Park-and-ride plans making leap forward

By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | December 05,2013

Rutland Herald

 

KILLINGTON — The town is moving forward with plans to build a “park-and-ride” at the Killington Chamber of Commerce.

Tuesday night, the Select Board unanimously approved the plan to reconfigure the parking lot of the building formerly known as Bill’s Country Store, and create a new shared entrance from Route 4 for the parking lot and the abutting business, Base Camp Outfitters.

“I think this is a great project. It will certainly improve safety,” said Board Chairman Chris Bianchi of the plan, which will include a landscaped buffer along the south side of the Chamber building, forcing drivers to enter and exit through a single location.

That location will be directly across from Killington Road.

The project has an estimated price tag of $103,000, with much of the funding coming from grants. In addition to an $80,000 grant from the state Agency of Transportation, the town was recently awarded a second grant for the project from the state Department of Environmental Conservation for as much as $12,430 for “ecosystem restoration.” This grant will address storm water runoff from Route 4 and Killington Road.

Selectman Bernard Rome described the plan as “good” but said that, without a traffic light at the intersection, there “will be one hell of a problem there.”

“This will create a true four corners with people traveling at a high rate of speed,” Rome continued.

Town Manager Seth Webb said the Agency of Transportation — which is the governmental entity to decide if there will be a light on Route 4 — has determined a light is not needed.

Later in the meeting, Rome said he would be in touch with the state to look into getting a traffic signal.

Selectwoman Patty McGrath acknowledged the challenging nature of the intersection, which also includes a turn to take Route 100 north, as she spoke in support of the plan.

“It doesn’t make it the perfect intersection, but it does improve it greatly,” she said.

The parking lot will include 34 spaces, as well as room for two tour buses, and will provide access to Kent Pond and the Appalachian Trail.

The work will be done using “millings,” or leftover pavement, from the reconstruction of Killington Road, a project that will break ground in 2014.