PUTNEY — Jim Jeffords did much for Vermont and the nation, but it's his legacy of support for rail in Vermont that we lift up now.
Jeffords, a rail buff, brought passionate support of better train service to secure funding for the state's rail network and led the Agency of Transportation toward a more sustainable, rail-inclusive future.
His support enabled the restoration of Amtrak's Montrealer on the route of today's Vermonter, enabled a trial of Champlain Valley commuter service, upgraded track to Bennington County, and secured a critical $30 million earmark to support the upgrade of the Western Corridor.
“Jim Jeffords knew the importance of rail for Rutland County, as well as the economic opportunities an improved rail line on the Western Corridor would provide for the entire state of Vermont,” says Rutland Alderman chair David Allaire. “Lacking an Interstate highway in western Vermont, improved rail lines took on much greater significance. He was a visionary to see this, and we are forever in gratitude for his strong and relentless support.”
Without the early boost from Jeffords in support of the Western Corridor, it would be much more difficult now to assemble funding or even to have identified the political momentum to advance the project.
Rutland's passenger train station is named in Jeffords' honor, and the Vermont Rail Action Network has honored his legacy through its Jim Jeffords Rail Advocate of the Year Award, last year given to Gov. Peter Shumlin. In 2009, the award went to Jeff Munger, a former Jeffords staffer who was responsible for his rail projects. Munger now works for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to continue Jeffords' legacy in improving Vermont's rail service.