AOT Awards Community Grants to Two Local Towns for Rail Trail

BARRE – The towns of Hardwick and Greensboro have been awarded a portion of the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) $700,000 in grants to municipalities along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) to improve trail amenities and visitor experience.

Greensboro was awarded funds for a construction grant for a trailhead in Greensboro Bend. A scoping grant was also awarded to Hardwick and Greensboro.

The grants totaling $697,030 are funded by federal dollars secured by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). This funding will serve as matching grants to communities along the trail to improve its ability to serve the public, including improvements to trailheads, picnic areas, kiosks, connections to downtowns, signage, art and history installations, and ambassador programs.

“This is an exciting day,” said Sen. Sanders. “Since securing the original federal grant to establish the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) back in 2005, I’ve been proud to see it grow over the years into the amazing local resource it is today. The trail runs through some of the most beautiful terrain and rural towns in the northern part of our state during all four seasons. While the trail is loved by cyclists and cross-country skiers from Vermont and around the country, it is also an effective means of transportation that supports local communities and creates jobs where they are most needed. I was glad to secure this additional federal funding so that Vermonters can fully enjoy the trail in their communities – by funding the construction of trailheads, picnic pavilions, and other trail amenities – and I want to thank everyone through the years who has worked so hard to make this project a reality.”