Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is supporting the ongoing development of a major multi-purpose corridor.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) is a 93-mile trail that extends across northern Vermont from the Connecticut River Valley to within two miles of Lake Champlain. The LVRT is a four-season, multi-purpose recreation, and transportation corridor for walking, biking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. After two decades of research, planning, and construction, 33 miles are open. The complete build-out of the LVRT entails the construction of the remaining 60 miles of trails and bridges.

AOT is administering that work through six separate contracts: five trail construction projects and one bridge-only contract. The total estimated cost for the build-out is $15 million. Significant planning and design work had been completed prior to 2020. Work on the final sections of the trail began in August of 2020 after the Vermont State Legislature approved funding to accelerate the completion of the trail with an allocation of $2.8 million. Matching federal funds total $11.3 million. The LVRT is estimated to be completed by July 1, 2022.

The State of Vermont owns the rail line and had previously contracted with the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) for construction and maintenance of the LVRT and relied on assistance from towns along the trail, private donations, and VAST’s own investment to fulfill those efforts. The LVRT connects to several other significant recreational trails in Vermont and Canada, including the VAST snowmobile trail network, the Long Trail, the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail, and the Cambridge Greenway.

When completed, the LVRT will be the longest rail trail in New England.