Home Page of Circ-Williston EIS
Towns and Villages of Williston, Essex and Essex Junction
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement released on 8/3/07

Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTRANS) begins preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Williston-Essex-Essex Junction area

Thumbnail image of Project Area inset into MapOn November 26, 2004 the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) began the process to prepare a new Environmental Impact Statement on transportation improvements between I-89 and Williston, Essex, and Essex Junction.

The process began with a published Notice of Intent and it will result in a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Circ-Williston project in the southern portion of the Circ Highway corridor. This is the highest level of environmental review for federally funded transportation projects.

The EIS will identify and consider a wide range of alternatives to improve transportation in the project area. These alternatives may include but are not limited to:

  • taking no action, i.e., the No-Build Alternative
  • strategies to better manage transportation demand
  • improving public transportation facilities and services
  • improving existing roadways, pedestrian walkways, and bikeways
  • constructing a new roadway connection between Route I-89 and Vermont Route 289 and other roadways. Design variations of potential alternatives will also be studied, as appropriate.

The new EIS will analyze direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of the project on social, economic, and environmental resources in the study area, as well as its effects on land use and development patterns.

The study is currently in the Scoping phase. Scoping is an open process involving the public, communities, concerned organizations, and state and federal agencies. Its purpose is to identify the major and important issues that should be considered in the EIS, including current and future transportation problems. Scoping also identifies possible options for addressing transportation problems, which should be studied in the EIS. The result of this phase is a Scoping Memorandum that records and responds to all comments and serves as the work plan for the EIS. Public and agency involvement will continue throughout the EIS process.

Comments on the EIS Scoping can be submitted through this website, at public forums, and by mail to the project manager at the address below. Comments received by April 7 will be included in the Scoping Memorandum, but other comments are also invited throughout the preparation of the EIS. You are also invited to join the mailing list for notice of public meetings. Go to Submit Comments .

The study is being conducted by VTrans as the sponsoring agency and FHWA as the lead federal agency, with support from the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO) and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC). CCMPO and CCRPC are respectively responsible for the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the Chittenden County Regional Plan; they provide specific expertise in transportation and land use. In addition, several state and federal review, resource and regulatory agencies are cooperating in the study. The Louis Berger Group has been hired by VTrans as consultants to the study. They have national expertise in the types of issues involved in the EIS for Circ-Williston.

For more information contact:

Mr. Kenneth Robie
Project Manager
Vermont Agency of Transportation
One National Life Drive
Montpelier, Vermont  05633-5001

Phone: (802) 828-2645
Fax: (802) 828-2437
Email: Ken.Robie@state.vt.us