Vermont

[Rothman]

Vermont is having some serious funding issues:

https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2026-01-13/funding-shortfall-pushes-vermonts-transportation-system-breaking-point

No quote from VDOT, or did I miss it?

I doubt they'd ask Virginia's DOT for a quote on Vermont issues.  But I didn't see anything from VTrans either.

I think I was still waking up this morning when I posted that.

[froggie]

Vermont is having some serious funding issues:

https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2026-01-13/funding-shortfall-pushes-vermonts-transportation-system-breaking-point

Not really new news.  Same figure was used in the news story posted 2 months ago.

Might be taking new life now that the Legislature is back in session...

[The Ghostbuster]

Like other states, Vermont will need new ways to fund transportation improvements. Gas taxes nationwide are obsolete and can no longer be relied on to fund transportation improvements.

[Rothman]

Like other states, Vermont will need new ways to fund transportation improvements. Gas taxes nationwide are obsolete and can no longer be relied on to fund transportation improvements.

Meh.  States poaching gas tax revenue for non-transportation purposes is a much bigger problem.

[The Ghostbuster]

Although I agree gas tax diversions are a major problem, I don't see such diversions ending anytime soon if ever.

[Rothman]

Although I agree gas tax diversions are a major problem, I don't see such diversions ending anytime soon if ever.

Ok, so increase taxes somewhere else is the answer?

[The Ghostbuster]

What would you do?

[Rothman]

What would you do?

Not divert gas tax revenue.

[Plutonic Panda]

What would you do?

Not divert gas tax revenue.

That definitely seem like a great first step.

[Alex]

Checked out Champlain Parkway in Burlington last week. The four lane connection between I-189/U.S. 7 and Home Avenue appears close to completion as street lights and regulatory signs are already posted.



Interstate 189 west at U.S. 7 and Champlain Parkway. Signs are posted but not lane striping yet.



Champlain Parkway south at Home Avenue. The parkway will be considered limited access from this point southward with bikes and pedestrians prohibited.

Drove both directions of the parkway between Home Avenue and Lakeside Avenue. Photos are posted on the Champlain Parkway page.

The project website indicates that the last section will be opened by the end of Summer 2026.

[pderocco]

So they finally made up their mind about whether that should exist or not.

If it's controlled access, couldn't they extend I-189 to Home Ave?

[vdeane]

The project website indicates that the last section will be opened by the end of Summer 2026.

This news article indicates June or July.

So they finally made up their mind about whether that should exist or not.

If it's controlled access, couldn't they extend I-189 to Home Ave?

It's only going to be one lane each direction with a landscaped grassy median - not exactly interstate standards.

[froggie]

Champlain Parkway south at Home Avenue. The parkway will be considered limited access from this point southward with bikes and pedestrians prohibited.

Not per se.  But worth nothing that there is a bike/ped path on the southwest side of the parkway south of Home Ave.  Ties into Queen City Park Rd.

[Alex]

Champlain Parkway south at Home Avenue. The parkway will be considered limited access from this point southward with bikes and pedestrians prohibited.

Not per se.  But worth nothing that there is a bike/ped path on the southwest side of the parkway south of Home Ave.  Ties into Queen City Park Rd.

I made that assessment based upon the no bikes/pedestrian signage visible beyond the barrier. While not exactly the same, the placement is typical for entrance ramps to limited access highways in Vermont.

[vdeane]

Looks like the Champlain Parkway should be opening by the end of the month!

https://www.wcax.com/2026/06/02/champlain-parkway-set-open-soon/

[The Ghostbuster]

Had Interstate 189 been completed to Home Avenue decades ago, how might that have impacted traffic in the surrounding area?

[froggie]

189 was never planned past US 7.  A roadway was planned (in 3 different iterations) but it was not to be a 189 extension.

And, for one, a lot of pollution would have come to the forefront.  There's a major Superfund site along the former Pine St Barge Canal which helped doom the 1970s construction and is also a contributing factor why Champlain Blvd ends at Lakeside.

[froggie]

Nothing new on the opening in the news piece Val posted, but it's worth noting the image in the video shows a 40mph sign, suggesting that will be the speed on the new Champlain Parkway between US 7 and the signal at Home Ave.  IIRC, the speed limit on the opened segment between Home and Lakeside is 25mph.

[vdeane]

I'm not sure how we all missed this, but we have an official timeline for opening!  Eastbound opens Monday, westbound on Tuesday.  And the video has bits showing not only that speed limit 40 sign, but also the signage on I-189.

https://www.wcax.com/2026/06/17/timeline-champlain-parkway-opening/

I wish I had seen this story a few days ago; I could have updated the I-189 exit list on my website when I did my update on Sunday (which in hindsight I should have waited on, but at the time I didn't know whether I was going to try to swing a trip to the Hunterdon County meet or not and didn't want the I-81 updates to wait until July).  Now I have no idea when my next update will be - potentially as late as September!  I must have to do a special update just for this, even though I really don't like doing that.

[froggie]

I missed it because I'm in a very busy spell at work and Facebook's algorithm is...well...Facebook's algorithm.

[vdeane]

I missed it because I'm in a very busy spell at work and Facebook's algorithm is...well...Facebook's algorithm.

In my case I'm wishing I had bothered to search for news a couple of days earlier.  I'm not sure why I didn't.

[froggie]

https://www.mynbc5.com/article/burlington-vermont-champlain-parkway-opening/71770136

According to local news media, Champlain Parkway opened this afternoon (which technically would be VERY recently given it's not even 12:30pm yet as I type this).

[froggie]

https://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermont-increases-fines-for-trucks-stuck-in-smugglers-notch-to-as-much-as-20000/71786675

"Getting Smugged" is about to become a lot more expensive.  Starting tomorrow, fines for large vehicles that get stuck in Smuggler's Notch on VT 108 go up to as much as $20K.

[webny99]

https://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermont-increases-fines-for-trucks-stuck-in-smugglers-notch-to-as-much-as-20000/71786675

"Getting Smugged" is about to become a lot more expensive.  Starting tomorrow, fines for large vehicles that get stuck in Smuggler's Notch on VT 108 go up to as much as $20K.

One thing I would have to say in VTrans' favor is that there is a decent amount of signage - both permanent and VMS.