoping Study is to identify a preferred alternative that will improve safety and mobility for all users.

This study was funded and managed by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, with a 3% local match provided by the Department of Public Works. Engineering services are provided by Resource Systems Groups, Inc. The Steering Committee included representatives of Ward 1 City Council, Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly, University of Vermont Campus Planning, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Chittenden County Transit Authority, Local Motion, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Planning and Zoning.

 STATUS
With ideas from the community and help from the Steering Committee, a pilot project was initiated at the intersection during the summer and fall of 2013. The pilot project allowed the Steering Committee and the City to evaluate this option against higher-cost improvement alternatives that cannot be tested in the field. The pilot project was successful for short-term improvements and remains in place while the City seeks funding to implement the final intersection improvements as identified in the Scoping Study.  

The final alternatives were vetted through a series of public meetings with guidance from the Steering Committee. The improvement alternatives and the preferred alternative were presented to the Public Works Commission, the Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee, and the a preferred alternative was selected by Burlington City Council (shown in the graphic to the left). 

For more information, including meeting minutes and presentations, visit the CCRPC's project website.