A public input meeting on a proposed sidewalk on the west side of Route 100 from Farr Lane to Old County Road drew several Waitsfield residents to the town offices Monday, November 8, to discuss potential for a new sidewalk and streetscape.

Waitsfield was able to secure $15,000 of funding through the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) to begin a conceptual alignment analysis (CAA) of the proposed project; the town hired Lamoureux & Dickinson consulting engineers to come up with a feasibility study.

Lamoureux & Dickinson representative Jodi Carriere gave a
presentation of potential locations for sidewalks, on-street parking and
crosswalks. Included in a list of areas of concern, Carriere identified
the area in front of the Waitsfield Elementary School.

Select board chair Kate Williams said that the idea was to install a
temporarysidewalk as a part of Safe Routes to School because kids cross
there daily regardless; in addition, she said, "Depending upon how the
west side gets sorted out, that may be the place to cross."

CVRPC representative Steve Gladczuk told attendees that the Vermont
Department of Transportation (VTrans) requires there be a sidewalk on
both sides of the road in order to have a crosswalk across Route 100.

"VTrans requires pedestrian facilities on both sides of the road," he said.

Discussion then turned to a potential crosswalk at the Village Grocery
to the Waitsfield United Church of Christ. Select board member Charlie
Hosford said, "There is a lot of foot traffic from that parking lot to
the church and library; even if the crosswalk was taken away people
would still be crossing there."

V.G. owner Troy Kingsbury told town officials,