Rutland Center Street Scoping Study

The City of Rutland is conducting a study to assess the potential of building a better Center Street. This summer and fall, the city will be working with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and Planners and Engineers from Dubois & King to develop traffic models, parking analysis, and detailed designs to prepare this project to move towards construction and a design that works for the Rutland community and downtown businesses alike. This study will develop detailed streetscape improvements for the block of Center Street between Merchants Row and Wales Street.

A key element of the study was gathering public feedback to ensure that any designs advanced in the study have broad community support.

Through its course, this study hosted a pair of public meetings, each accompanied by online surveys and meeting records to be posted at this website. Your voice was crucial in understanding where and how the City should and should not allocate resources to build a better Center Street.

A final study was composed with public input as a foundational component. The final scoping study report will be a pivotal driver as we move forward with the next steps of building the new face of Downtown Rutland.

We’ll continue to update this website as the project evolves, with project materials, meeting notices and minutes, and opportunities to add your voice to this important community discussion.

Project Timeline:

Local Concerns Input Opportunity and Alternatives Review Meeting: April 25 at the Paramount Theatre
Final Report Review: September 27 at City Hall
Review the final study here!
To view the results of the public survey, visit: https://tinyurl.com/CenterStreetDesignConcepts.

What is a scoping study?

From master plans to new streets, most public projects pass through a series of studies in order to be funded and built. The following diagram illustrates the typical steps followed from the Master Plan to a new street.

Scoping studies are intended to assess the public’s interest in a given project, as well as site conditions that might make construction easier or more challenging. Through these studies, a town is able to better plan for future budgetary needs for infrastructure improvements, and avoid any decisions that would be much more costly when discovered while designing or constructing final improvements. Scoping studies also open the doors to federal funding resources offered by the state – a crucial component to funding large scale infrastructure projects.

Master Plan

Big visions for the entire town. Public engagement leads the process. The visions are broad enough to cover a wide range of ideas. Sets the direction for future projects. View the Downtown Rutland Strategic Plan here.

Public engagement: High

Scoping Study

Selects a single element of the Master Plan to develop further. Examines alternative designs with public input. Provides costs that allow a community to budget for future improvements. Required prior to state and federal grant awards.

Public engagement: Moderate

Construction DocS + Permits

Detailed design documents which allow a contractor to go build a new street. This phase includes development and filing of detailed permits for environmental, cultural, and other project impacts.

Public engagement: Low