Benmont Avenue Active Transportation Corridor

Mixed-Use Transportation Design

At a Glance

Client: Bennington County Regional Commission Project
Location: Bennington, VT
Dates: 2016–2024

Services Provided:

Design
Survey
Technical Specifications
Construction Administration
Permitting

Benmont Active Transportation Corridor in Bennington, VT

Challenge

Benmont Avenue is a heavily traveled roadway connecting the town center to the main commercial corridor in Bennington, VT. Conditions are unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians, curb cuts in the commercial zone are wide or nonexistent, sidewalks are intermittent, and wide traffic lanes encourage speeding. Nonetheless, Benmont Avenue receives heavy bike and pedestrian use from individuals needing to access commercial resources on Northside Drive.

Solution

Starting in 2016, we worked with the Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) to develop a new active transportation corridor that provided safer bike and pedestrian travel conditions and connected the town's network of mixed- use pathways. This was achieved with a combination of a separate shared-use path within the existing right-of-way and a designated bike lane at the section where the right-of-way narrowed.

Results

The proposed design received approval from VTrans in 2022, and the first phase of the project was completed in the fall of 2024. Additional phases will be constructed as funding becomes available.