BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Planning Office, along with AARP Vermont, has released a comprehensive report that resulted from an Active Living Workshop held in November.
The workshop was aimed at identifying problems and recommending improvements to a busy section of Canal Street south of the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital with a particular focus on pedestrian safety and access.
Town officials, residents and planners gathered in late fall to look at this gateway to Brattleboro - a site chosen by town and community groups. AARP had provided a grant to bring an internationally recognized expert on community design to town to lead the Active Living Workshop at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.
The report released last week to participants, town officials, advocates and other community groups outlines the findings of the workshop sessions and provides recommendations to improve walkability and livability – for all users of this roadway.
It addresses some short-term steps as well as longer term opportunities. It suggests traffic calming techniques along with specific crosswalk, intersection and sidewalk recommendations that encourage mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development going forward.
The Brattleboro Planning Office will take responsibility for moving the effort forward.
“Thanks to AARP Vermont and Dan Burden's Walkable & Livable Communities Institute, we were able to hold this inspiring workshop in our community,” said Brattleboro planner Sue Fillion. “The report does a great job of documenting the conditions along Canal Street and identifying the priorities from the workshop. It also has a wealth of information about how to make changes to make the community more livable. We are look forward to moving forward on the ambitious project of implementing recommendations from the report.”
AARP Vermont sent the reports out to all participants last week.
“We are excited about the report and the ideas that emerged from our workshop for improvements to how residents get around the community safely,” said Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur of AARP Vermont. “The recommendations take a long view, but also include short-term, practical projects that can be acted upon right away. AARP continues to support the process going forward and will work with town planners to help move the effort along any way we can.”