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Keep ATVs off the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT)

Please act now to keep ATVs off the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) -- a proposed multi-use trail (including bicycling, walking, running, and horses in the non-snow months) across northern Vermont.

This 96-mile rail-trail from St. Johnsbury to Swanton has been formally under discussion for at least 6 years -- and all public discussion so far has been for a NON-MOTORIZED trail in the summer.

The LVRT would be for bicycling, walking, horseback riding... This concept for the trail has been widely endorsed by many of the communities along the former rail corridor.

But now, the Vermont ATV association (VASA) is trying to get access to this state-owned corridor through the Vermont legislature. This would fundamentally change the character of the trail, and it is NOT what the affected communities and other users have embraced. It could also serve as a dangerous precedent to open the door to ATVs on other public lands.

Please contact your state legislators, especially House members, as soon as possible!

Additional action - to Congressman Bernie Sanders: Congressman Bernie Sanders has been a great supporter of the LVRT. He obtained a $5.8 million dollar earmark in the most recent federal transportation bill in support of the trail. Please also call Bernie's office to say -- THANK YOU for funding this trail, but to express your dismay that these funds might go to support ATV use -- surely not what the Congressman intended! ** Contact Bernie's office (in Burlington) at: 1-800-339-9834

Details, Background, Talking Points:

There is pressure from the Vermont ATV Sportsman's Association (VASA) to allow ATVs on the proposed Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). This trail has been presented to and accepted by affected communities over the past 6+ years as a non-motorized trail (with snowmobile use the only motorized exception). ATV¹s have been specifically prohibited in all the discussions regarding who will have use of the trail, from public hearings to legislative committee hearings. The House transportation committee will be reviewing the lease between VTrans and VAST and may consider ATV use as part of the lease discussion.

ATVs present a SERIOUS safety concern. ATV¹s on the trail would also diminish the trail experience because of noise, pollution, dust, and user conflicts. A trail that includes ATV use would NOT realize the vision for the trail that was envisioned by the legislature and the committees, communities, and other users involved in planning the LVRT: "We envision a rural rail/trail facility that will provide a tranquil environment so all users can enjoy nature and the scenic Vermont landscape to its fullest. This tranquil environment will become an inviting place where the elderly and the handicapped can enjoy leisurely endeavors and bicyclists can set their own pace... short rides or multiple day trips."

Moreover, the value of the trail as a tourism destination for bicycling and walking would be greatly diminished by the addition of ATVs. Bicyclists, walkers, and runners are looking for a non- motorized trail experience - to get away from the stress and traffic on the roads. Introducing a motorized use during the summer would fundamentally change this trail from a special haven for non- motorized users to a corridor with as much if not more motor vehicle traffic than many of Vermont's rural dirt roads. Tourists would not travel from other states to ride on a trail with ATVs.

ATVs have been tried in other states for shared-use trails -- and the result is that they drive away the other trail users. In some cases, experimental ATV-sharing has led to the ATVs being banned. This is not what the Vermont communities along the corridor have been looking forward to.

The proposed trail goes through Swanton, Highgate, Sheldon, Fairfield, Bakersfield, Fletcher, Cambridge/Jeffersonville, Johnson, Hyde Park, Morristown/Morrisville, Wolcott, Hardwick, Greensboro Bend, Walden, Cabot, Danville, and St. Johnsbury. A map & other information is available at: http://www.nvda.net/transportation/lvrt.html

Please contact your legislators, particularly legislators along the corridor, and those sitting on the House Transportation Committee. It is most important right now to contact the members of the House. Here's a link to the legislative directory: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm or you can leave a message for any legislator by calling the Sergeant at Arms at (800) 322-5616. You can also FAX a note to your legislator (handwritten is fine!) to 802-828-2424.

Talking points:

1. This trail has been proposed and accepted by the communities over the past 6+ years as a non-motorized corridor in the non-snow months. In all public statements and documents, ATVs have specifically been excluded. The municipalities along the trail have embraced the idea of the trail -- as a non-motorized corridor, not as an ATV Trail. Town plans that support the trail are looking forward to a bicycling, walking, and equestrian trail in the summer. The legislature should not override this long-standing public expectation for the trail.
2. The most appropriate place for this project to be managed is through the VTrans local transportation facilities program. This is the agency that has the expertise and capacity to be the agency contact for this type of trail. The Recreational Trails Program of the Agency of Natural Resources does not have the capacity nor expertise to be the agency for this project.
3. ATV use of the trail would create a safety hazard for children, families, and others who might like to walk and bike on the trail. It is the non-motorized opportunity that makes this trail special.
4. Allowing ATV use on the trail would open the politically- sensitive question of ATVs on public lands, a question that has not yet been resolved within the state. Many thousands of Vermonters have expressed strong opposition to ATV's on public lands.
5. Seriously considering ATV use would trigger a public outcry, lawsuits, and other debate that will hold up the construction of this trail.
6. Feel free to add your own opinions about ATVs.

ASK LEGISLATORS TO:

• Keep the LVRT earmark managed by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), NOT the Agency of Natural Resources (this has the effect of keeping ATVs off the trail)
• Please also ask members of the House Transportation Committee to consider incorporating some basic management guidelines into the lease or a related document such as a Memorandum of Understanding with VAST, to ensure that the trail will be managed into the future as a true multi-use trail. The Lease could also ideally direct VAST to manage the trail in collaboration, cooperation, or consultation with other user groups along the corridor. Currently the lease has no management expectations, and no requirement for VAST to include anyone else along the corridor. (VAST does plan to include other user groups, but to date this effort has been slight.)

PLEASE CONTACT:

House Transportation committee members, your legislators, and any other legislators you have a connection with, as soon as possible!!

Find their phone # at legislative directory: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm It is most important to contact members of the House right now. Or you can leave a message for any legislator by calling the Sergeant at Arms at (800) 322-5616. You can also FAX a note to your legislator (handwritten is fine!) at 802-828-2424.

Members of the House Transportation committee:

• Representative Westman of Cambridge, Chair
• Representative Howard of Rutland City, Vice-Chair
• Representative Aswad of Burlington
• Representative Audette of S. Burlington
• Representative Brennan of Colchester
• Representative Corcoran of Bennington
• Representative Donaghy of Poultney
• Representative Minter of Waterbury
• Representative Peaslee of Guildhall
• Representative Sharpe of Bristol
• Representative Winters of Swanton