Facts About the Champlain Parkway’s Impact on the King Street Neighborhood
Route: According to the 2009 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the
Champlain Parkway (“EIS”): “The proposed transportation corridor is expected to
become the major routing for north south traffic in the area.” EIS, Pg 1-16. In other
words, traffic heading downtown will be diverted from Shelburne Road to the
Champlain Parkway, which terminates at the intersection of Pine and Main Streets,
after going through the King Street neighborhood.
It is important to note that the traffic in question includes trucks.
The King St. Neighborhood: The King St. neighborhood is one of the poorest and
most diverse communities in Vermont.
The EIS notes that the King Street neighborhood is part of the Old North End
Enterprise Zone. This Zone is “defined by pervasive poverty, high unemployment
and general distress.” EIS at pgs. 3-23-24
The same section of the EIS notes that the King St. neighborhood is subject to Exec.
Order 12898, created to identify and address “disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects” of Federal programs. The Exec. Order is
named “Federal Action to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations
and Low Income Populations.”
The Burlington Housing Authority and the Champlain Housing Trust have each
made substantial investments in affordable housing in the King St. neighborhood.
The King St. neighborhood is also one of the earliest settlements in Burlington and is
part of the Battery Street National Historic District.
Impact on the King Street Neighborhood of the Champlain Parkway
According to a letter from Mayor Kiss to the Federal Highway Administration: “The
average daily traffic (ADT) volumes for Build Alternative 2 along Pine Street
(through the King Street neighborhood) will increase by 1,800 vehicles between
Maple Street and Main Street. On the contrary, Build Alternative 1 (through the
rail yard spur to Battery Street, a major commercial thoroughfare) would reduce
the ADT volumes by 1500 vehicles along this same portion of Pine Street.”
Letter from Kiss Mayor to the Federal Highway Administration and the Vt. Dep’t of
Transportation, May 17, 2007. (emphasis added).
Similarly, the Burlington Historic Preservation Review Committee (the official body
for the City on the issues it addresses) wrote that “The Purpose and Need” of the
Southern Connector/Champlain Parkway is to “reduce high traffic volume and
remove heavy truck traffic from the local residential street network in
neighborhood streets adjacent to the City’s Enterprise Zone and leading into the
downtown area.” Letter to U.S Dep’t of Transportation10/28/08 (emphasis in
original). Page 1.
Among the many negative impacts of the Parkway on the King Street area is the
safety risk to children, many of whom walk to a local community center.
The City of Burlington Historic Review Committee’s letter of Oct. 28, 2008
concluded that the Parkway also raised the following concerns:
The Pine Street route through the King St. neighborhood “causes a
disproportionate and avoidable negative impact on low income and minority
population concentrations that raises significant environmental justice
concerns.” Pgs. 4-5 (Emphasis in original).
Noise, air pollution, increased dust, all of which are “out of character of what
should be expected in a residential area.” Pg. 3.
“Alternative 2 (the route through the King Street neighborhood) will
result in heavy traffic volume being introduced into this residential
neighborhood that will functionally divide this residential area west from
east in a manner that is not consistent with its historic residential character.”
Pg. 3
The Committee quoted the 2006 Draft EIS at pg. 1-13 as stating: …”the
existing street pattern encourages use of neighborhood streets by trucks due
to lack of alternative routings. This mix of traffic has created conflict and
access concerns in the vicinity of the C-2 neighborhoods, and the King
St./Maple St. neighborhood, located at the north end of Pine St.” Pg. 2.
The King Street neighborhood is already “fragile”, with aging buildings,
conversion of housing from owner occupied to multi family rental units. “The
heavy traffic has already begun to affect the desirability of these residential
properties.” Pg 4.
“ [O]verall quality of life (as a consequence of the Parkway’s route
through King Street) diminishes, resulting in adverse socio-economic
impacts.” Pg. 4
The letter repeatedly expressed significant concerns over the increase in the
number of heavy vehicles through the neighborhood in close proximity to
historic buildings. Old masonry foundations in these historic buildings are
significantly impacted by constant vibration.
The Letter from the Burlington Historic Preservation Review Committee concludes,
on page 7: “In total, Alternative 2 (through the King Street neighborhood)
results in community disruption of a significant magnitude.”
The Alternative
There is an alternative, called the “Battery Street Extension” that would remove
traffic from the King Street neighborhood and divert it through an industrial and
commercial area, namely, a portion of the rail yard and down Battery Street.
The Battery Street Extension was the designated route for many years and the
route favored by the City of Burlington until the State of Vermont and the
Federal Government changed their minds in 2004. Even then, the City of
Burlington protested the change during 2007-2008.
Instead of removing through traffic with the result of having a quiet, residential
community that is a model of both affordable housing and historic preservation, one
that could be the pride of Burlington, the current plan for the Champlain Parkway
will turn the already heavily trafficked King St. neighborhood into part of the
Champlain Parkway, with a resulting 27-30% increase in traffic.
It is important to note that as a result of recent elections, the State, Federal
and City administrations have all changed, thus providing a unique
opportunity to raise these issues with new decision-makers.
The City of Burlington continues to be the project manager of the Champlain
Parkway, and thus has substantial say in how the route should be directed.