Intersection Options

by Amy Kolb Noyes

An advisory committee with representatives from across town government,
as well as regional and state transportation officials, met with
consulting transportation engineers at the Lamoille County Planning
Commission last week. Their goal is to come up with a viable solution to
the traffic headaches in Morrisville where Main Street, Elmore Street
(Rt. 12), Park Street (Rt. 15A), Copley Avenue, Richmond Street and
Summer Street all come together.
The advisory committee held its initial meeting Tuesday morning,
November 16. LCPC Senior Transportation Planner David Pelletier
organized the committee. He said the main objectives of this first
meeting were to discuss the project's time line and specific tasks, as
well as identify other interested parties who should be brought to the
table.
Pelletier noted there are several issues with the intersection,
especially during the morning rush hour when school is in session.
Solutions to the intersection troubles might include changing the
geometric shape of the intersection as well as policy changes, such a
student drop-off procedures. For example, Pelletier said Elmore Street
might be realigned to meet Main and Park Street at a "T," or a
roundabout might be considered. He added they will also analyze whether
traffic signals might help the situation.
If traffic signals are utilized, Pelletier said the primary location for
a signal would be the intersection of Main and Portland Streets. He
noted a lot of the morning rush hour traffic issues are with cars coming
out of Elmore Street, due to backup from the Portland Street
intersection. Pelletier added another benefit of improving traffic flow
through the Portland and Main intersection would be a reduction in "cut
through traffic" on the secondary roads around that intersection.
Resource Systems Group, Inc., of White River Junction, is the
transportation engineering consultant firm working on the project.
Complicating the project are the possibility of a new town hall/library
addition project which could force the relocation of the Richmond Street
intersection. The town has not ruled out the possibility of pursuing a
new town complex at that location. Another complicating factor is the
location of the war memorials at Academy Park.
The advisory committee will meet again on Wednesday, December 29. A
public hearing on the project will be scheduled for early January.