Bethel Mtn. Road: 'Too Nice'?

Bethel Mtn. Road: 'Too Nice'?

Now, apparently, the Bethel Mountain Road is too nice.

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Rochester Selectboard came to Bethel for a joint meeting with the Bethel Selectboard to discuss the rehabilitated Camp Brook Road, also known on the Rochester side as Bethel Mountain Road.

The road connects both towns and serves as a local throughway for both private and commercial vehicles.

The meeting was in response to a growing concern that the improved condition of the road stemming from Bethel's rehabilitation project could lead to an increase of commercial traffic and excessive speed. The chair of the Bethel board, Neal Fox, said that there is a "genuine concern on the part of both boards regarding increased speeding on the road. We didn't fix up the road so that people can go faster."

Chuck Wise, senior transportation planner with the Two Rivers Regional Commission, suggested a "speed-and-truck study" of the road to determine if it is necessary to restrict the traffic on the road or to further limit vehicle speed. The Two Rivers Commission could conduct such a study, he said. The commission could also make recommendations.

Closely related to the question of rules and limitations on the road is the question of an enforcement plan, which might require equipment and personnel to weigh and measure vehicles.

There ensued a lively discussion among the selex and members of the public. Rochester's Kathryn Schenkman expressed concern regarding the width of the road in its approach into Rochester, which she noted is inadequate for accommodating large commercial trucks.

To support her point, she brought photographs of a large logging truck, which clearly hogs the road leading into town. Schenkman said that even the current speed limit of 30 mph when entering town, is too high for such vehicles. Schenkman supports a ban on large trucking on the road, except those performing local service, and she noted that the Route 100/107 connection provides an alternate route between the two towns. That suggestion was not taken up, however.

It was noted that the speed limit on the Bethel side is 40 mph while it is 50 mph on the Rochester side. In Bethel the lower limit is the result of a town ordinance based on a traffic study. On the Rochester side, there was no such study nor any posting of a speed limit, which therefore signifies an automatic 50 mph limit in accordance with Vermont law.

Rochester's Ann Mills asked if Rochester could post a 40 mph speed limit also. Bethel selectboard chair Neal Fox expressed his desire for consistency.

It was not clear, however, to what degree the towns can post and regulate the road on their own. A number of participants raised the question of the enforceability of any new speed limits without traffic studies to back them up and without state approval.

Charlie Biederman, chair of the Rochester selectboard, expressed concern that due to the new "smooth pool table" road, "we have an accident waiting to happen," adding that it will surely bring more traffic and will require more maintenance regulation.

It was decided that Regional Commission's Chuck Wise should examine the whole road and give recommendations as to the speed limits and cautionary notices. He will arrange for a speed cart to placed on the road, conduct a "speed and truck" study, draft an enforcement plan, and work with the Department of Motor Vehicles. He will report back to the two towns at the first opportunity.

By Chris Costanzo