ESSEX ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Active Transportation Plan Header

The Town of Essex 2024 Town Plan update calls for the creation of a new bicycle and pedestrian plan (Action Item 3.5). During the Town Plan update meetings, the public expressed a clear desire to see the biking and walking network be better connected and expanded. The previous Bike and Pedestrian Plan (2014) was a joint plan between the Town of Essex and the Village of Essex Junction before it was split into two separate municipalities, and it was primarily focused on inventorying existing facilities and proposing new infrastructure projects. The new plan will go beyond the previous plan’s focus on infrastructure and delve deeper into the community’s barriers and benefits associated with walking and biking. Through this broader lens, the goals of the plan will be better supported, implementation tasks will be clearer, and ongoing maintenance needs will be adequately accommodated. This study will develop a comprehensive Active Transportation Plan that creates a safe, desirable and connected network for biking and walking in the Town.

Funding for this project was requested and approved as a part of the FY2025 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) through the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC). The UPWP will fund 80% ($80,000) of the cost of the project with a Town match of $16,000. 

EssexVT_ATP_Selectboard-review_Feb-13-2026

View the Essex Active Transportation Plan Draft

How do the Keystone Trail Connectivity Project and the Active Transportation Plan differ?

The Keystone Trail Connectivity Project focuses on the Town Forest area and surrounding neighborhoods, including developing a potential crossing of I-289 in that vicinity. The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) will make recommendations for an overall bicycle and pedestrian facilities network Town-wide. This will include how to connect the proposed Keystone trail network with the Essex Town Center, the Susie Wilson corridor, neighborhoods, public transit stops and other key designations. The ATP will also offer recommended programs and policies to encourage more walking, biking and rolling as a complement to the built environment. 

Expected Outcomes 

  1. An adequately robust public engagement process that reveals:
    1. A better understanding of residents’ current opinions regarding walking and bicycling
    2. The level of community support for public investments articulated in a useful way (such as $10 per capita per year, or 2% of the Town’s budget, etc.)
    3. The estimated latent demand for pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure and non-infrastructure measures (for residents and visitors)
  2.  An inventory and analysis of the current bicycling and pedestrian conditions in the Town of Essex, as well as how these fit within the broader regional context
  3.  A review and assessment of the Town’s progress since adoption of the 2014 plan, including annual expenditures
  4.  Assistance in refining and then clearly articulating the Town’s policies, goals, and strategies regarding support of bicycling and pedestrian needs, including:
    1. How this topic coordinates with the broader transportation network, especially public transit
    2. How it relates to various other community aspects (such as housing affordability, economic development, climate protection, community health & equity, etc.)
  5.  Short- and long-term recommendations for an overall bicycle and pedestrian facilities networkTown-wide, including:
    1. Typical bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure like bike lanes and sidewalks
    2. Multi-use trails that support all ages and abilities for various trip purposes
    3. Shared facilities like travel lanes and road shoulders where bicycling and/or walking are allowed
    4. General discussion of amenities such as bike parking facilities, benches, lighting, signs, etc.
  6.  Recommendations for non-infrastructure measures such as:
    1. Safe Routes to School programs
    2. Traffic safety initiatives
    3. Education/encouragement events
  7.  Development of at least three feasible implementation strategies(including budget estimates) for the Town’s consideration, such as:
    1. A strategy that minimally meets the community’s expectations (minimum investment)
    2. A strategy that places a high priority on striving to meet the community’s existing and latent demand for bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure and non-infrastructure measures (greatest feasible investment)
    3. A strategy that falls between the above options – exceeding the minimum expectations, but not placing a high priority on supporting bicycling and walking (medium investment)
  8.  Development of a maintenance plant hat includes:
    1. A basic overview of the maintenance needs for existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities
    2. A review of the Town’s available maintenance resources (staff and funding)
    3. Recommendations on ways to best align the maintenance needs with available resources, which may include new funding approaches
  9.  Overall recommendations based on:
    1. Current best practices
    2. Local and regional planning objectives
    3. Community feedback
    4. The Town’s staffing and funding capacity

  1. Open House on Trails Project and Active Transportation Plan

    Come learn about two different projects of the Town of Essex: Keystone Trail Connectivity Project and the Essex Town-Wide Active Transportation Plan. Read on...

  2. Approval of $80,000 for the Essex Active Transportation Plan

    The CCRPC Board voted on May 15th to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 UPWP and Budget, effective July 1, 2024. This includes approval of $80,000 for the Essex Active Transportation Plan. Read on...
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Documents

  1. FY25 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Summary Status of Request - May 30, 2024

Contact Information

Kent Johnson, Planner
kjohnson@essex.org



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