At the I-89 northbound Williston welcome center today, Governor Peter Shumlin addressed the future of the Circumferential Highway project and the EPA’s recent decision to veto the administration’s current plans.
‘The Circ, as originally conceived 30 years ago, will not be built,’ the Governor said at a news conference. ‘Let’s face the reality while also recognizing that significant transportation problems exist in this region that need to be addressed. By bringing together stakeholders in the spirit of collaboration, I believe we will find more cost effective and modern solutions to our current challenges.
‘I have asked the Agency of Transportation and the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization to take a fresh look at the Circ to see if there is a better way to solve the transportation problems in our four towns that are on the path of the project,’ he added.
Standing with the governor were representatives from the Chittenden County business community and IBM, which has waited for more than 30 years for transportation improvements that were initially designed to meet the plant’s needs at that time, and several environmental organizations.
In a statement from Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, the chamber expressed its support for the concept of the Circumferential Highway to ‘reduce congestion, mitigate air quality issues and, importantly, allow planned and appropriate economic development activities to occur.’
These posts are all that is left from a sign that indicated that this would be the future crossing of the Circ Highway on Route 2 in Williston.
However, acknowledging the long delays and escalating costs associated with the project, Torti added, ‘We respectfully request that your Agency of Transportation in conjunction with stakeholders explore other more limited and scalable alternatives. It is our hope that these smaller alternatives will allow critical traffic needs at existing commercial and industrial sites to the addressed. More narrowly focused projects generally along the Circ route will get us there.’
A highway in Chittenden County along the Circ route has been discussed since the 1960s and formal planning has been on-going in some form since 1982, but only a four-mile stretch of the 16-mile project has been completed to date. In recent years, the project has been stalled.
In addition, previous work was funded mostly from federal earmarked funds. Future work, however, will require $60 million to $80 million dollars in regular state and federal program funds. At a time when all signs point to less state and federal funding in the future, it is a price tag that the state cannot afford at this time.
‘My administration is focused on solving problems, not kicking them down the road and hoping they will go away,’ said Shumlin. ‘The Circ, as originally conceived, has become a white elephant that is getting in the way of our ability to actually get something done. Our focus on a project that is not going to happen as it was originally conceived has led to inaction on transportation projects throughout the region.
Circ Timeline
Chittenden County Circumferential Highway (CCCH)
1983 ‘ Senator Stafford secures a $50 million grant to scope, design, permit, acquire property for and construct the CCCH. The Chittenden County Circumferential Highway District is formed.
1986 ‘ The Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for the entire 16-mile highway are issued.
1988 ‘ The Act 250 Master Land Use permit is issued for the entire highway.
1991 ‘ Segments C-F (VT 117 in Essex to VT 2A in Essex) as well as the Susie Wilson Road Connector, broken into four projects, begin construction. The original $50 million grant is exhausted with the construction of two of those projects and standard funding is used for the remainder.
1993 ‘ Final design and permitting for Segments A&B (I-89 in Williston to VT117 in Essex begin.
Future construction funding is uncertain.
1999 ‘ Construction funding for Segments A&B is identified for future years, Final design is completed. Existing permits are renewed and new ones acquired under current requirements. Friend of the Earth appeal Stormwater Discharge Permit, but the Water Resources Board upholds the permit.
2003 ‘ The 1986 EIS is reevaluated in the form of the 2003 Final Revised Environmental Assessment (FREA). Friends of the Earth, Conservation Law Foundation and others file suit in Federal Court claiming the FREA is deficient.
2004 ‘ Construction begins on Segment A limited to utility relocation work and fencing. Judge Sessions rules in the plaintiffs favor on 2-14 counts and orders those two areas be addressed in the form of a Supplemental EIS or a new EIS. Construction must cease until addressed. VTrans terminates the construction contract with JA McDonald.
VTrans and FHWA opt to take a ‘fresh look’ at the project and begin a new EIS for the Circ-Williston Transportation project. The new process involves all interested parties, including state and federal agencies, the municipalities and the environmental groups that opposed the original project.
2007 ‘ The Draft EIS (DEIS) is distributed for review along with the Draft 404 Water Quality Permit Application.
2008 ‘ Vtrans and FHWA determine the preferred corridor to be the Circ A/B alignment. The VT 2A alternatives fail to meet the project purpose and need.
2010 ‘ The US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) issued their Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA) determination, which agrees with the VTrans and FHWA preferred corridor.
The Final EIS, stating the preferred alternative as Alternative 17 (Circ Boulevard), is distributed for review along with the revised 404 Water Quality Permit Application.
2011 ‘ FHWA issues the Record of Decision on May 19, 2011.
Photo by Neel Tandan, Vermont Business Magazine. May 20, 2011 at the Williston Welcome Center on I-89 North.