FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2012
Contact: Mike Kanarick
802.735.7962
Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Bike Path Repair Progress and Schedule
Vermont City Marathon Back on Course; Spring 2011 Flood Damage Repairs by Year’s End
Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced at a press conference that all bike path repairs necessary to get the Vermont City Marathon back on course had been accomplished and that all other bike path repairs related to the spring 2011 floods would be completed by the end of 2012.
“During my campaign, I pledged to be a mayor who would get stuck and stalling projects moving again,” said Weinberger. “Repair of our flood-damaged, treasured bike path was in great need of attention. Today, I’m pleased to announce that the initial rebuilding stage is complete, and the bike path is now ready to host the marathon. I’m also committing that the substantial, remaining repairs will be finished by the end of the year.”
Under Weinberger’s leadership, both the Burlington Department of Public Works and the Department of Parks and Recreation have been working on recent repairs and a schedule for future repairs. The total projected repair costs are estimated to be just under $1.7 million. The cost will be shared as follows: 75% by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); 15% by the State of Vermont; and 10% by the City of Burlington.
Between April 2012 and today, five sections of the bike path have been repaired to ready the path for the marathon. And today, Weinberger committed to completing the approximately $1.4 million balance of the repair work by the end of 2012. Design and permit work will be completed this summer, and heavy construction will take place after Labor Day when bike path usage rates are lower.
Weinberger was joined at the press conference, which took place on the bike path just south of Perkins Pier and north of the Main Wastewater Treatment Plant, by the following officials:
- Sue Minter, Deputy Secretary, Vermont Agency of Transportation & State of Vermont Irene Recovery Officer
- Diego Alvarado, Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, FEMA
- Ken Pinkham, Public Assistance Project Coordinator, FEMA
- Peter Delaney, Executive Director, RunVermont
- Steve Goodkind, Director, Burlington Department of Public Works
- Norm Baldwin, Assistant Director, Burlington Department of Public Works
- Mari Steinbach, Director, Burlington Department of Parks and Recreation
Weinberger, who will run one leg of the May 27, 2012 Vermont City Marathon relay, added: “I’m glad to announce that our world-class marathon is back on the path this year – where it belongs.”
“RunVermont and the entire Vermont running community are ecstatic to be able to get ‘back on course’ after last year’s record flooding,” said Delaney. “This couldn’t have happened without the leadership offered by the Mayor.”
With more than 450 marathons for runners to choose from across the nation, the Key Bank Vermont City Marathon is widely regarded as one of the best mid-size races anywhere in the country. Approximately 8,000 runners will participate in this year’s race, many miles of which runs along the Burlington bike path. The marathon provides an important economic stimulus to the region, totaling approximately $3 million, and raises approximately $225,000 for charity partners.
The State of Vermont noted its appreciation of the recent bike path progress. “The Shumlin Administration has a proud record of recovering from an unusually large number of natural disasters,” stated Minter, also a marathon participant. “We’re fortunate to have a local partner in Burlington that is equally focused on rebuilding rapidly from the disasters of 2011.”
*For details about the bike path recovery projects, please see the following attached bike path recovery documents:
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