Known among planners as the Mad River Valley Active Transportation Corridor, a new roadmap for the Mad River Path envisions a multi-community off-road path connecting Valley towns, businesses, schools, attractions, and larger trail networks.
In celebration of a recently completed scoping study that identifies community priorities and technical and cost considerations for this vision, Misha Golfman of the Mad River Path and State Representative Candice White, D-Waitsfield, brought together local leaders and state partners for a half-day bike ride from Warren to Waitsfield.
On Thursday, October 2, under blue skies, White and State Representative Dara Torre, D-Moretown, joined a state tour contingent that included Vermont Agency of Transportation staff – Andrea Wright, Environmental Policy manager; Somer Bucossi, Bike and Pedestrian coordinator; and Amanda Holland, Active Transportation manager, as well as legislators Representative Phil Pouech, D-Hinesburg, and Representative Bram Kleppner, D-Burlington.
Riders explored existing and anticipated sections of the Mad River Path alongside local leaders and visited with farmers, business owners, and nonprofit partners along the way.
“It was powerful to hear different perspectives on the economic, health and environmental benefits this future path build-out would mean for our community and state, and to see how The Valley's trail resources have expanded in recent years,” Torre said.
“We also experienced firsthand the gaps where safe walking and biking infrastructure is still missing,” she added.
A group lunch and conversation at Lawson's awaited at the tour's end, sending participants off excited and more educated about opportunities ahead to make this promising new corridor a reality, phase by phase, in the years ahead, Torre reported.
Local hosts and leaders included Golfman, Charlie Hosford, Mad River Path; Karrie Thomas, Northern Forest Canoe Trail; Luke Foley, Friends of the Mad River; Bob Kogut, Mad River Riders; Josh Schwartz, Sam Robinson, Mad River Valley Planning District; Don Wexler, Moretown Select Board; Jon Rickard, Mad River Path, Warren DRB; Dave Rowles, Stark Mountain Bikeworks; Luke Burgess, Riders Outpost; Joe Bossen, Cloud Water Farm; Sarah Johnson, Yestermorrow Design Build School; Jonny Adler, Mad Bush Falls; Hadley Gaylord, Gaylord Farm; George Schenk and Lynne Boudreau, Lareau Farm and Forest; Karen Rookwood, Featherbed Inn; Eric Friedman, MRV Chamber of Commerce; Karen and Sean Lawson, Adeline Druart, Mark Leopold, and Carra Cheslin, Lawson’s Finest; and trail stewards Tom Spencer, Eamon Welter, and David Hodgson.
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