To: File

From: Christopher R. Bean, P.E.

Date: November 13, 2000

RE: VTrans
        Pittsford and Brandon Bypass Studies
        NH 019-3(49)SC
        CLD Reference Nos. 00-0215, 00-0216

Subject: Bypass Steering Committee Meeting

Location:  Brandon Fire Station

Meeting Notes

1.  Introductions

Dan Peterson explained that he is the Acting Project Manager for the Bypass Studies. It is expected that VTrans will be appointing a full time Project Manager shortly. Dan will stay on as Acting Project Manager until a replacement is named. The VTrans (full time) Project Manager will be working under Paul Tober in the VTrans Planning Division.

CLD's Project Team consists of representatives from the CLD Environmental Team including Bill Grace, Jason Stone, and Jamie Paine, and members of the CLD Traffic Team, including Paul Konieczka and Todd Landry. Chris Bean will be the Project Manager from CLD. Other team members include Rutland Regional Planning Commission, which will be preparing the socio-economic evaluations, and Kathleen Ryan, who will be evaluating visual impacts and opportunities.

2.  Steering Committee Members

It was explained that the Steering Committee involvement will be limited to approximately three meetings. In addition, there will be two public meetings. Each Town's Steering Committee will meet independently on the same night, will be comprised of five members, including three Town representatives, the Town Manager, and one representative from the other Town. The Steering Committee Members are as follows:

3.  Scoping Study Description and Project Schedule

Jason described the Bypass Scoping Report and reviewed the project schedule. Attached to this memo are the two handouts that were distributed at the meeting.

4.  Agency Roles

Several Agencies will be involved in the Bypass Scoping Report. They include the following: 

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): They are the lead federal agency, and will be responsible for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation if this project moves past the Scoping Phase. FHWA will be reviewing the outcome of the scoping effort to determine whether funding of a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is warranted.
  
  

• Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE): The ACOE will be reviewing the study findings and determining whether it appears that a bypass alternative(s) is permittable.

• Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans): VTrans will be working with CLD on the development of the Bypass Scoping Report. The majority of their efforts will be connected with managing and reviewing the Report. In addition, VTrans (primarily Scott Newman and Duncan Wilkie) will be responsible for identifying known and potential archeological sites. VTrans staff will be in consultation with the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) in identifying sensitive historical and archeological areas and determining whether a bypass alignment(s) is permittable.

• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VANR): VANR will participate in a review capacity during the Corps Coordination Meeting. We understand that Gina Campoli will be primarily concerned with the issue of sprawl. In addition, VANR will review the alternatives to determine whether it appears that an alternative(s) would be permittable.

• Vermont Division of Historic Preservation (VDHP): See above.

5.  Purpose and Need

It was agreed that development of a strong Purpose and Need for the projects is critical. It was also agreed that many of the roadway deficiencies identified in the previously developed Route 7 Scoping Report are applicable or would still be somewhat applicable to the need for a bypass, assuming the proposed Route 7 upgrade is constructed. A lengthy discussion took place as to the coordination between the Route 7 upgrade project and the bypass report. It was agreed that the upgrade projects are proceeding independently of the Bypass Scoping Report. As part of the Bypass Scoping Report, the "no build" alternative will be evaluated as if the proposed upgrade were fully constructed.

One of the major purposes for the bypasses is to remove the majority of through traffic from the villages. It was agreed that bypass alternatives that had no intermediate connection to local streets would be acceptable. The exception would be if a bypass alternative were to cross a major state road, such as VT Route 3 in Pittsford and/or VT Route 73 in Brandon. It would also be necessary to consider a separate connection to Kendall Hill Road (the truck route to OMYA) with a Pittsford bypass alternative to the east of the village. It was agreed that this approach (minimal intersections with local streets) would help mitigate natural resource agency concerns about development along the bypass alignment, which is commonly known as "sprawl."

6.  Public Information Meeting

It is expected that the initial Public Information Meeting will be well attended, and that many of the attendees will be expecting to receive information on the upgrade projects as opposed to attending to learn more and give input on the need for a bypass. With this in mind, it was agreed that CLD should publicize the purpose of the meeting in advance. The meeting agenda will include a progress report on the Route 7 upgrade projects, as well as a discussion of the need for bypasses around each community. We had originally targeted December 14th for the meeting date; however, recognizing the busy holiday season, it was agreed that moving the meeting to January 10th or 11th would be prudent. CLD will coordinate to publicize the meeting date and ensure the Otter Valley Union High School availability. 

The date of the meeting has subsequently been set for January 10, 2001, beginning at 7 PM. This will be a combined Pittsford and Brandon public meeting. 

7.  Next Bypass Steering Committee Meetings 

The next meetings will take place on Monday, January 29, 2001, beginning at 4 PM in the Brandon Fire Station for the Brandon Bypass, and at 6 PM at the Pittsford Municipal Office for the Pittsford Bypass. Each meeting is anticipated to last no longer than an hour and a half.

CRB: cww

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