VTrans begins preliminary planning for Amtrak expansion

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont is on track to receive federal funding as the state considers an Amtrak expansion.

A million dollars could be the ticket to the Ethan Allen Express adding stops in Manchester and Bennington. Vermont Agency of Transportation says this plan is in the very early stages and this initial funding is to study how expansion could happen.

Town leaders in the impacted areas say it would be a win for their communities.

Rutland connects northern and southern Vermont and is also the gateway to Albany, N.Y., and beyond thanks to the Ethan Allen Express. Rutland Mayor Mike Doenges says the Amtrak route is commonly used for weekend excursions, but there’s potential for the Ethan Allen Express to expand in southern Vermont, offering one service a day.

Doenges said the expansion could offer “convenience for business travelers and the ease of commute for them, and the ability to bring skiers up here on the weekends without having them having to drive.”

Doenges says while this plan isn’t necessarily a commuter rail, he likes the idea of continued connection among communities and would love to see a commuter line too.

“I think would be very helpful in what we see is currently a housing affordability crisis,” he said.

As would Manchester Town Manager Scott Murphy.

“The only Thruway from on the southwestern side is a non-high speed highway. You know, Route 7 is the only north-south, all kinds of street lights and things like that,” said Murphy.

Dan Delabruere of VTrans says federal funding, which is coming from the Corridor Identification and Development Program, will help establish which routes are and aren’t feasible for Vermont, its neighboring states, and Canada.

“It’s in our statewide rail plan to look at whether it makes sense to keep the Amtrak Ethan Allen in Vermont longer and go down through Manchester and Bennington. We don’t have all the data on that. We don’t know if that makes sense. Although in concept you would think it could make sense,” said Delabruere.

Delaburere says they’re working on receiving the funding and will have a handful of months to come up with the scope of the plan, and what this expansion could look like.

“Now that we have sort of a holistic view of the entire network and how all the corridors tie together, I think you’re going to see a difference over the next decade. You know, how people expand and use Rail,” he said.

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