MONTPELIER -- Don't start pedaling yet, but it appears plans for a Burlington-Colchester bicycle bridge will survive both a financial crisis and legislative wrath.
The future of the bridge over the Winooski River has been in doubt since a group of lawmakers sued in January to stop most spending on the project because its cost had more than doubled, to $2.9 million.
Now, the House Transportation Committee has said the work should proceed, with a state contribution of up to $350,000.
There's a catch: To pay the rest of the higher cost, the regional transportation planning agency in Chittenden County will have to juggle its allocation of federal funds to come up with more money.
To help, Burlington and Colchester are seeking ways to trim construction costs by as much as $500,000.
"Things look like they might all come together," said Wayne Gross, Burlington's director of parks and recreation.
"This makes sense for the whole region -- eventually the bike path could connect to the islands and people would be able to bike all the way to Montreal. It's pretty exciting," he said.
Lawmakers voted $1.4 million last year to build the bridge linking the Burlington bike path with Delta Park in Colchester. The money would also lay down a boardwalk through wetlands on the Colchester side. The state was to pay 10 percent; the communities, 10 percent; and the federal government, 80 percent.
Then the Coast Guard said the bridge needed to be higher to let boats pass underneath. Burlington and Colchester wanted a bridge of concrete, not wood so it would last longer. Other design changes came along.
The result: a bridge that would cost $2.9 million to build. Add in design costs and the price hit $3.5 million.
Former Gov. Howard Dean's solution was to increase the state's share of the spending by more than $1 million. Before he left office, his administration signed a contract with a construction company.
Then lawmakers sued. Dean's successor, Gov. Jim Douglas, reached an out-of-court settlement with them, allowing some preliminary work to proceed while the full Legislature took another look.
Rep. George Schia-
vone, R-Shelburne, a member of the Transportation Committee and one of those who sued, said he still thinks the bridge costs too much but is satisfied with a cap on the state's share of the cost.
Next, Chittenden County's regional transportation group, the 18-member Metropolitan Planning Organization, must vote to transfer money from other building projects to the bridge.
Executive Director Bill Knight said such transfers are common, since some road construction projects proceed more slowly than expected.
"I will be recommending we go ahead and fund it," he said.
Many details still need to be worked out with Burlington, Colchester, the federal government and the private contractor.
"Yes, there are pitfalls ahead, but there are an awful lot of people looking for a way to resolve the issue," Knight said.
In any case, the bridge will not be completed this summer. Because of the environmentally sensitive wetlands, all work will be done during the winter months.
Bike activist Chapin Spencer said the ferry that has carried bike riders across the river will run again this summer. He can't wait for the bridge to be built.
"I've heard from all sides that this project makes sense as a regional tourism attraction," he said.
