The 12 mile Burlington to Colchester bike-path will see some improvements in its ferry crossing on the Causeway that links Colchester to South Hero. A $300,000 state grant was awarded in January to the Burlington-based non-profit Local Motion to see that the crossing is safer, more efficient, and a more consistent passage. Currently the ferry only operates on August weekends when winds are calm enough to run the six-passenger pontoon. One of the main improvements made with the grant money will be wave attenuators -- or floating breakwaters said Brian Costello, coordinator of the advocacy group Island Line Trail. The pontoon boat itself is also receiving an energy efficiency upgrade from the Senior Experience in Engineering Design (SEED) Program at UVM. The boat is now set to run on a biodiesel generator coupled to electric motors. Fishing platforms, overlooks and wider turnarounds for maintenance and emergency vehicles are also included in the overall engineered plan under the state grant. This plan should be underway and completed by mid-2009 if Local Motion's capital fund drive raises the additional money needed. To learn more go to LocalMotion.org. [Source: Burlington Free Press Article 1 & Article 2]
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