Frustration and consternation remains that after 2 years of applying new Environmental Justice regulations to the obvious current Parkway design injustice to low income (26 of Burlington residents have poverty incomes, a population mostly in King Maple and Old North End neighborhoods); and blatant injustice to the community of color (King Maple largest such community in Vermont).
Frustration and consternation the result of two years was nothing of outreach and hearings, etc., and not one design change! No recognition even of known degrading of safety, air quality, and
livability, particularly along Pine Street part of the Parkway which
cuts King Maple in two! Not even an admission that in King Maple there
will be more traffic, higher speeds, and degraded walking conditions and
increased pollution are not a bad thing!
Tweets on 2 year Environmental Justice rules application to the Champlain Parkway with unanimous opposition at the one hybrid 2021 hearing and not a whisker changed in the hurtful, obstolete and global heating design!! Here are some recent tweets in this regard.
"US Transport Boss Pete/VT Fed Highway chief Hake/VTrans Secretary Flynn last Friday after 2-year look leaves untouched Champlain Parkway blatant racial/low-income injustice in King Maple community of color. South Ender Carolyn Bates montage reflects reactions of many. Add Mayor Weinberger to this group! #btv #vtpoli"
"Champlain Parkway 2-year Environmental (In)Justice work completed a design trifecta of planet heating and upped road injuries. Add Mayor Weinberger to the non-perform list!. #btv #vtpoli"
"Robust[ed] System of Transportation" says Burlington Public Works director on WCAX. $100 million spent on 2.3 miles Parkway through the South End and not one inch of sidewalk, not one inch of safe bikeway/protected bike lane. That "Robusted!" #btv #vtpoli Go RIGHTway! ]
Red Light for Traffic Signals
The current Champlain Parkway design calls for 6-7 new traffic signal systems, a technology considered pause and dangerous in every way. Here is a tweet announcing Freakonomics feature on roundabouts replacing signals:
“Traffic signals in most cases belong in recycling bins (highly toxic for pedestrians!). "Should Traffic Signals be Abolished?" on Freakonomics. City of almost no signals left (about 140 roundabouts, a dozen signals) Carmel, IN Mayor Brainard https://freakonomics.com/
Burington—A Pedestrian or Bicycle Injury Weekly
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries are a weekly occurrence in Burlington. The Champlain RIGHTway reduces bike/ped injuries versus the increase inherent in the current design.
My recent tweet: “Numbers in BTV are clear, about one pedestrian or cyclist injury weekly and two car occupants (from recent 5 year data set). BTV has 20 high crash intersections on state list, each 1.5 injuries/year average. City has not addressed any of these. #btv #vtpoli"
